William C. Kelly, b. 8 Apr 1835

MCINEER, KELLEY, REED

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 22:51:41

William C. Kelly, the present Assessor of Perry Township, is a man of much influrence and weight in this community, who has taken a prominent part in public life. He is identified with the agricultural interests of the place as a practical, skillful, and wide-awake farmer. His farm of 122 acres on section 28 is under excellent cultivation and compares favorably with other places in the neighborhood. Besides cultivated his own land with good results, financially, Mr. Kelley rents fifty acres of land from Mr. McNabb, so that he may carry on more extensive farming operations.

Our subject is a Pennsylvanian by birth, born April 8, 1835, in the town of Perrysville, Jefferson County. His paternal grandfather was of Irish descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and a resident of the Keystone State. The father of our subject, Samuel P. Kelley, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1799. In his youth he learned the trade of wheelwright, and later in life was engaged in the manufacture of spinning-wheels in Jefferson County, his native State. He also carried on farming, having 100 acres of improved land. He finally removed to Armstrong County, and worked at this trade there until 1882, when he came to live with our subject, and he is passing his declining years pleasantly, surrounded by all the comforts that filial love can devise. He is a solid Democrat in his political views; religiously, he is a strong Presbyterian, being a valued member of that Church, in which he was an elder for many years. His wife died while yet in life's prime, in Jefferson County, Pa., in 1839. Her maiden name was Elizabeth McIneer, and she was also born in Pennsylvania. Five children were born to them, all of whom, with the exception of our subject, are dead; namely: Susanna P., Mary C., James., and Margaret J.

William Kelly, of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in his native town, and received a substantial education in the common-schools. He remained at home with his father until he was of age, and then found employment elsewhere as a farm hand in the summers and as a lumberman in winters, working in the lumber district, rafting logs on the Red Bank and Alleghany rivers. He was thus engaged until the breaking out of the war, when he threw aside his work to enlist in the defense of the Union, becoming a member of Company K, 11th Pennsylvania Reserve, and was mustered in at Camp Wright. He did gallant service on many hard fought battlefields, and received deserved promotion from the ranks to the office of Sergeant and was ever found to be a faithful and efficient soldier in camp or on the field. He fought at the battle of Gaines' Mills, June 27, and was taken prisoner to Richmond, whence he was despatched to Belle Isle, and after six weeks' imprisonment was exchanged. He then hastened to join the Army of the Potomac at Harrison's Landing, and went from there with his regiment to Fredericksburg. Our subject was present at the second battleof Bull Run, and at the battles of South Mountain, Md., and Antietam. In the latter place he was taken sick, and was sent to the Washington hospital to recruit, and afterward to the Philadelphia hospital, where he remained until his recovery. In the spring of 1863 he was put on detached duty, and served as guard and patrol at Philadelphia, Pottsville, and Mifflin until his honorable discharge at Pittsburg, Pa., Jun, 1864, after an experience of the privations and hardships of war for three years and two months.

After leaving the army Mr. Kelly returned to Jefferson County, Pa., where he engaged in business until the spring of 1865. At that time he resolved to try his fortune in the great State of Iowa, and coming to Jackson County by rail, he located in Perry Township. He carried on farming here until 1871, and in the spring of that year, recrossing the Mississippi River, he located in New Windsor, Henry Co., Ill., and carried on agricultural pursuits there until his return to this State, in the spring of 1874. At that time he bought his present place, which was then partly improved. Since then he has been busily engaged in making further improvements, and has greatly increased its value. He has erected a substantial barn, 30 x 42 feet, corn cribs, a wind mill, tanks, etc. His land is fenced, and is amply supplied with water from Cedar Creek. There is a fine lot of native timber on the place, and a good orchard of choice fruit trees.

In the upbuilding of his home Mr. Kelly has been blessed with the assistance of a good wife, to whom he was united in marriage Aug. 1, 1867, in Perry Township. Her maiden name was Margaret J. Kelley, and she was born in Mercer County, Pa. She is a daughter of William and Susan (Reed) Kelley. Her father, who was a farmer, came to Iowa with his family in 1846, and locating in Perry Township, carried on his calling here until his removal to Andrew, where he died. He was a Republican in politics, and a Presbyterian in religion. Of the marriage of our subject and his wife two sons have been born - Oscar and Albert. The latter is attending school at Maquoketa.

Mr. Kelly is regarded as a man of sound understanding, of good practical ability, and of considerable acument, which traits have marked him as a man to be intrusted with the management of important local affairs in the judgment of his fellow-citizens. He is at present Township Assessor, and has been Township Clerk and Trustee at various times, and also a member of the School Board. In these various offices he has justified his selection to fill them by his efficient and faithful discharge of the duties connected with them without fear or favor. He is a stanch supporter of the policy of the Republican party, and socially, he is prominently identified with the following organizations: I.O.O.F. at Maquoketa, Jackson Lodge No. 33; has filled the chairs; the A.O.U.W., Central Lodge No. 41, Andrew; G.A.R., Andrew.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)