James Frank GILLESPIE, Congress, IL (1869-1954)

GILLESPIE, James Frank, a Representative from Illinois; born in White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, W.Va., April 18, 1869; attended the graded schools and Concord (W.Va.) Normal School; taught in the public schools at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., in 1891 and 1892; principal of White Sulphur Springs High School in 1891; studied law at Central College, Danville, Ind.; was admitted to the bar in 1892 and commenced practice in Charleston, W.Va.; moved to Bloomington, McLean County, Ill., in 1894 and continued the practice of law; also engaged in agricultural pursuits; served in the State house of representatives in 1913 and 1914; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third Congress (March 4, 1933-January 3, 1935); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1934 to the Seventy-fourth Congress and for election in 1936 to the Seventy-fifth Congress; resumed the practice of law in Bloomington, Ill., until his death there on November 26, 1954; interment in Park Hill Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present