The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-04
Mr.. KELLAM DEAD
Passes Away at 1886 O'clock
This Morning,
Surrounded by His Family and
Friends.
HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS
For Half an Hour Before His
Death,
But Previous to That RecOg-
nized Those Around.

Thomas Jameson Kellam died at $3.50
this morning as a result of the injuries
received January II on the Midland
Terminal railway near Victor, Colorado.
Mr.. Kellam never really rallied from the
shock.
Saturday evening his family and
friends were alarmed by fever which
threw the injured man into delirium.
on Sunday he was unconscious the entire
day and the family had little hope of his
recovery; at noon yesterday he rallied,
but it was only the brief flashing up of
the lamp of life before extinguishment
forever.
All yesterday afternoon the patient
seemed to be regaining the strength he
had lost the day before, but though the
doctors gave out encouraging news it
was known that Mr.. Kellam's death was
only a question of few days at best.
Shortly after midnight last night an
alarming change came and the friends
and relatives were notified. The physi-
clans said at once that Mr.. Kellam was
dying. There were lucid intervals, dur
ing which he recognized his friends, but
ne was not able to speak. 1t was not
until half hour before his death that he
entirely lost consciousness.
The injured man seemed to snffer no
pain anu the emu came as peacefully as
sleep.
Sa Mr.. KelIam who was A years of age
at the time of his death, came to Topeka
earlyin the seventies. He wasmoney order
clerk in the postofflce for several years
under Postmaster Henry King. When
he resigned his position in the postoffice
he started the Kellam bookstore which
is now known as The KelIam Book and
Stationery company Mr.. Kellam at the
time of his death still owned practically
all the stock in the company. He was
also one of the founders of the Mer-
chants National bank, and was vice
president and one of the principal stock
holders.
He was prominent in social as well as
business circles aud WAS one of the di-
rectors of the Topeka club. His father,
John II. kellam is still living. His home
is at Evanston, Illinois, and his sister,
Mrs. Arthur COble lives at the same
place. His only brother, Henry a. Kel-
lam lives at Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Kel-
lam had but two blood relatives in To-
peka. They are cousins, E. P. and Geo.
d. Kellam.
While Mr.. Kellam was employed in
the Topeka postotfice he was married to
Miss Lillian Holiday, daughter of Col
G. K. Holiday. Three children have
been born to them, one son, Kurtz. who
is seventeen years old, and two daugh-
ters, Louise. who is thirteen, and Rather
inc, who is eight.
a little more than a year ago Mr. Kel-
lam bought the George r. Peck home
stead at the corner of Huntoon and Fill
more streets, and it was in this beautiful
home, surrounded by all that wealth
could furnish and by a loving and at
tractive family that he died.
The arrangements for the funeral have
not been made and will not be until the
relatives and friends who have been no.
tiled have been heard from.
Mr. kellam was known as wealthy
man, but the sum of his possessions can
only be estimated. His friends place the
figure at about 100000.
The accident which resulted in Mr.
Kellam's death occurred while he was
on his way to Cripple Creek in company
with Wal Thompson, u no was his most
intimate friend They were riding in the
back seat of the rear coach and their
train was standing on the main track at
Victor. There is very steep grade be-
tween Victor and Bull Hill, which is sew
eral miles farther up the road. A freight
train was switching some cars at Bull
Hill and the engineer undertook the haz-
ardOus feat of making "fying switch"
The car missed the switch, crashing into
the rear of the passenger coach. Many
were injured and among them Mr.. KEEL
land and Mr. Thompson. 1t was not
thought at the time that either of the
gentlemen was seriously hurt but when
they were brought homo it was known
that Mr.. Kellam whose back was injured
might be a cripple for life. Mr.. Thomp-
son recovered and was present when Mr.
Kellam died
Both the bank with which Mr.. KeIlam
was connected and the bookstore were
closed today soon as the notice of his
death was received.