In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1850
From History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915)
WILLIAM B. KELLEY.
William B. Kelley has the distinction of having been among the first boys admitted to the Burlington high school. He started out in the business world as an office boy and has advanced steadily until he now occupies the responsible position of manager of the Burlington office for the Bradstreet Company.
Mr. Kelley was born in this city, September 23, 1850, a son of George W. and Margaret (King) Kelley, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was a daughter of William B. King, a native of Virginia, from which state he removed to St. Louis at an early day. The parents of William B. Kelley met and were married in St. Louis and thence made the river trip to Burlington, Iowa, in 1835, this being their wedding journey. They found a tiny village bearing no resemblance to the metropolitan center known today. The father opened a general store which he conducted for several years or until his stock was destroyed by fire. He built one of the first substantial houses on top of the hill on North Main street, using black walnut in its construction, and this dwelling is still standing. In the early days that locality was known as "Kelley's Hill." In 1851, attracted by the discovery of gold in California and by business opportunities which in consequence were afforded there, he made his way to the Pacific coast, where he died of fever in 1863. His wife passed away in 1893, in Burlington, where she had remained with her children while her husband went to the coast in search of fortune. In the family were four children: Mary J., who is the widow of P. K. Wilson and makes her home in Burlington; George E., who died in 1903; Margaret, at home; and William B. Mrs. Wilson has a daughter, Gertrude, and all of the family live together.
William B. Kelley acquired a public-school education and, passing through consecutive grades, was qualified to enter the Burlington high school at the time it was established, being among the first boys admitted thereto. When his text-books were put aside he started out in the business world on his own account, securing a situation as office boy in the wholesale hat and cap house of H. S. Phillips. Afterward he was wid) the firm of Phillips & Hawkins, wholesale dealers in hats and caps, and subsequently was connected with various lines of business. In 1879 he began work for the Bradstreet Company, with which he remained for eight years. He was afterward in other connections until 1899 and then again joined the Bradstreet Company, with which he has now been associated for fifteen years. In 1902 he was made manager of the Burlington office and so continues, having in this capacity supervision over twenty surrounding counties.
Mr. Kelley is a member of the Commercial Exchange and cooperates in all of its plans and projects for the upbuilding and development of the city along business lines. His political indorsement is given the republican party and he has ever been interested in its success but not as an office seeker. He represents one of the oldest families of the city and has himself been a witness of its progress and development through sixty-four years, so that his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
As printed in History of Des Moines County, Iowa (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.