I happened upon this outstanding portrait of Chariton's Dr. John Alexander and Mary (Milthorpe) McKlveen the other day at Ancestry.com. Posted to a family history file by Craig Swan, it must have been taken not long after Dr. McKlveen married Miss Milthorpe during 1899.
His first wife, Katherine, had died in 1882 so Mary, some 27 years her husband's junior, was his second. Dr. McKlveen was one of Chariton's leading physicians during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as well as a major stockholder in the McKlveen & Eikenberry lumber and grain business. The family home was located a block south of the southwest corner of the square on what now is a vacant lot just across the street east of the American Legion hall.
So I thought I'd pair the portrait with an image of Dr. McKlveen's tombstone in the Chariton Cemetery and look up his obituary, not included in his "Find a Grave" entry. Mary McKlveen outlived her husband by more than 30 years, passing during 1951. Here is his obituary as published in The Herald-Patriot of July 20, 1916.
+++
With genuine sorrow The Herald-Patriot this week chronicles the loss of one of our oldest and best known citizens, Dr. J.A. McKlveen, who passed away at his residence on the corner of Main street and Linden avenue, on Sunday morning, July 16, 1916, at 6 o'clock, at the age of 80 years, 7 months and 18 days, after an extended illness with cardiac asthma and a complication of troubles. Although it was known that his condition was serious yet he had been able to be about until a few days before the end came and the news of his demise was a great shock to his relatives and friends.
Largely attended funeral services were held at the First Baptist church on Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Herbert J. Bryce, assisted by Rev. Theodore H. Aszman, of the First Presbyterian church. A eulogy of the deceased was read by Hon. R.A. Hasselquist, of this city, who paid a glowing and merited tribute to the life and character of the one who had come to the end of his earthly career. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful, and were tender messages of regard and sympathy. At the close of the ceremonies the remains were laid to rest in the Chariton cemetery.
John Andrew McKlveen, son of Henry and Catherine Lohr McKlveen, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on November 28, 1835, and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was educated in the public schools of his native county and at Sewickley Academy. In early manhood he engaged in teaching and afterward studied medicine. He took his first course of lectures in 1860 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of his profession for two years in Pleasant Unity, Pa. He continued his lectures in Bennett Medical college of Chicago, receiving his degree from that institution in 1872.
He was entirely self dependent from the age of 15, paying his own way through college. He came to Iowa in 1865 where he spent some time in search of a satisfactory location, finally choosing Chariton, where he practiced continually for 50 years, until within a few months of his death. He was the oldest physician of this city in years of continuous practice. He was railway surgeon for the C.B. & Q. railroad company for 24 years, holding said position at the time of his death. He was president of the Board of Examining Surgeons for Pensions during Harrison's administration, and also served as president of the Iowa State Eclectic Medical society for three terms. He was appointed a member of the Iowa State Board of Health by Gov. Shaw for a period of seven years, serving as president of that body a part of the time. In 1901, he was sent as a delegate from the State Board of Health to London, England, to attend the British Congress of Tuberculosis. He also served as senator from this district in the 32nd general assembly. He was also prominent in local affairs, being vice-president of the State Savings Bank and a director in the Lucas County National Bank since its organization. In connection with his other business interests, Dr. McKlveen was senior member of the lumber firms of McKlveen & Eikenberry at Chariton, Russell and Cambria.
On November 10th, 1868, in Freeport, Pennsylvania, Dr. McKlveen was united in marriage to Miss Catharine M. Kennedy, whose acquaintance he formed while she was teaching in this county. To this union three children were born, Henry Bennett, Mary Elizabeth and Jessie, now Mrs. Hugh H. Craig, of Riverside California. The two former, with the mother, passed away a number of years ago.
On the 30th of October, 1899, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Genevieve Milthorpe, who with the daughter and two granddaughters, Margaret McKlveen, of Leon, and Katharine Craig, of Riverside, California, survives him. He also leaves three brothers, Samuel McKlveen, of this city, and Rev. Wm. McKlveen and Cramer McKlveen, of Pennsylvania. To all these sorrowing ones the deepest sympathy of this community will be extended.
In the death of Dr. McKlveen Chariton has suffered a distinct loss.. He was considered one of the first citizens of the county and everything that tended to promote the welfare of the community received his approval and cooperation. His fidelity to duty and his promptness and loyal in discharging every obligation that came to him won for him almost unlimited confidence and gained for him the respect of all with whom he was brought into contact. He will be greatly missed, not only in the home circle but in public life and in the many homes throughout the county where for years he ministered in times of sickness.
No comments:
Post a Comment