Industrialist. He was born January 12, 1842, at Sugar Grove, Warren County, Pa., and received his early education in the public schools. He studied law at Warren, under the direction of Judge William D. Brown and Judge Glenni W. Scofield. In due time he was admitted to the bar and for a number of years he was engaged in general practice, in connection with these gentlemen. Officialdom had no attraction for him and in his subsequent career he would accept no public office. As a safe counselor and as a learned, brilliant advocate Mr. McKelvy was held in highest esteem. His attainments ripened during the years of his service as general counsel for the Tide-Water Companies. At Enterprise, Pa.. Mr. McKelvy, Mr. Byron D. Benson and Major R. E. Hopkins organized the Enterprise Oil and Lumber Company, the B. D. Benson Company and D. McKelvy & Company, the last named concern having its main office at Titusville, where soon these gentlemen made their homes. The problem of establishing an independent outlet for the transportation of oil to the sea was one which at this time engaged many minds and engendered unbounded acrimony. Mr. David Hostetter. manufacturer of a patent medicine, who had acquired interests in oil. in 1874 conceived the idea of piping his product to Pittsburg. There connection was to be made with the Baltimore and Ohio Road. The line was completed in 1875 and turned over to Byron D. Benson, David McKelvy. R. E. Hopkins, William Brough and John M. Bonham. who operated it as the Columbia Conduit Company. These gentlemen withdrew when Dr. Hostetter sold to the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Benson. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. McKelvy then took up the project of a pipe line from the Butler field to Baltimore. Md. This project, known as the Seaboard Pipe Co., Limited, was abandoned chiefly in consequence of the opening of the Bradford field. The acquisition of a right of way, a delicate and difficult task, had fallen to Mr. McKelvy, who, in conjunction with General Herman Haupt, engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, succeeded in the face of apparently insuperable obstacles. Messrs. Benson. McKelvy and Hopkins, as told elsewhere in this volume, then be gan the construction of the first trunk pipe line and organized the Tide-Water Pipe Company. Limited. Mr. McKelvy never wavered in his belief in the feasibility of piping oil over the Allegheny Mountains to the Atlantic seaboard, a project which, during the constructive period, was regarded by many as superlatively impracticable. The task of de signing and working out the pumping machinery waa of vital importance. While the experience gained on the Columbia Conduit line proved of value, the fact remained that the Columbia was a four-inch line and the Tide-Water was to be a six-inch line and to cross the mountains. Mr. McKelvy applied himself to the Intricate problems involved and with the co-operation of Mr. Holly, of the Holly Manufacturing Company. and of Mr. J. G. Benton, superintendent of the Tide-Water Pipe Company, arrived at the solutions which will long be deemed remarkable among the achievements of engineering. Following the death of Byron D. Benson In 1888, Mr. McKelvy succeeded to the Presidency of the Tide-Water Companies. He served In that capacity and as general counsel, until 1892. In that year he suffered a severe illness which necessitated his retirement. The general offices of the Tide-Water Companies were then, as now. In New York City. Mr. McKelvy returned to his home In Titusville, where he now resides. Mr. McKelvy was married June 20. 1872. to Miss Louise Wood, of Warren, Pa. They have two children. Charlotte, wife of Hon. George White, of Marietta, Ohio, and Robert, member of the Board of Managers of the Tide-Water Pipe Company. Limited.