Kelley, W. F.

KELLEY, COOPER

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/1/2019 at 11:59:14

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 524-25:

"W. F. KELLEY has resided in Decatur County since March, 1853, and has been a resident of the State since 1840. His father, Ira Kelley, settled in Van Buren County in 1844. Ira Kelley was born in Putnam County, New York, about the year 1787. When he immigrated to Iowa his family consisted of a wife and seven children -- four sons and three daughters. Several of them, including the subject of this sketch, were married, and had families. Mr. Kelley purchased a farm adjoining the town of Farmington, in Van Buren County, where he remained until his death. His wife survived him several years. W. F. Kelley was also born in Putnam County, New York, January 10, 1820. In the fall of 1839 he left home for the West, first going to Indiana, and the January following to Van Buren County, Iowa. He purchased a claim, and entered 160 acres of land from the Government. In 1842 he married Hannah Cooper, a native of Pennsylvania. He lived in Farmington and vicinity until 1853, when he came to Decatur County. In December, 1849, he went to California, by the Isthmus of Panama, where he engaged in mining, returning by the same route in the spring of 1851. Judge Kelley resides on the northwest quarter of section 20, Eden Township. He has 320 acres of land. When he settled here there was a small cabin on the place, and about ten acres had been fenced and five or six acres had been broken. The farm is now all fenced and in good condition. He makes a specialty of raising short-horn cattle. In 1857 he was elected judge of Decatur County. His opponent in that contest was James Alfrey, of Hamilton Township. He was elected over his Whig opponent by a large majority. Politically he has, until recently been a Democrat. He now affiliates with the Greenback party. In 1881 he was nominated by that party for the Legislature, and his nomination was indorsed by the Democratic Convention, held soon after. His Republican opponent was Maxwell Sanford. Judge Kelley was elected by a majority of sixty-two. Many Republicans voted for him. The principal question at that election was the Prohibition movement, the judge being the candidate of those who favored the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution. Judge Kelley and wife have ten children -- five sons and five daughters. The oldest sons, Robert and George, served in the army during the Rebellion. Robert enlisted April 1, 1862, in the Third Missouri State Militia Cavalry. The Third was consolidated with the Sixth, making the Seventh. September 1, 1864, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Missouri Cavalry, and served until May, 1866. George served in the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, enlisting in February, 1865, and serving until May, 1866."

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)