My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS JAMESON KELLAM.
The death of Thomas Jameson Kellam, at his beautiful home on the corner of Western avenue and Huntoon street, Topeka, on February 4, 1896, brought added meaning to the trite expression that “death loves a shining mark.” A man endowed with so many personal attractive traits, successful in business, honored by his associates and fellow-citizens and in the enjoyment of domestic happiness, surely was entitled to more than 44 years of existence. Such seems the limited human view. Mr. Kellam was born June 15, 1852, at Irasburg, Vermont.

Mr. Kellam accompanied his father’s family West and located at Chicago, from which city he came to Kansas, in 1870 and engaged with his brother in the cattle business. Later he came to Topeka and filled a position in the Post Office, which he left to enter into business with Henry King in a book and newspaper business. Subsequently he bought Mr. King’s interest, and conducted the Kellam book-store for some years. In 1888 the Merchants’ National Bank was organized, with Mr. Kellam as vice-president, and the Kellam Book & Stationery Company was formed, the employees buying a minority interest and Mr. Kellam continuing to hold a majority of the stock. Mr. Kellam was also a director of the Wichita & Western Railroad Company, a director of the Public Library and of the Topeka Club, and was interested in all that went to make this city worthy of its name of capital. For some 14 years he had been a vestryman in Grace Cathedral.

In 1877 Mr. Kellam married Lillie Holliday, who is a daughter of Colonel Holliday, of Topeka, and she, with three children, Kurtz, Louise and Katherine, still survives. The son, who was formerly the manager of the Kellam Book & Stationery Company, now resides in Kansas City.

The immediate cause of Mr. Kellam’s death was from railroad injuries received near Victor, Colorado, on January 17, 1896. For some days hopes of his recovery were entertained, but they proved false. His passing removed a man of exemplary character, one who took more than a slight interest in art and literature and in all that goes to make up a higher life. His manly attitude, his generous sympathies and his winning courtesy made his personal friends a legion.