KELLY, JACOB E.

KELLY, SMAY, HEFFLEY, CARBIN, FENTON, KLINGANSMITH, FRY, TIENAN, WOODS, PICHT

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 2/17/2004 at 13:14:17

Biography reproduced from page 152 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Jacob E. Kelly occupies front rank among the well known and highly respected residents of Harrison township, Kossuth county, a position which he well merits because of his progressive citizenship and his genuine personal worth. He is proud to be numbered among Iowa’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Story county, February 1, 1858. He comes of Irish descent, his paternal grandfather having been born in Ireland, but both of his parents were natives of the state of Ohio. The father, a life-long farmer, was one of the very first settlers of Story county, Iowa, locating there before the town of Nevada had been founded. In that county he engaged in agricultural pursuits until about nine years prior to his death, when he retired from active life and removed to Nevada, there making his home until he passed away, in 1898. In that town his wife also died, her death occurring only three weeks before that of her husband. Their family consisted of nine children, as follows: Henry, a machinist of Nevada, Iowa; Frederica, the wife of William Smay, a real-estate and insurance man of Nevada; Evelyn, the deceased wife of Robert Heffley, of Humboldt county, Iowa; Clara, who married Kinsy Carbin, a farmer and ranchman of Idaho; Emma, who wedded Elisha Fenton, a farmer and ditcher of Kossuth county; Nathan, who follows farming at East Chain, Minnesota; Rhoda, who is the wife of Isaiah Klingansmith, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in the state of Washington; Ida, who married John V. Fry, now serving as postmaster of Fernald, Story county, Iowa; and Jacob E., of this review.

The last named passed the period of his boyhood and youth in his parents’ home and amid the scenes and environment of farm life grew to sturdy manhood. He attended the district school in the acquirement of his education and early in life became familiar with the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the farm lad. He continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance in the work of the fields until about two years prior to his marriage, when he rented land near the old homestead, which he continued to operate until his parents took up their abode in Nevada. At that time he returned to take charge of the old home farm, upon which he continued to reside for nine years. At the end of that period he went to Palo Alto county, Iowa, where he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land located six miles east of Emmetsburg, and that remained the scene of his activities for two years. In the spring of 1902 he arrived in Kossuth county and here took up his residence upon a tract of one hundred and sixty acres which he had purchased the previous winter. This farm, located on section 16, Harrison township, is a finely cultivated property upon which Mr. Kelly has placed many needed improvements and annually he gathers abundant harvests which are but the visible evidence of a life of industry and of well directed efforts. He engages in general farming and also in stock-raising, keeping a good grade of stock, and both branches of his interests are proving a source of gratifying income.

Mr. Kelly was united in marriage on the 25th of December, 1887, to Miss Agnes Tienan, a daughter of A. F. and Elizabeth (Woods) Tienan, extended mention of whom is made on another page of his volume. They have become the parents of eight children, who are as follows: Myrtle, who married H. B. Picht, a farmer of Harrison townshp, and who is the mother of two children, Gerald and Raymond; Marion, who at the age of fifteen is still at home with his parents; August and Evelyn, both deceased, the former passing away at the age of five months and the latter when but two weeks old; Otto, nine years of age, a pupil of district school No. 5, Harrison township; Florence, aged eight years, who is also, acquiring her education in the district school; and Bernice and Everett, aged respectively five and four years.

Although his business interests have made heavy demands upon his attention, Mr. Kelly has nevertheless found time to give more than the ordinary citizen’s interest to public affairs and has taken an active part in the political life of the community in which he resides. He is a progressive republican in his belief and has been a stanch friend to the cause of education, having served for three years as a director of district school No. 5, Harrison township. He is now serving in the capacity of township trustee, to which position he was elected six years ago. His influence has ever been given on the side of advancement and improvement and throughout his entire life he has exemplified the spirit of progress, having made advancement along lines which have brought him to a prominent position among the citizens of Harrison township, his fellowmen entertaining for him the utmost respect and good-will.