George W. Kelley

As printed in 1888

EORGE W. KELLEY. Among the early In (—, business men who settled in what is now the ij) city of Burlington, in 1835, was the subject of this sketch, who was born in Concord, N. H., in July, 1809. His parents died when he was a lad of thirteen years, and he then became an inmate of the home of his brother, who had been a resident of Erie County, Pa., for some years.

Young Kelley took up the study of law in the office of his brother, who was a practicing attorney, but later, believing himself better adapted to mercantile business, abandoned it. In 1835 he was married to Miss Margaret King, daughter of William B. and Nancy C. (Miller) King, of Martinsburg, Pa., and people highly respected in the community where they lived. Mr. and Mrs. King were the parents of six children: William W.; Mary, who became the wife of Gen. B. F. Kelley, a soldier of the late war; James K.; Margaret J.; Annie E., who married D. M. Ewing, an early settler of Burlington, Iowa, and now deceased; Margaret J., Mrs. Kelley, who is the only survivor of the family

In 1835 Mr. Kelley came to Iowa with his young wife, and was the third man to establish in the business of general merchandising in the city. He first located in an unpretentious store on Front street, the site of which is now occupied by the gas works. Two 3'ears later he was burned out, saving but a small portion of his stock. He then disposed of the remainder, and abandoning mercantile pursuits, began dealing in real estate. In 18.J2 he went to California and located at Marysville, where he embarked in the nursery business, leaving his wife in Burlington to educate their children. He prosecuted the nursery business on the Pacific Slope until his death, which occurred in 18G3.

Mr. Kelley was an active and energetic business man, one who stood high in the estimation of the people. He was kind and indulgent as a father and faithful in the discharge of his duties toward his family. In early life he was an old Henry Clay Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party gave to it his cordial and intelligent support, and continued with it until his death. To Mr. Kellev and his estimable wife there were born six children: Mary J. became the wife of P. K. Wilson, an attorney-at-law, and died in 1857; George E. is a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; the two youngest living are Maggie E. and William B. Two children died in infancy. Mrs. Kelley is still a resident of Burlington, where she has lived for a period of over fifty-two years. Upon coming here there was not a brick house in the town, which then gave little evidence of its future importance, and Indians roamed plentifully over this part of the Territory of Iowa. Mrs. Kelley fulfilled admirably the duties of a pioneer wife and mother, and has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for many years.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Des Moines County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county .. (1888). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.