Natural talent, acquired ability, determination and energy have brought James W. Brady to a foremost position in the ranks of the legal fraternity of Haskell, where since 1905 he has followed his profession. He has been called upon to fill various public positions of honor and trust and is now capably discharging the duties of city attorney, in which connection he is making a highly commendable record.
A native of Indiana, he was born in Dubois county, May 22, 1871, of the marriage of James and Margaret (Payne) Brady, both of whom were born in Tennessee. In 1863 the father removed to Indiana, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, first cultivating rented land in Dubois County, after which he went across the line into Perry county.
There he entered a tract of government land, which he cleared and developed, and subsequently acquired additional holdings, becoming at length the owner of a valuable and well improved farm. He successfully continued his agricultural operations until his demise, which occurred in March l908 The mother 77 passed of the previous year.
James W. Brady pursued his studies in the grammar and high schools of Perry county, Indiana, after which he took up educational work, devoting seven years to teaching. In the meantime he had employed his leisure hours in the study of the principles of jurisprudence and subsequently entered the Indiana Law School at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. However, in 1897 he had been admitted to the bar and had practiced his profession for three years at Connelton, Indiana, previous to his graduation, following which he continued to engage in practice at that place until February, 1903, serving for a year of that period as county attorney of Perry County. He then went to Birdseye, Dubois county, Indiana, where he became connected with the gas and lease department of the Ohio Oil Company, with which he was identified until 1905, when he made his way to Haskell, Muskogee county, Oklahoma, where he has since resided. He continued to devote his entire time and attention to his profession until 1909, when he was appointed postmaster by President Taft, and continued to fill that office until 1913. He then resumed his legal work, in which he has since continued active, and with the passing years his practice has constantly grown in volume and importance. He is well read in the minutiae of the law, is able to base his arguments upon knowledge of and familiarity with precedents and to present a case upon its merits, never failing to recognize the main point at issue and never neglecting to give thorough preparation. He is now acting as city attorney and is rendering valuable service to the municipality, proving most thorough, conscientious and efficient in the performance of the duties of this important office. He owns valuable business property in Haskell and likewise has two highly cultivated and well improved farms in Muskogee county, one of which is situated a half mile east of the town. Upon this property he resides and when not occupied with his professional duties is active in its operation and development, being successful in both lines of work.
Mr. Brady has been married three times. In September, 1891, he wedded Miss Martha Cox, who died in March, 1893, leaving a son, John Herman, who is now a conductor on the Vandalia Rail road and resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. In November, 1894, Mr. Brady married Phoebe Hill, and they became the parents of three children: Clarence, who died at the age of five months; Lulu, the wife of Bruce V. Cox, of Haskell; and Marie, who married Claude Courtway, of Charleston, Missouri. The wife and mother passed away on the 1st of November, 1902, and in October, 1903, Mr. Brady was united in marriage to Belle Lamon, by whom he has two children: Eliza, sixteen years of age, who is attending school at Stillwater, this state; and Elisha, aged thirteen, who is a student in the Haskell high school. The son is specializing in the breeding of high grade Jersey hogs, while the daughter is raising Buff Rock and Dark Cornish chickens.
Mr. Brady is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in his political views he is a stanch republican and an active worker in the ranks of the party. He is deeply interested in one rates of one party. He pertains to the advancement and welfare of his community and for nine years served as a member of the Haskell school board, the cause of education finding in him a strong advocate. He is secretary of the local fair association, and his fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his membership being with the canton it the last named organization. He has demonstrated that he possesses exceptional qualifications as a lawyer and has won distinction in his chosen calling, while in every relation of life he measures up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.