Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1906 — Death of John F. McColly. [ARTICLE]

Death of John F. McColly.

John F. McColly, senior partner in the grocery firm of J. F. McColly & Son and member at large of the City Council, died at his home on Oak street, north of the railroad, at 9:30 o' clock, Jlast Saturday, morning, Sept., Bth,' 1906. He has been in failing health for several months, and finally his disease was recognized asthat most fatal malady, acute Bright's disease of the kidneys. That his case was hopeless was recognized by the physicians for some time before the public were informed of the fact, and which indeed became generally known so recently that the news of his death will reach many before they have even learned that he was seriously sick. For a week the progress of his disease has been sure and rapid, though up till Wednesday night he continued to have periods of brightness when he gladly welcomed and talked with such friends as called to see him. About noon Thursday he again lapsed into an unconscious condition, like many times before, but from this he never rallied, nor never recognized nor spoke to anyone again, and finally passed quietly away, without any return of consciousnes, nor ingHe was born near Muncie, in Delaware county, Ind., July 7th 1849, and his age at death was therefore 57 years, two months and one day He moved to Jasper county with his father Clark McColly, in 1869, and has ever since made his home in this county. He was married to Jennie Braddick March 21, 1872. She died Mar. 6 1894 and he was married a second time March 25th, 1896, to Mrs. Sarelda McColly, who died July 19 1904. There were seven children by the first marriage all of whom are living, namely Mrs. Cora Coen, Fred McColly, Mrs. Rosa Yeoman, Mrs. Mattie Kresler, John Jr., and Misses Floy and Merle. All of Rensselaer or vicinity. Four brothers and three sisters also him, James and Edward G. of Union Tp., and Ben D., and Charles A., of Chicago Heights; Mrs. C. D. Hopkins, of Rensselaer, Mrs. G. W. Payne, of Monticello, and Mrs. John E. Alter of Union Tp. All these sons and daughters and brothers and sisters were by his side when he passed away except one sister, Mrs. Alter, who is visiting her son in Salt Lake City and one daughter, Mrs. Yeoman who had been with him shortly before but was then at her home in Newton Tp.

He lived many years in Union township, but finally moved to Rensselaer where he has been engaged in the grocery business for many yea’s, first with his son-in-law, J. W. Coen and later with his son John. At the time of his death he was a member of the City Council of Rensselaer, and had previously served one or more terms. He was also a member of of the board of trustees of the Rensselaer Public Library. He was*a man of strictest personal and official integrity, a mover in all good works, and universally respected and esteemed by all. The funeral was held Sunday at 2:30 p. m., at the family residence on Oak street, by Rev. G. H. Clarke, pastor of the Rensselaer Christian church. The attendance was veiy large and the procession one of the longest seen for a long time, and included a great many old friends and neighbors where he . formerly lived. His brother City ■ Councilmen and the other city officers attended in a body. The pallbearers were C. G. Spitler and J. F. Irwin, of the City Council, G. E. Murray and John Eger, representing the business men, and D. H. Yeoman and J. M. Wilcox, representing old friends and neighbors. Interment was made in Weston cemetery.