Strathendrick, and its inhabitants from early times

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF KILLEARN 7 i
REV. JAMES GRAHAM.
1768-1821.
Mr. Morrison left Killearn in October 1767, and in April of the succeeding
year the Duke of Montrose issued a presentation in favour of the Rev. James
Graham, and he was ordained on the 9th June following. Mr. Graham was
the third son of Mr. James Graham, tenant of Cromlix, in the parish of Dun-
blane. He was born in 1736, educated at Dunblane Parish School and at the
University of Glasgow, and licensed by the Presbytery of Dunblane 12th April
1763. He was afterwards tutor in the family of Mr. Hopkirk of Dalbeth.
During his long incumbency of Killearn Mr. Graham proved a most excellent
parish minister. He attended carefully both to the spiritual and temporal con-
cerns of the people committed to his charge, and even to this day his memory
is held in respect in the parish. He took a great interest in agricultural affairs,
and both by example and precept helped much to introduce into Strathendrick
a better style of farming than had been in use before his time. He is said to
have been the first man in West Stirlingshire who used a wheeled cart. It was
through his influence, too, that the fine obelisk in honour of the learned George
Buchanan — which is now such an ornament to the village and strath — was
erected.
He continued in good health and in full discharge of his duties to the very
end of his life. Indeed, so vigorous was he when preaching his last sermon
on the Sunday that preceded his death that the people remarked that " their
old minister was renewing his youth." He died unmarried 15th October 1821,
in the 86th year of his age and the 54th year of his ministry, respected alike
by rich and poor, and mourned by all. He was buried in the same grave in
Killearn Churchyard as his predecessor, the Rev. James Craig.
REV. JOHN GRAHAM, D.D.
1822-1865.
On the 29th January 1822 the Rev. John Graham, minister of Fintry, was
presented to Killearn by the Duke of Montrose, and on the 30th May he was
admitted to the parish. He was nephew to the late minister, being second son
of Thomas Graham, his brother. 1 In our account of Fintry we have shown what
good work Mr. Graham had done there during seventeen years of his incum-
bency, and how much his services had been appreciated. He was equally successful
in his ministry at Killearn, where he was the trusted friend and adviser of all
his parishioners and neighbours, a good clergyman, and an excellent man of
business. During his incumbency, in 1825, a new manse was built a few yards
1 See Parish of Strathblane, p. 161, for an account of Thomas Graham and his descendants.