The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-01-17
DEATH OF JUDGE KELLEY.
FATHER OF THE HOUSE.
HOUSE SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF
THE GovERNMENT--AN NOTABLE
FIGURE IN AMERICAN
POLITICS.

/
FIGURE IN AMERICAN
| POLITICS.
Judge William d. Kelley, of Penns-
ylvania, died in Washington, at 6;20
O'Clock on the 9th inst. At his bed
side we're Mrs. Kelley, his daughter,
Mrs. Herstman, his sons, William ID.
Kelley, Jr., and A. B. Kelley, DIR.
Stanton, his attending physician and
J. b. Weynck, his private secretary.
His death was painless, and to watch
ers at his bedside he seemed to have
fallen into peaceful sleep. He was
unconscious at the last as he was at
intervals during the last two days.
His remains were buried at Laurel
hill cemetery, Philadelphia. The i'm
mediate cause of Judge Kelley's death
was intestinal catarrh, brought on by
cold contracted during Christmas week.
For some years however, he has been
almost constant suffer er from a can
cerous growth in the side of the face,
which was removed about six years
ago by surgical operation. The re.
lief thus obtained was only temporary,
and since that time it has developed
so rapidly during the past year that it
must have soon conquered him, had
he not earlier fallen a victim to the
catarrhal affection. He was nearly 76
years old, and during the later years
of his life his general health has not
been good, 80 that he easily fell vic
tim to the weakening influence of the
disease.
A SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
William Darrah Kelley, who has
been since 1877 the senior member of
the lower house of congress, was born
in Philadelphia, April II, 1914. Fl s
ancestors were among the pioneers of
American civilization. He got his
schooling at the congregational school
of the Second Presbyterian church,
Philadelphia. At the age of IL years
he found employment in a lottery
Office, but soon left and went to work
with an umbrella maker. Soon after
lie became copy reader in the printing
office of the late Jasper Harding. This
work developed clearness of enun-
citation for which he was always noted.
To this period of his lie Judge Kelley
asoribed his intellectual awakening.
Before his thirteenth year he appren-
ticed himself to Richards and Dubosq,
jewellers. Besides sticking close to
his bench in the working hours, and in
the evening indulging in his keen ap-
petite for books, he sought active re-
creation in Colonel James Pages State
Fencibles. At the age of y he was
an active member of the Niagara hose
company, though the constitution of
the company forbade the admission of
any person under 20 years of age. In
1885 he found employment in Boston
at his trade. There it was his good
fortune to meet men of high attain.
ments, whose influence and example
fred his ambition. The Faneuil hall
meeting which he attended and cap
tured, offered favorable opportunity
for taking debut. He afterward
studied law in the Office of Colonel
James Page, and in 184l the jeweler
became full.fedged lawyer. The
young lawyers force as public speak
or attracted attention and brought
enough business to keep him fairly
employed. In 1845 he was made
prosecutor of the pleas for Philadel
phia, to which place he was twice ap-
pointed. In 1845 Governor Skunk ap-
pointed him 10 seat on the bench OF
the common pleas, oyer and terminer
and quarter sessions. In 1851 the ju-
dicial office became elective, and he
was elected associate Judge for term
of ten years. In 1856 he was nomi
mated for congress by the republicans
of the Fourth congressional district
and defeated, and soon afterward re.
signed his seat on the bench. He was
a member of the Chicago convention
of 1860, and when Lincoln was
chosen president Kelley was elected
to congress, where he has remained
ever since.
1t is needless in this connection tc
go into the details of Judge Kelley'l
long career in the house, which ha,
exceeded in length that of any of hi
contemporaries or predecessors. Ht
has figured prominently on the floor o.
the house in the debates on all tn,
vital issues before congress, but has
been 30 especially associated with the
championship of the protection policy
that for many years he has beer
known half playfully, have der!sively
as sold Pig lion" From his frs
entrance upon the congressional arena
he took rank beside the most earnes
and able of the defenders of thu
Union he favored the most vigorou
conduct of the war, and interested
himself, personally for the comfort o
the soldiers; he was in favor of eman
cipation and manhood suffrage, aud s,
early as 1862 advocated the arming O
the negro; he took an advanced iepub
lican position on the question OF re
construction; he advocated the Morril
tariff of 1861, and has since stoo'
yaliantly by the protective principle
and has defended the greenback as
good and lawful money, no less sei
vioeable in peace than in war. /
1869 he was made member of tn
committee on ways ana means, an
remained in continuous service on tina
committee until December last, whe
in consequence of his feeble health, b
requested Speaker Reed TO give him
committee assignment which would il
yolve less labor. In compliance wit
that request he was made chairman G
the committee on manufactures.
HooD's SARsAPARILLA CALENDAR fo