MAJ. SHELBY,Collector of Revenue For the Seventh District,
Passes Away at an Early Hour This Morning After an Illness of Only a Week or Ten Days

He Was a Member of one of Kentucky's Most Illustrious Families.
A Brief Sketch of His Life
Funeral Arrangements And Other Announcements.

Major. Thomas H. Shelby, Collector of Internal Revenue for the Seventh District of Kentucky died this morning shortly before 2 o'clock, surrounded by his family a few close friends. The end came peacefully and without a struggle.

The cause of his death was a complication of throat troubles, and ever since he became confined to his bed, a little more than a week ago, he had been gradually sinking.

While his condition had been serious for the past few days, no immediate alarm was felt until shortly past midnight last night, when it became evident that the end was near. At 1 o'clock Major Shelby was quite feeble, and at five minutes to two he breathed his last.
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Thomas H. Shelby, son of Thomas H. Shelby and Mary Bullock and grandson of Isaac Shelby, Kentucky's first Governor, was born in Fayette county on the old homestead, "Grassland," about 10 miles from this city, February 28, 1829. He was educated at Transylvania University and was married to Miss Frances S. Todd, daughter of Dr. John Todd of Springfield, Ill. She died in 1851, leaving one child, John T. Mr. Shelby was married a second time in 1856, to Miss Florence McDowell, daughter of Dr. Ephraim McDowell. Twelve children were born of this marriage, four sons and eight daughters. His wife and thirteen children all survive him.

Maj. Shelby lived upon his farm, a part of the original Shelby survey, up to the latter part of 1892 when he sold it and removed to Lexington. He was appointed by President Cleveland to the responsible office of United States Revenue Collector for this, the Seventh District in September 1893, and commenced his term of office October 1.

His conduct of the office, aided by his son Wallace, M., has been eminently satisfactory, and upon the recent examination made by the department it was graded No. 1, the highest rank in the service.

Mr. Shelby was for years an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

NOTED KENTUCKIANS DEAD

Major Thomas H. Shelby and Colonel Robert P. Pepper.

LEXINGTON, KY. -Feb. 19. - Major Thomas H. Shelby, collector of Internal revenue for this district, and father of John T. Shelby. Colonel Breckinridge's law partner and counsel in his famous suit, died early this morning of paralysis of the throat in his sixty-sixth year. He was a grandson of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky and related to leading families of Kentucky, Virginia and Missouri.

At The Custom House.

A Dark Gloom Pervades the Place Today - Official News Sent to Washington.

A dark gloom hung over al departments at the Custom House today. Officials who were necessarily on duty there moved about their work in a quiet, solemn manner, and little business of importance was transacted at all.

Chief Deputy collector Wallace M. Shelby came down shortly before noon but remained only a short time. Deputy George Bryan was in charge of the office, the greater part of the day. He telegraphed the official notification of the death of Collector Shelby to Washington early this morning.

As the law requires in the event of a vacancy created in the office of Collector of Internal revenue, the several deputies will assume charge of the office temporarily and Chief Deputy Wallace M. Shelby will sign all papers until a successors to his father is appointed. Tomorrow, the custom house will likely be closed during the hours of the funeral.
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MAJOR SHELBY

Passes Away at Five Minutes After Two O'clock This Morning

WITHOUT APPARENT PAIN.

His Death Was Caused by a Complicated Throat Disease, After a Week's Illness.

FUNERAL NOT YET ARRANGED.

At five minutes of 2 o'clock this morning the angel of death summoned the calm spirit of Maj. Thomas H. Shelby and the end came peacefully and without a struggle.

Since his attack, a little more than a week ago, Major Shelby's many friends have felt increased uneasiness at the reports of his condition, and the news, though not entirely unexpected, will come as a shock to all who knew him.

His first sickness seemed to be the result of vertigo and from the first it was feared that it would result in paralysis, and Dr. W. O. Bullock when asked about the case during the past few days, while expressing the hope of his recovery has stated that his condition was serious.

His paralysis was about the throat and this with other complications was the cause of his death.

He began to sink rapidly at an early hour last night and by half past 1 o'clock his watchers could see that the end was drawing near, and his family were summoned to his bedside, where they stayed to the end.

Maj. Shelby was appointed by President Cleveland as United States Internal Revenue Collector for the Seventh District of Kentucky, and his appointment was confirmed by Congress on September 7, 1893.

He assumed control of his office soon after, and his record in this responsible Government position was a matter of pride both to himself and to his host of friends.

Major Shelby was a grandson of Gov. Isaac Shelby and he was related to nearly every prominent family of the state.

Lexington (KY) Leader obituary; 19 February 1895; p1 c4.
Lexington (KY) Press obituary; 19 February 1895; p1 c3.
Baltimore (MD) Sun death notice; 20 February 1895; p1