About Us
The Graham Marsh Nature Preserve sits on twenty acres of land with trees, a mile-long walking trail, a state-of-the-art picnic pavilion a beautiful restored well, and many other amenities.
Who We Are
The Graham Marsh Nature Preserve is a non- profit organization that believes in preserving the environment, supporting science and STEM programs, and advocating for the health and well being of the community. Our Preserve is the first of its kind and only the second nature preserve in the southeastern region of the United States owned and operated by an African American family. We, the Graham Marsh family take great joy in conserving the land that our ancestors labored for. It is with esteemed pride we proclaim, The Graham Marsh Nature Preserve is 100% privately funded and developed by The Graham Family.
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Our History
​The preserve sits on land first purchased by the Graham/Marsh ancestor Columbus (Lum) Marsh in 1865 from his enslaver Ja-Mes Marsh once slavery was abolished. The tract of land is located northeast of Pushmataha, Alabama in Choctaw County. The land was sold to Columbus for fifty cents per acre. Columbus started clearing the land and planting crops to support his mother and two sisters.
In 1870, Columbus met Mariah Watson and in 1878 they were married. To this union, sixteen children were born. Three children died at an early age; their names are unknown. Thirteen of their children reached adulthood, and they continued to clear the land and cultivate the soil. They were all reared on the tract of land which became known as Marsh Town where the preserve stands today.
Our Roots
The thirteen children born to the union of Columbus Marsh and Mariah Watson Marsh are listed to the right. One of which was Lonnie Marsh, whose union with Maggie Davis Marsh bore six children. Judson Marsh being the second born, who married Velma Clark Marsh. Together they had ten children, the oldest being Dannie Mae Marsh- Graham, Who gave birth to five legacy carriers of the Graham Marsh Nature Preserve. They are as follows: Leventress Graham, Levestia Graham, Tony Graham, Patrick Graham, and Demothenesse Graham.
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