KELLY, Henry 1831-1902

KELLY, BUTLER, TANEYHILL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 9/1/2011 at 23:41:24

HENRY KELLY IS SUMMONED

Death Takes Another of Waterloo's
Respected Veteran Citizens

Henry Kelly Respires Last Night
After a Long Illness

Short Funeral Services at the Home
Tomorrow Morning

Henry Kelly is dead. After weeks and months of lingering on the verge of the grave dissolution came, at 7:30 last night, and the spirit of the good man was called to his Maker.

While the announcement of his demise came as a severe shock to the many friends of Mr. Kelly, it was not unexpected. He has been in falling health for some years. A year ago last summer he went to California. The trip was made at that time on account of the failing health of his wife, and it was also thought the climate there would prove beneficial to him. The latter proved to be correct. When they returned to Waterloo last October Mr. Kelly seemed more robust than for a long time, and to enquiring friends he declared that he had not felt so strong in years.

But the improvement was not to last. Early in the winter. Mrs. Kelly began to fail and on January 8th she died. Her husband, who had been constantly with her during her sickness, was worn out by the long vigil, and was so weakened and depleted, in nerve tissue that his recovery at once became a problem of serious doubt.

For the past few weeks the decline has been gradual, and the, end came last evening quietly and peacefully, like a child sinking to slumber.

Henry Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, on October 5, 1831, and was 71 years of age. He came to America with his parents in 1838 and settled with them first at New York. His father engaged in a manufacturing business there, and at the age of 14 his son was foreman of his factory, a big weaving establishment. His father was the inventor of a shuttle for weaving carpets which is largely in use yet. Later Mr. Kelly moved to Philadelphia , and when he was 23 years of age he came west and settled at Decorah.

There in 1861, he was married to Miss Celestia Butler, his faithful and loving wife, who preceded him. to the final sleep but a few short weeks ago.

In Decorah Mr. Kelly established a manufacturing plant for the making far farm and drilling machinery. After conducting the business there 7 years, in 1865 he moved to Osage, while with much, larger facilities he continued the foundry and manufacturing business, making besides drilling machinery, shelters and plows. It was while he was in business at Osage, that Mr. Kelly was nominated by the Republicans and elected a member of the state legislature in 1874. He served but one term, but established a reputation as a hardworking and thoughtful legislator. It was a bill introduced by him which forbade the establishment of a brewery or distillery within the radius of two miles from a corporation. The bill was to deal with a case at Osage. The town was temperance, but parties were conducting a brewery located about one and a half miles from the city limits. The corporate authorities had no way to abate the nuisance, and Mr. Kelly's bill was brought up and passed. It was in line with ardent advocacy of temperance always.

Mr. Kelly moved to Waterloo, in 1887. Coming here was a step forward again for his business and an increase in facilities were again made. Since that time the Kelly & Tanneyhill Co. have manufactured goods, especially drilling machinery which have been shipped to all parts of the world.

In 1895 Mr. Kelly was elected as member of the city council from the Third ward, and served on that body four years, declining at the close of his second term to become a candidate for re-election. As a councilman, he was a hard and conscientious worker, and watched carefully the interests of the city.

Mr. Kelly was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, a prominent, worker in the Sunday school and for many years a trustee in the church here and at Osage. He leaves three children. They are all daughters, the youngest, Miss Clara, being at home where she has devotedly given her time to the care of both father and mother during all of their illness. The others are Mrs. O. B. Taneyhill, who has also been close to her father most of the time, and Mrs. E. A. Gray, of Los Angeles, California, who, with her husband, has been in the city the past three or four months. Besides these the deceased he leave two sisters, Mrs. Jennie White of this city, and Mrs. Wm. Armstrong of Canton. Minnesota.

The funeral services will be held at the home on Franklin Street at 8:45 tomorrow morning, Reverend T. M. Evans of Grace Church officiating. At. 10:25 the body will be taken to Osage, where it will be interred beside that of his wife. At the cemetery short services will be held.

[Waterloo Courier, Friday, March 14, 1902]