Kelly, James, Capt.

KELLY, FORD, WALL, VAN ZANTE, TOWER, KLOTZ, HAYWOOD, WORMLY, BERGMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/13/2009 at 06:56:55

Capt. James Kelly, who is extensively engaged in the stock business in Jasper County, was born in Indiana, November 6, 1839, and is a son of John B. and Jane (Ford) Kelly. His father was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1811, and was one of ten children. He was born on the celebrated Pickaway Plains. The grandfather, Col. David Kelly, who was born in Rockingham County, Va., In 1782, was a Colonel of the Ohio State Militia and a soldier in the War of 1812, where he witnessed the surrender of General Hull, in Canada, opposite Detroit. His wife was born in Greenbrier County, Va. The family is of Irish lineage, and was represented in Virginia early in the eighteenth century. Colonel Kelly, who was a man of more than ordinary ability, was a pioneer of Ohio, whence in 1859 he removed to Iowa, settling in Cedar County, where he died at the home of his son, J. B. Kelly, in 1863.

In the paternal grandfather's family there were eight children. Elizabeth died aged four years, eight months and twenty-eight days; David H., aged six years, six months and sixteen days; Jane, aged seventeen years, five months and nineteen days; Nancy A., aged twenty years, five months and ten days; John B. died July 15, 1867, aged fifty-six years, four months and three days; Samuel, in 1889, aged about seventy-six years; Mary, in 1889, aged about eighty years; and Abraham died in 1848.

The father of Captain Kelly was a man of liberal education and extensive information. In 1837 he visited Iowa, but did not remain here long, returning to Indiana, where he remained until 1846. He then again came to this state and settled in Cedar County, where he dealt extensively in stock. He died there of cancer, July 15, 1867, and was buried at Bethel Church. He was the fourth of seven children, of whom only two are now living: James W., who is living retired at Wilton, Iowa, and Sarah, who married and has since resided in Mansfield, Ohio.

Our subject's mother was the daughter of Francis Ford, who was born in Bath County, Va., in 1770, and married Miss Nancy Wall. Mrs. Kelly and one brother, Andrew Ford, who is in his ninety-first year, are the only ones living of eleven children. Both families were of Scotch origin, and immigrating to this country at an early period in its history, settled in the Old Dominion. Francis Ford was at one time a slave owner, but in 1828 came north to Ohio and settled in Champaign County. Five years afterward he removed to Indiana, and in the year 1837 settled in Iowa and pre-empted a claim in Cedar County, thirty miles west of Davenport, where he died in the spring of 1851. He was an extensive dealer in stock, and was a man of sterling qualities. Mrs. Jane Kelly was born in Virginia, on the 19th of November 1816, and at the present time resides principally with Captain Kelly. Like all her family, she is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although she is now nearing four-score years of age, she is as bright and active as many women of forty.

Captain Kelly is the eldest of a family consisting of four sons and four daughters. Nancy, who was born November 11, 1841, is the wife of Cornelius Van Zante and is a resident of Wilton, Iowa. William, who was born February 22, 1844, entered the army as a member of Company B, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, enlisting in 1862, at the age of eighteen, and becoming First Lieutenant of his company; he participated in many of the leading battles of the Rebellion, serving until its close, and is now in the stock business at South Omaha. Mary, who was born in Cedar County, October 17, 1846, is now the wife of B. L. Tower, of Storm Lake, Iowa. Charles was born April 16, 1849, and is a stockbroker in Des Moines. Lucy J., who was born November 16, 1851, is the wife of Madison W. Klotz, of Columbus Junction, Iowa. John B. was born November 8, 1854, and is a stock-dealer at Colfax, this state. Florence was born March 8, 1857, and died in December of the following year. Her death was caused by a kernel of corn lodging in the windpipe.

Alternating attendance at the district school with work upon the home farm, the subject of this sketch grew to a robust manhood. On the 21st of September 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, as a private, and in November was sent to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, thence to Jefferson City, Mo. His company was stationed at Fulton, Mo., on guard duty, until March 1862. Then they were sent into Tennessee, where our subject participated in the battles of Pittsburgh Landing and Shiloh, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Later he took part in the siege of Corinth, the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and the siege of Vicksburg.

Re-enlisting in the winter of 1863-64 as a veteran, our subject was present at the fall of Atlanta, and accompanied General Sherman on his march to the sea. October 27, 1864, he was promoted to be Captain of his company, and being the ranking officer of his regiment, he was at times in command thereof. After serving until the last gun was fired, and participating in the Grand Review at Washington, he was mustered out July 15, 1865. Though in the thickest of the fight on many bloody battlefields, he was never wounded, nor was he ever sick or off duty during his long service.

Returning home, Captain Kelly resumed his agricultural enterprises, devoting his attention especially to the stock business. February 11, 1866, he married Miss Laura R. Haywood, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, a native of Vermont. Mrs. Kelly was of English ancestry. They have had eight children. William J., the eldest, was educated at the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill.; George O., who was educated at Drake University, in Des Moines, married Mintie A. Wormly, and now resides with his father on the farm; Jesse and Bessie were twins; Jennie was killed when less than four years of age by falling into a pail of hot water. Bessie is a graduate of the Highland Park Musical College. She was united in marriage with Adolph Bergman February 14, 1894, and expects soon to settle in this county within four miles of her present home. Nellie is now conducting her studies in the Highland Park Musical College. Florence and Dot are at home.

Starting in life a poor boy, Captain Kelly has, by due attention to his business and the exercise of excellent judgment, accumulated a handsome I property. He has been a resident of Jasper County for the past fifteen years, and is the most extensive dealer in stock in the county, having a fine farm of five hundred acres. Politically his first vote was cast for President Lincoln, and he has been voting the Republican ticket ever since, but has never aspired to any office. However, he has been elected to various local positions, including the offices of Trustee of the township and member of the Board of Education. With his wife and children, he holds membership in the Methodist Church. Our subject's uncle, James W. Kelly, was at one time the editor of the Ottawa Republican. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 639.