The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-02
Death Comes To
 pr. J. H. Kelley
Former Esteemed Leading Knight of Elks Succumbs
 as Glanders Victim

New Haven Oct. 2-After an illness
 of two weeks with the disease of glan-
 ders which he had contracted from
 Kelley, prominent veterinarian and
 one of the most widely known Elks
 of the country died at his residence, 9
 High street, yesterday afternoon at
 o'clock. The doctor passed away
 quietly without pain, in fact for the
 past three days he had been in semi
 stupor superinduced by the disease.
 He had not suffered actual pain since
 the disease reached climax.
 When it was decided beyond doubt
 by meteorological test of Dr. Dwight 'M. Lewis that pr. Kelley had the
 disease for which there is almost no
 hope of cure, every effort was exerted
 by his physician, Dr. James Flynn, to seek a cure. The Rockefeller Insu-
 tute in New York city, was asked for serum to counteract the poison and
 an appeal was made to Dr. Parks of
 the New York city board Of health.
 who had met with some success in
 vaccinating for chronic cases of gfan- ders. but no serum could be found to
 combat the disease and no case is
 known of where a chronic case has been cured in human being.
 The funeral will probably be held Wednesday morning from St. Nary s church. The local lodge of Elks will be in charge.
 pr. Kelley is survived. by two sis | ters and has no other near relatives. Spirit of Elkdom.
 Dr. Kelley exemplified in the fullest
 measure all that the brotherhood of Elkdom stands for. He was of
 joviaI and companionable tempera-
 ment. and few indeed were the mem bers of the Best People on Earth
 who did not come under the influ-
 ence of his good nature and sunny optimism.
 He was born in Waterbury fifty-one
 years ago. A self-made man, he had infinite patience and respect for the man who is compelled to make his
 way in the world. It will never be known how many he assisted to climb the ladder that leads to prosperity He came here thirty-six years ago. He was for a number of years con nected with the Hemingway, smith and F. $. Porter Company. Interested from his early youth in the care and breeding of horses he took a course at a New York veterinary college, about fifteen years ago, opened an of flee in State street in the Todd build ing, and later moved to his late place of business in Orange street.
 He was appointed a short time ago by Governor Baldwin to the State BOarQ OIt veterinary E<AdII1lIICIS It was as an Elk that he was ch1ef- ly known throughout the country. He was charter member of New Haven lodge when it was founded March g. l 1884 In 1900 he was made exalted ruler of New Haven lodge, and the appointed district deputy under Grand Exalted Ruler Robert W. Brown. At Detroit two years ago he was elected Grand Esteemed Leading Knight of the order throughout the United States, signal honor for the
 incumbent and the lodge he repre-. sented This is the second highest office in the Elks. Dr. Kelley was very fond of the song which recount ed the meanderings of his itinerant namesake and when the local Elks stormed the Western city with the song. Has Any One Here Seen kel- ley?" their candidate was elected. Originated Christmas Tree. He was the originator of the now famous Elks Christmas tree for chil- dren It was while he with other members of the local lodge were mak- | ing merry over the festal board one Christmas eve that the doctor sug- gested "a tree for those children who have never seen such a thing at | Christmas.' His idea was carried out with success and is now a regular | yearly feature of the local lodge.
 pr. Kelley was the only member of the local lodge who received gold | certificate conferring honorary mem bership in the local lodge, He always dropped into the local rooms on Thursday night, and the members say it will indeed seem strange without l Doc" Kelley, the liveliest Elk of l them all.
 ss He was friend of Governor Tener | of Pennsylvania a brother Elk. and ;vf fri nf Con man Thomas L. Reilly, of Meriden. who came here last evening as soon | as hen learned of his death.
 l In the early eighties the veterinary | was known as one of the Shrewdest l rnlpires in the Atlantic league when | he umpired for New Haven. He
 played also with many amateur teams. | He at one time conducted boxing | school here and refereed many exhi- bitions given at the Hyperion. He 1 was a star polo referee in the early l days of the game in Connecticut