John L. Kelley

As printed in 1905

JOHN L. KELLEY.

The middle western section of the American Union is essentially the home of progress, and throughout all the States composing this section the name of John L. Kelley, of Burlington, is well known as that of a leader along lines of steady and energetic advancement. For many cars he has been engaged in the wholesale and retail trade as the principal member of the firm of J. L. Kelley & Company, dealers in agricultural implements and vehicles, and also maintaining storage and transfer departments.

]\Mr. Kelley was born near Steubenville, Jefferson county. Ohio, a son of James and Jane (Keen) Kelley, the father a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch-Irish descent, the grandfather having emigrated from Ireland to America, and the mother. Jane Keen Kelley, being a native of Ireland. The parents of our subject celebrated their marriage in Jefferson county, whence they removed to Carroll county and remained for some years. They then decided to locate in the West, and descending the Ohio River to its confluence with the Mississippi, ascended the latter stream, landing, Oct. 29, 1849, at Keokuk, intending to travel overland to Van Buren county, Iowa, where the father, who was a farmer, had purchased land. They traveled by wagon as far as Primrose, stopped at that place overnight, and while there the father was seized with sudden illness and died the following day, survived by a family of ten children, eight of whom were young, our subject being at that time only about ten years of age, although two were older and were married. Thus left alone in a strange land and with the sole care of a large family, the widow kept the children together on the farm, living there until 1870, when she removed to Birmingham, where she resided until the time of * her death. Feb. 12, 1887. She is buried in Birmingham, as is also her husband. Of the ten children, the first five, Mary Ann (Davis), William. James H., Sarah Jane, and Matilda (Eccles), are now deceased. Our subject is the sixth, and the others in the order of birth are as follows: Eliza C. (Robinson), also deceased; Samuel S., who is living retired from active life, being a resident of Santa Rosa, Cal.; Frank F., a farmer and stock-raiser near Phillipsburg, Kans.; and Rolx?rt R., retired, of Colorado Springs.

Mr. KcUey was reared in the work of agriculture mi the home farm, at the same time beginning his education in the district, schools and later entering the collegiate institute at Birmingham. Enthusiastic in the cause of self-improvement, he also became a student at Jacksonville, Ill., in Berean College, at that ti'me a denominational institution under the care of the Christian church, but not nowin existence.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

On returning to this State Mr. KcUey resumed farming for a time on his mother's farm in Wan Buren county, and also taught school in both Iowa and Illinois, about six years in all. For two seasons he traveled in northern Missouri as sales agent for the implement firm of Elliott & Thompson, of Birmingham, and meeting with great success in this line of endeavor, entered the business for himself at Burlington in 1870. Here for twelve years he continued in the same line in partnership with William Elliott, and D. Mc.Millen, under the firm style of Elliott, Kelley & Co., Mr. McMillen not being active in the management. Mr. Elliott retired in 1882, and while the name "of the firm remained unchanged for two years, it has been known since 1885 as J. L. Kelley & Co. Originally conducted at Valley and Front Streets, for the last sixteen years the business has occupied its present location at the corner of Fourth and Market Streets, where a fine brick structure. Tki x no ft. has been erected especially for the use of this firm, having an adjoining lot 20 x no ft. used as yards for.storage, etc. Mr. Kelley is one of the pioneers of the wholesale im- ])cement business in the West, and from the first has met with large success in the rich agricultural States of Iowa, Missouri,

As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.