The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-09-12
GOOD MAN PASSES
AT VERY ADVANCED AGE
DR.. James Wesley Keller Dies At
Home of Sister-Eighty-nine.
Years Old.

DIR. James wesley heller uleu dt d
o'clock this morning at the home OF
his sister, Mrs. Julia Pratt, after an
illness of about two weeks. Funeral
services will be conducted tomorrow
morning at II o'clock at the Metho-
dist church, conducted by the Rev. G.
E. Peele, burial following at Long
Cane cemetery.
DR.. Keller was born in Abbeville
county, September 16, 1883, and had
he lived till Friday he would have
been 80 years old. His parents were
David Keller and Nancy Lomax Kel-
ler: He had discontinued the prac.
tice of medicine several years ago,
with his enfeebled condition due to
advancing age. He was one of the
oldest living graduates Of the Char
lesion Medical College, formerly the
Medical College of South Carolina,
and at onA time enjoyed very large
practice. During the Civil War ne
was Assistant Surgeon.
It is said by his contemporaries,
few Of whom remain, that he had pro-
bably made fewer enemies than most
men who have reached his age. A
large part of DR.. Keller's medical
practice was done without pay or ex-
pectation of pay. Whoever came to
him for assistance got it without
question as to the patients financial
responsibility. He was, therefore,
held to be benefactor of the poor
and needy, and one whom time may
not ever replace in his community.
DR.. Keller was three times mar
ried. His first wife was Miss Louise
Rebecca Wilson of this county, who
died October IA, 1879. She was the
mother of all his children except Jas.
Edwin Keller. His second wife was
Miss Mary Cook of Alabama who
died June "a, 1886. His third wife
was Miss Susan A. Wilson, sister
of his first wife, who also preceded
DR.. Keller to the grave.
Surviving DR.. Keller are three sis.
ters, two brothers, two sons and three
daughters. His sisters are Mrs. Julia
Pratt, who lives about five miles from
Abbeville on the Hodges road, and at
whose home DIR. Keller died; Mrs.
Lima Lomax Of Greenwood, and Mrs.
Emma Haddon of Abbeville. Brothers
of DR.. Keller are l. A. Keller and w.
W. L. Keller, both of Abbeville coun-
ty. His sons are the Rev. David w.
Keller of Johnston, and J. E. Keller
of Abbeville. Daughters surviving are
Mrs. Lena Syfan Of Atlanta; Mrs.
Lizzie Wilson of Lake City, Fla,
and Mrs. Ludie Cox of Abbeville.
DR.. Keller was a member of the
church and was considered
by all who knew him a most upright
man. He was man of excellent busi-
ness judgment, honest in the per-
formance of duty, conscientious in
his dealings with his fellowman, lov-
able in character and beloved by
family and neighbors alike. He will
long be remembered and missed.
Joseph Lomax, of Grand Rapids,
Mich, in his book, genealogical and
Historical Sketches of the Lomax
published in 1894, says Of
DR.. Keller:
"Dr. Keller is physician and a
farmer, a Methodist and a Democrat.
He was an assistant surgeon in the
Confederate army. He invested his
means largely in Confederate bonds
a total loss. He descends from Will
liam Lomax, the Englishman who
settled in Rockingham County, North
Carolina. A large portion of the doc
tors practice is among negroes. They
pay so little that he enters none of
their names on his books. He is a
kind, genial, jovial, intelligent gen.
tleman. 1 visited him at his home
in 1885,"
Active pallbearers will be T. M.
Miller, John T. Evans, Joe Evans, L..
w. Keller, Charlie Keller and Will
liam Keller, all nephews. Honorary