The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-16

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His death was perfectly peaceful, with
out q shudder. The family was sitting
in an adjoining room. The doctor ar
rived for his evening visit about the
time he breathed his last, but before he
had fairly entered the room the soul
Of the old veteran had passed away. Ills
death has been expected almost daily,
as has been announced from time 10
time in these dispatches, for more than
a week, and when he took his bed be-
fore the Christmas holidays he said him
self that he should never leave it.
For the last six years he has been
suffering from cancer similar to that
with which Grant was afflicted, and was
caused, he often thought, by excessive
smoking some years ago. A few friends
in Philadelphia purchased him passage
tickets to Europe and induced him to
go over there to consult EN-.
inent medical authority. As re-
suit an operation was performed,
which gave temporary relief and
perhaps heightened his life two or
threc years. The disease became moro
serious during the last summer and
caused him much Inconvenience and
suffering, SO that he spoke with diff
Guilty and suffered serious strain upon
his nervous system, but the immediate
cause of his death was complication of
catarrh of the stomach and dysentery.
The funeral will take place in the Hall
of Representatives on Saturday, when
the remains will be taken to the resi-
dence of his daughter, Mrs. Horseman,
in Philadelphia, and on Sunday second
service will probably be held at the Uni
tartan church at the corner Of I'D and
Chestnut streets, to be conducted by
Rev. DR.. Furnass, who married him and
was his lifelong friend. Judge Kelley
was Unitarian in his religious convic-
tions and regular attendant upon ALI
Souls church in this city.
William Darrah Kelley was born IN Phila-
delphia April II, 1914. His grandfather. John
Kelley. served as IN of1cor In the revolutionary
war. Having lost his father at IN early age he
| learned the printers trade and later served an
apprenticeship TO teweler In Boston. In l840
he returned to Philadelphia aud began the
study OF law, and year later was admitted
| TO the bar. While serving his apprenticeship
| he acquired reputation rs writer aud speak.
or, and, after beginning the practice Of his pro-
fession, he devoted much time 70 literary pur.
suits. He was elected Attorney General Of
Pennsylvania In lS45, and in lSa6 WAS made
Judge Of the court Of common pleas OF Phila-
| delphia. In 1860 he was delegate 10 the M.
| tional Republican convention. and In the same
year was elected 70 Congress-, where he has
| served continuously ever since. He has been
! o member OF numerous committees Of tho
| House and chairman Of some OF the most I'm.
4 portant committees, notably the committee on
| aud Ia M N hn 1nuvn
| House longer than any other member. and for
| this reason Is often called the father Of the
| House." He has for many years been known rs
1 'Pig Iron Kelley" He was IT one time q free
1 trader, but later became an ardent protection
| list and has written several works In op-
position to the freetrade theory. Among his
| works are: Reasons for Abandoning tho
| Theory of Free Trade and Adopting the Prin.
ciples OF Protection to American Industry
| Letters on Industrial and Financial Cues.
tions" and the New South"
Judge Kelly had been In public life SO lone
for nearly half . century-with nothing but
! his salary to live upon, that he accumulated no
property whatever, and his pecuniary circum
! stances to-day are about what they were In 1880
1 Columns might be written concerning his per.
| Sonal peculiarities and eccentricities, but no
man can truthfully say word to discredit his
honor, and no act OF his can be remembered
that casts q shadow upon his reputation. He
was SO scrupulous that he would never nc
cept railroad pass or Q telegraph blank and
although his correspondence was SO great rs "a
make his postage accounts serious drain upon
his salary, he was sturdy opponent Of the
franking privilege and never voted for any ap
preparation that would affect his own personal
interests to the extent Of penny.
Judge Kelley was man Of rare qualities
His attachments to his friends we're SO strong
that he could forgive almost any thing In them,
| while his great heart knew no eum1tteS and
recognized In his opponents only men who
were simply laboring under o mistake. His
constancy and his devotion to the one great
idea he SO long and ably advocated was SO great
that he would never permit himself to wear Z
garment made OF imported goods or use any
article that was produced in . foreign country
| and he took occasion to demonstrate with his
| friends for preferring the products OF for
cign labor to those Of domestic make