The Kelly Families of Clinton County, Iowa

SAMUEL S. KELLY.

A well known and honored representative of the Kelly family in Clinton county is Samuel S. Kelly, of Elvira, Center township. He was born February 23, 1849, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was two years of age when his parents made the long overland journey to Iowa bringing him to a new county. They started life in early-settler fashion and here he grew to maturity, assisting with the work in developing a farm in the wilderness or, more properly, perhaps raw prairie. He is the son of Adam and Elizabeth Kelly. It was in April, 1851, that they located in Clinton county. The father was born October 11, 1814, and the mother’s birth occurred on August 25, 1816. They settled in section 16, Center township, on the same section and adjoining the farm now owned by Samuel S. Kelly. It contained two hundred and eighty acres, which was brought up to a high state of cultivation and a good home was established. The death of the father occurred on January 23, 1906, and that of the mother in 1848.

Samuel S. Kelly received a good common school education and he grew to maturity on the farm. He was married on December i6, 18C9, to Anna M. Smith, daughter of Jeremiah and Jane Smith.

Samuel S. Kelly is a farmer and stock raiser by occupation and he has been very successful in his life work. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church and politically he is a Republican. In his family were seven children, named as follows: Ida M. Reed, Herbert, Hattie Pearson, Essa and Irma are at home; Carrie and Cora are deceased.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

TOHN W. KELLY.

A man who has well earned the honor to be addressed as one of the progressive, public-spirited men of Clinton county, is John W. Kelly, a well known business man of Grand Mound, Orange township, since from the beginning of his residence here he has been conspicuously active, securing for himself the comforts of life and home and is laying by a competence for his declining years.

Mr. Kelly was born in DeWitt. Iowa, 1868. and is the son of Roger and Jane.' fMcDevitt) Kelly, the father born in Indiana and the mother in Ireland. The latter came to.america when a child. This family moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and located on a farm five miles west of Grand Mound. In that vicinity the paternal grandfather. Alexander Kellv. entered

6l8 land and was a well known farmer in the early days here. Roger Kelly and his brother finally entered business in DeWitt. In 1868 or 1869 Roger Kelly and family moved to Grand Mound and there started a grocery store, continuing successfully until 1885, when he turned his attention to the live stock business, which he had been engaged in for some time previously, and he. continued in this business until his death, on March 15, 1901. His wife died in 1885. They were the parents of four children, two dying in infancy, John W. of this review and one daughter, Margaret, being the only survivors. Roger Kelly was twice married, his second wife being Mary A. Harkins, and this union resulted in the birth of tw'O children, Roger and Alice, both of whom are living. Roger Kelly was a member of the Catholic church, while politically he was a Democrat. He took a great deal of interest in local affairs and he was mayor of Grand Mound and he always did his full duty in developing Grand Mound.

John W. Kelly was educated in the public schools at Grand Mound. He grew up in the live stock business with his father and still continues in it. He has been very successful in this line of endeavor, as he has also been in the furniture business, which he began in 1891. He is a man of splendid business ability and is a tireless worker, being universally known as a man of integrity and honor.

Mr. Kelly was married on November 25, 1890, to Myrtle McLaughlin, of Grand Mound, where her family has long been well and favorably known. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelly three children have been born, Raymond, Harry and Leo.

Mr. Kelly belongs to the Catholic church and politically he is a Democrat. He takes an abiding interest in local affairs and has held various offices at Grand Mound.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOSEPH A. KELLY.

Joseph A. Kelly is the senior member of the firm of J. A. Kelly & Brothers, manufacturers of furniture in Clinton. The industry of which he is the head is one of the leading" enterprises of the city and Mr. Kelly belongs to that class of men who, while promoting their individual success, contribute in a large measure to the general prosperity of the community in which they reside. Keen discrimination and sound business judgment have been salient features in his prosperous career, and his life illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is possible to accomplish when honesty and perseverance form the keynote to a man's character.

Mr. Kelly was born in Philadelphia on the 7th of August, 1855, and is a son of William and Ellen (Morris) Kelly. The former a native of Newburg, New York, while the latter was born in Inniskillen, county Fermanagh, Ireland, and came to America when a little maiden of ten years with an older sister. They took up their above in Philadelphia and there the parents of our subject celebrated their marriage. The father is a contractor and builder by trade, but for some years has lived retired, enjoying a well-earned competence. Both he and his wife are residents of Clinton. He was actively identified with the building interest of Philadelphia until 1870, when he came west, taking up his above in this city, where he followed contracting and building on an extensive scale until 1890, when he put aside business cares to enjoy a well-merited rest. He was born in 1828, his wife in 1829, and therefore both have passed the semi-span of three score years and ten. In the evening of life they are surrounded with many comforts as a result of their labor and they also enjoy the high regard of many friends. In their family were four sons, who now constitute the firm of J. A. Kelly & Brothers, and two sisters, namely: Mary, the wife of J.

M. Wright, and Ella, the wife of William Lawler, of Marquette, Michigan.

In 'taking up the personal history of J. A. Kelly, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in the city of his adoption. He pursued his early education in the public schools of Philadelphia and later continued his studies in the schools of Clinton. On entering upon an independent business career he engaged in the manufacture of spring beds, joining his father, who was also interested in the same line of business. He became connected with the industry in 1879 and in 1885 he extended the field of his labors by embarking" in the manufacture of furniture, while in 1890 the present company, carrying on business under the firm name of J. A. Kelly & Brothers, was organized. Two years later the business was incorporated with Joseph A. Kelly as president, Peter H. Kelly as vice-president,. Thomas F. 'Kelly as secretary, and William J. Kelly as treasurer.

In 1880 Joseph A. Kelly had entered into partnership with Mr. Heminway, a relation that was maintained until 1890. The plant has been located at the present site since 1892. The factory is fifty-five by one hundred and fifty feet and three stories in height, and employment is furnished to about one hundred workmen. They manufacture many kinds of furniture, including coaches, davenport, chairs and kitchen cabinets, but their specialty is upholstered furniture. The building is located at the corner of Eleventh avenue and Fifteenth street and is well equipped with the latest improved machinery for turning out first-class work. The house is represented on the road by six traveling salesmen and the goods are sold directly to retail furniture dealers. When Mr. Kellv began business he carried on his operations on a small scale, but now makes extensive shipments to all parts of the United States. Many of the products of the house are patented and include the patented Imperial reclining chair, which is manufactured in several styles, and the patent safety bed. They also manufacture a full line of coaches of about one hundred designs of high quality. They also manufacture a pool table, which is sold only to jobbers, about one hundred of these beingdisposed of each month. The business has grown in volume and importance from the beginning and has now assumed extensive proportions. It has become one of the leading industries in this portion of Iowa and is of far reaching business influence, in fact it furnishes employment to a large force of workmen, thus placing in their hands the means of livelihood.

December 30, 1884. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kelly and Miss Alary Maloney, a native of Chicago. The wedding was celebrated in Xew Orleans and has been blessed with three children: Harold, Paul and Geraldine. Both Air. and Mrs. Kelly occupy an enviable position in local circles and their home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality. As a citizen. Mr. Kelly is public-spirited and earnestly co-operates in many movements and measures which have for their object the general welfare. The greater part of his attention, however, is devoted to his business interests. He forms his plans readily, is determined in their execution and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. There is no trace of the over-bearing task-master in him, for kindness and courtesy mark his intercourse with his employes and no one entertains for him higher regard than the men who work under him.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.