The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-17
A FATAL FALL.
Or. J. B. MckeIvy Killed by an
Accidental Fall From a Sec
ond-Story Window.
Heart Failure the Probable
Cause of the Distressing
Accident.

AT any time during the past two
years or more, the friends of DR..
James Boyd McKelvy would not have
been greatly surprised to hear of his
death, even suddenly, and with but
little warning. He has been in feeble
health for some years, and 1t was we'll
known that his heart was seriously at
tected, and was liable to cease beating
at almost any moment; but when. on
Tuesday morning the report spread
rapidly over the town that he had
been killed by fall from second.
story window at his home, during the
night, the entire community was
shocked and grieved, that he who had
been battling with the grim destroyer
so long, should meet his death in so
sad a manner.
Just how it happened will never be
known. On Monday he renamed in
his room until about supper time, then
arose, and after partaking of the
evening meal, he smoked his pipe,
and retired at the usual hour AT
about four o'clock on Tuesday morn
ing H. A. M'Killip, Esq, heard noise,
and arousing his wife, they both went
out into the hall, Mrs. M'KillIp going
directly to her fathers room, to find
that he was not there, and Mr.. M'Kil-
lip going into the bathroom, which is
directly over the front door. Here
he found the window raised, and look
ing down, saw the form of the Doctor
lying on the stone walk below. The
shock Of such an awful discovery can
be better imagined than described.
Mr.. MKillp was at his side in mo-
ment, and as he raised the Doctors
head, the dying man gave one sigh
and then ceased to breathe. The
neighbors were aroused and assisted
in bearing the llfeless form into the
house, and Doctors Reber and Brown
were summoned. An examination
showed that two ribs we've broken on
the left side, but beyond this there
were no broken bones, no bruises, and
no blood, in fact, no injuries tina,
would indicate that death was caused
by the fall.
1t is believed that the Doctor hat
occasion to go to the bathroom, anc
and that while there, was seized will
an attack of heart trouble, and tha
he raised the window to get fresh air
and Immediately becoming uncon
sclous, and probably in the pangs O
death, he pitched forward out of tn
window. He has had numerou
falls recently, resulting from weakness
IN the lower limbs and dizziness, bu
heretofore escaped any serious conse
quences. That the theory, abov
stated, is the correct one, there ca
be no doubt.
DIR. McKelvy was born in Blooms
burg on the 2Ist of September, I82 4
and at the time of his death was age
seventy six years, three months ar
twenty-four days. His parents wer
William aud Elizabeth (Willits) Nj
Kelvy. He was educated in the con
mon schools ofthis town and in Leno
Academy, at Lenox, Mass, and ais
took a complete course in William
College at Williamstown, Mass, fro1
which institution he graduated
rS4s. He then read medicine und
the preceptorshlp of the late ID
Ramsey, OF Bloomsbury, and later a
tended the University of Pennsylvani
where he received a diploma as ply
ician and surgeon in IS49. He II
mediately afterwards entered upc
practice at Mfl.nvllle, this count
where he remained for some time, al
then moved to Kentucky, later goil
to Arkadelphia, Ark About 1855
came back to his native town whe
he spent the remainder of his III
On December IS, 1851, he marri
Mary Elizabeth Albeit, daughter
George and Mary (Crais) Albeit, al
unto them were born seven chlldre
of whom FIVE are still living: Willia
now practicing medicine at Brecke
ridge, Colorado; George Albeit, W
is in the drug business in this tow
Henry Wilhts, travelling salesma
Mary Craig, wife of H. A. M'Kill
Esq, and Harriet Neal, wife OF Reg
ter and Recorder ]. c. Rutter, Jr.,
of Bloomsburg. Mrs. McKelvy d.
IN December, 1897.
DIR. McKelvy was for many ye;