OBIT: James E. McFEELY, 1915, Blair County, PA

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CONSTABLE M'FEELY DIES IN PITTSBURG
Well Known Altoona Officer Passes Away in Hospital After Brief
Illness.

James E. McFeely, for thirty years constable of the Fifth ward, a
former member of the Altoona city police force and one of the ablest
and best known police officers in this section of the state, died at
noon yesterday at the St. Francis hospital in Pittsburg, after an
illness of less than two days, of heart failure.  The body was brought
to the city and taken to his home at 1806 Eleventh avenue at 10.15
last evening, from where the funeral will take place.

Mr. McFeely went to Pittsburg on Saturday on business, being
apparently in his usual health, but during Sunday evening he was taken
ill on the street.  A police lieutenant who knew him, took him in
charge and removed him to St. Francis hospital.  Mrs. McFeely was
notified and on Monday evening she went to Pittsburg and was with her
husband when he passed away.

Mr. McFeely was a native of Altoona, having been born on June 25,
1856, in a house that stood on the site of the Hebrew Reformed
synagogue at Thirteenth avenue and Fifteenth street.  His mother died
when he was five months old and he was taken in charge by his
grandmother who lived in Cambria county, he growing to young manhood
there.  His grandfather was a lumberman and in his younger days Mr.
McFeely assisted at the work in the woods.  His father was John
McFeely, who subsequently moved to the western part of the state and
has been dead for some years.

Coming to the city of his birth while still a young man, Mr. McFeely
entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, first as a
brakeman in the yard and subsequently in the shops, being thus
employed for a number of years.  His career as a police officer began
about 1884, when the late Mayor Charles J. Mann, appointed him a
member of the city police force, he being retained by Mr. Mann's
successor, Mayor S. J. Breth.  At the beginning of his service there
were but four police officers, the hours were long and the work
difficult.  But McFeely soon demonstrated his mettle and early
acquired the reputation of being a capable officer, a reputation he
sustained until the end of his career.

He served as constable of the Fifth ward for thirty years.  He seldom
if ever had any opposition at the election upon the expiration of his
successive terms, such was his efficiency in the discharge of his
duties and his popularity among the citizens of his ward.  He was a
Democrat in politics, but was invariably nominated by the Republican
as well as by his own party for constable.  His career as constable
furnishes many interesting incidents.  He was fearless in the
discharge of his duties and ever a terror to evil-doers.  He had
several narrow escapes.  On one occasion about fifteen years ago, in
the Whitechapel district of the Fifth ward, he was attacked by a bad
negro, who drew a revolver and aiming it at McFeely's heart, pulled
the trigger.  Fortunately, the weapon was not discharged and the
officer succeeded in overpowering the man after a struggle.

During his long service in association with the late Alderman John
O'Toole, and during the past fourteen years with Alderman Theodore D.
Crawford, Constable McFeely was always attentive to his work, figuring
in many of the most important criminal cases in the annals of the
city.  He was naturally adapted to the work to which the best part of
his life was devoted, and was recognized as a detective of more than
ordinary ability.  He, however, had a kind heart and never needlessly
distressed people.

Mr. McFeely was married in April, 1883, to Miss Bertha Heck, of Three
Springs, Huntingdon county, by whom he is survived, together with two
daughters, Daisy, wife of Walter George, and Nellie, wife of James
McGinley, both of this city.  He is also survived by his step-mother,
Mrs. Lizzie McFeely, of Turtle Creek, three brothers, Hayden and
Malcom McFeely, of Turtle Creek, and Archie, of Elmore, and two half-
sisters, Mrs. Nettie Carl and Mrs. Nora Bowman, both of Turtle Creek.

Mr. McFeely had a wide circle of friends in this community, who
esteemed him for his many excellent traits of character.  He was
genial and companionable and a devoted husband and father, his sudden
death coming as a terrible shock to the members of his family.  He was
a Roman Catholic by faith.  The body was taken in charge by Undertaker
N. A. Stevens upon its arrival in the city last night.  The funeral
arrangements have not been completed and will be announced later.

Altoona Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Wednesday, June 2, 1915, page 12