HON. JAMES M. GRAHAM. One of the most reputable law firms in Springfield is that of Scholes & Graham, of which our subject is the junior member. Mr. Graham is a gentleman of intelligence and is the recipient of an excellent education. He studied his profession under a preceptor who instilled into his mind a thorough understanding of the principles underlying it. The labor which he had performed prior to his admission to the bar was of a nature to strengthen his mental faculties and he was better fitted to take his position in one of the foremost ranks of the profession than are most novices in the law. Although he has been practice but a few years and is still quite a young man, he is rapidly coming to the front.

Mr. Graham is a native of the Emerald Isle, born April 14, 1852, and emigrated to America when sixteen years old. The most of his family were then living in Illiopolis, this State, and thither he bent his footsteps. He had already had excellent schooling, to which he added after his arrival in America. In 1870 he went to Champaign County and a few years later began teaching, continuing his work as a pedagogue from 1874 and 1882. He then returned to the vicinity of his old home and had temporary charge of a coal mine at Niantic, Macon County.

In 1884 Mr. Graham was elected to the Thirty-fourth General Assembly from the Twenty-ninth District, carrying Macon County. That year was the only time when the district, which is composed of Macon and Logan Counties, elected two straight Democrats to the House of Representatives, and the fact is mainly due to the vigorous canvass of Mr. Graham. While in the Legislature our subject served as a member of the committees on Education, Judiciary, Mines and Mining, Geology and Science, and Enrolled and Engrossed Bills.

While teaching, Mr. Graham had read law with William A. Day, of Champaign, who was Second Auditor of the Treasury during President Cleveland's administration. In 1885 he passed the necessary examinations and was admitted to the bar, locating in Springfield near the close of that year. He practiced alone until two years since, when he became a member of the firm before mentioned. Mr. Graham is active in the local work of the Democratic party and in 1888 made a canvass of a large part of the State for the ticket of his choice. He is a ready speaker, apt in illustration and an able logician, and he is therefore well qualified to make political speeches as well as to present cases to a judge or jury.

At the head of the household in the pleasant home of Mr. Graham is an intelligent woman of estimable character, whose maiden name was Kate Wallace. She was born in Rantoul, Champaign County, Ill., on the 20th of August, 1857, and in that city became the wife of our subject August 15, 1876. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Graham consists of six children, named respectively: Hugh, James, Arthur, Charles, Mary and Nellie. Mr. Graham belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. He is a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, (Catholic).