Kelly, Capt. James 1839-1896

KELLY, HAYWOOD

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 7/24/2003 at 09:46:06

Death of Captain James Kelly – A man True to His Country, His Family and Himself

Although it has been known that the death of Capt. James Kelly might be expected at any time, and that from the nature of his disease it would be impossible for him to recover – yet when the news came last Sunday morning that disease had done its work, and that death had come to him the night before, the keenest sense of sorrow, almost as of personal bereavement, was felt by everybody. No man has stood higher in this community, ad no man has more thoroughly merited the esteem and confidence of everybody than he. He was of a very modest and retiring nature, but always genial and happy hearted – having a cordial, friendly greeting for young and old, rich and poor alike. He was truly God’s nobleman. By honorable and fair dealing he had accumulated a handsome competence, his home farm embracing about 560 acres, but not one dollar of his property was gained by other than the most strictly honorable means.

Capt. James Kelly was born on the 6th day of November 1839, in LaGrange County, Indiana, and in 1846, his parents emigrated to Iowa, settling in Cedar County, where James grew to manhood. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in Company D, Eleventh Iowa Infantry, and with his regiment participated in the Battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Siege of Vicksburg and others. In the winter of 1863, he re-enlisted as a veteran, was at Atlanta, and from there with Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea. For meritorious conduct he was promoted to the captaincy of his company, and being the ranking captain was frequently called to take command of his regiment. He was present at the Grand Review in Washington, and was mustered out of the service July 15, 1865, returning home to again engage in the business of stock raising.

On the 11 of February 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura R. Haywood, who then resided at Council Bluffs, and who survives her husband. Eight children were born to them, one, Jennie, dying in early childhood; the others were all present during the illness of their father, viz: Wm. J., Geo. D., Jessie and Bessie, (twins, Bessie now married to Adolph Bergman,) Nellie, Florence and Dot.

About twenty-two years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly came to Jasper County settling on the farm which has been their home ever since. During these years Mr. K. ahs been constantly engaged in the buying and selling of stock, and was probably one of the most successful, as well as the most widely known of the stock dealers in Jasper Co. His unquestioned integrity and unswerving honesty in his transactions with everybody is the key to the success, which has crowned his business career throughout. No one ever feared of Jim Kelly taking any undue advantage, in any way of trade. His neighbors trusted him implicitly, and all looked upon his as a personal friend. If any need of substantial aid or friendly counsel, they never hesitated to apply to the friend who never failed them, and whose generosity was as free as the air, and only limited by his means.

Several years ago, during a revival meeting at Pleasant Chapel, he was converted and united with the M. E. Church, and the beauties of a noble Christian character have been exemplified in his daily walk from that day until his death. He was the main stay and strong pillar of strength in the church, and his death comes as a personal sorrow to all those with whom he labored in the cause of his master.

The funeral services were held at Pleasant Chapel, about four miles northeast of Newton, Monday morning at 11 o’clock, and were attended by not less than a thousand people – estimated by many at twelve hundred – only a fraction of the multitude being able to get within the church. Rev. Shepherd, a former pastor, between whom and Mr. Kelly had long existed a strong bond of affection, officiated, assisted by Rev. Meagher, the present pastor. Both paid beautiful and eloquent tributes to the Christian character of the deceased. The pall bearers were member of Company D, Eleventh Iowa, comrades of the deceased, viz: Ira Shiflets, and W. H. Russell, of Wilton; Samuel Steffy, of Victor; Peter Pentico, of Metz; J. N. Edge, of Newton; also B. Battles, J. L. Mathews, D. Stover, Henry Klisel, J. A. Seaton and J. B. Eyerly, of Company B, Thirteenth Iowa, – all member of the famous Crocker’s Brigade. The casket was draped with a large silken flag, and almost buried beneath floral tributes from loving friends. The music was in keeping with the solemn occasion and beautifully rendered by a quartette composed of Mrs. Belle Rodgers, Miss Carrie Allen, and Hal Wilson and Ernest Earley. After the services were concluded at the church, the remains were taken to the College Farm Cemetery, where loving hands laid tenderly to rest the mortal remains of the gallant Capt. James Kelly.

The relatives from abroad who were in attendance at the funeral were: Wm. Kelly, of Omaha; Chas. Kelly, of Des Moines; Jno. B. Kelly, of Colfax; Mrs. M. B. Tower, of Storm Lake, James Haywood, of Council Bluffs, and M. W. Klotz, of Columbus Junction.

In the great loss which Mrs. Kelly and her children have sustained – a loving, devoted husband and father, - they have the heartfelt sympathy of all. The God in whom he trusted has promised to sustain them, if they will but claim his promise and lean on his strong arm. ~ The Newton (IA) Record, Friday, March 6, 1896, Page 4, Column 1