D.J. Kelley
Farming and stock-raising interests of Allamakee county find a
progressive and worthy representative in D.J. Kelley, who owns a
fine property of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Iowa
township. He is one of Allamakee county's native sons, his birth
having occurred in 1869. His parents were Patrick and Bridget
Kelley, natives of Ireland, who came at different times to the
United States, both settling in New York city, where their
marriage occurred. Immediately afterward they came west to Iowa
and in Iowa township, Allamakee county, rented land, upon which
they resided for a time, later purchasing a farm six miles
southwest of New Albin, which the father continued to develop and
improve until his death, which occurred in 1910, becoming during
that time one of the leading and representative agriculturists of
this section of the state. His wife survives him and resides upon
the homestead, being now eighty years of age. To their union were
born five children, four of whom still survive: D.J. of this
review; John F., of New Albin; Annie, who makes her home with her
mother; and Edward, who also lives upon the homestead. D.J.
Kelley grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Iowa township,
acquiring his early education in the district schools and later
attending a business college at Waukon. At the age of twenty-five
he began his independent career, turning his attention to the
occupation to which he had been reared, renting land near the old
homestead and continuing to develop and improve it for a number
of years. In 1908 he bought eighty acres in the same vicinity and
to this he has since added, being now the owner of one hundred
and sixty-five acres, which he has brought to a well improved and
excellent condition. In connection with the tilling of the soil
he engages extensively in raising and breeding high-grade stock
and this forms one of the most important sources of his income.
He is also a stockholder in the New Albin Creamery, a director
and stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company and a secretary
of the New Albin & Irish Hollow Telephone Company and is well
known in business circles of the city as a resourceful, able, and
progressive business man, who always carries forward to
successful completion whatever he undertakes. In 1899 Mr. Kelley
was united in marriage to Miss Ella Morgan, a daughter of
Lawrence Morgan, who passed away, leaving a widow, who resides in
New Albin, and six children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Mathew
Flynn, of Dorchester, Iowa; Ella, the wife of the subject of this
review; Maggie, who married Michael Donovan, of New Albin;
Theresa, now Mrs. William Beckwell, of the same city; Alice, a
sister in St. Francis Convent; and Francis, who makes his home
near New Albin. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are devout members of the
Roman Catholic church and Mr. Kelley is affiliated with the
Catholic Order of Forresters. Always a staunch supporter of
democratic policies and principles, he has done a great deal to
promote his party's cause in Allamakee county and in 1912 was
elected township assessor, a capacity in which he is still
serving. He is a believer in pure and clean politics and never
withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will
advance the moral or material welfare of his city or county.
-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath
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