Peter Edwin Graham (1876)

Born 4 Jul 1876 in Northumberland, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Descendants

Died [date unknown] in Alberta, Canada

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Biography

Peter Edwin Graham is junior member of the law firm of Payne & Graham, prominent barristers and solicitors of Red Deer. He was born in Campbellford, Ontario, in 1876, a son of John and Agnes (McKellar) Graham, the former a native of Langham, Dumfries, Scotland, and the latter of Argyleshire, Scotland. They married in Scotland and came to Canada about 1858, locating in Ontario. The father taught school for a year after coming here. He had been a very successful merchant in the old country and was equally fortunate here. Mr. and Mrs. Graham are both deceased. To their union eight children were born, five of whom are living, Peter Edwin being the youngest of the family, and all are representative citizens of the communities in which they reside. Throughout his life Mr. Graham was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and both he and his wife were active in church work. In his political views he was a Liberal. Peter Edwin Graham received his education in the public schools of his birthplace and was graduated with the B. A. degree from Queen's University at Kingston, in 1898. The following year he accepted a position as teacher in a high school and taught from 1899 to 1908 in various schools in Ontario and in Saskatchewan. In 1908 he entered a law school in Alberta and three years later was admitted to the bar. For some time he was in partnership with John Barnett at Innisfail and then went to Daysland, where he practiced for five years. In 1916 he came to Red Deer and formed a partnership with William E. Payne, the firm being known as Payne & Graham, and that association has since been maintained, the firm having established a reputation as one of the largest and most successful law firms in the district and province. In March, 1910, Mr. Graham was married to Miss Harriet Phillips, a native of Stratford, Ontario. She received her education in the public schools of that place and after graduating from high school engaged in teaching for a time. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham four children have been born: John, who is eleven years of age and is in school; Edwin, eight years of age; Ronald, six years of age; and Jean, four years of age. In his political views Mr. Graham is independent, giving his support to the man he thinks best fitted for the office without regard for party principles. His religious faith is manifest in his membership in the Presbyterian church and he is a member and secretary of the board of management. During the World war Mr. Graham gave generously of his time and money in the furtherance of the government's interests and he was secretary of the Patriotic Fund. For recreation from his many professional duties he turns to the great outdoors. During his college days he played on the football team and is still an enthusiast of that game, and is a tennis player of no little ability. The greater part of his spare time, however, Mr. Graham devotes to further study of his Profession. He well merits the success he has achieved as a barrister and is held in high confidence and esteem by all who know him.

Sources

• Alberta, Past and Present, Historical and Biographical (1924)