A. E. Kelly, living in section 19, Dayton township, is the owner of four hundred and ninety acres of valuable land, known as the Linn Grove Stock Farm. This place is pleasantly and conveniently situated within two miles of Clarence, affording him excellent shipping facilities. The name of his place indicates the chief feature of his business and in its careful conduct he is meeting with well merited success.
A native of Clinton county, Iowa, he was born September 1, 1872, and is a son of Robert Kelly, whose birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. To the age of eleven years Robert Kelly remained a resident of the Keystone state and then came to Iowa with his father, Adam Kelly, who was one of the first settlers of Clinton county. Amid pioneer surroundings and environment there Robert Kelly was reared to manhood. He returned to Pennsylvania, however, for his bride, being married in the Keystone state to Miss Kate Billhammer. His time and energies were devoted to farming in Clinton county and upon the land which he there owned, in the vicinity of the town of Clinton, he reared his family. For many years he continued to carry on general farming and in that way acquired a competence that enabled him at length to put aside further business cares. Removing to Clinton, he there resided throughout the last seven years of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. His wife passed away in 1900.
A. E. Kelly spent his youthful days in Clinton county and the common schools afforded him his early educational privileges, which were supplemented by a two years’ course in the Clinton high school and two years’ study in Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois. After putting aside his text-books he returned to the home farm, of which he took charge, conducting it for ten years, his labors being attended with a gratifying measure of success. His early training was of a practical character and brought him the knowledge and experience that enabled him to profitably carry on his labors as the years passed.
On the 15th of March, 1893, Mr. Kelly was married in Elvira, Clinton county, to Miss Kate Mahon, who was born, reared and educated in that county and was a daughter of George Mahon. Ten years later Mr. Kelly purchased his present farm, becoming the owner of four hundred and ten acres on section 10, Dayton township. He has since repaired and remodeled his residence and has also built a good tenant house on the place. There are also three or four large barns and substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain, stock and farm machinery, and altogether the place is a splendidly improved property, the boundaries of which he has extended by an additional purchase of eighty acres. He makes a business of buying and feeding cattle and hogs and annually fattens for the market about twenty-five carloads of cattle, hogs and sheep. He is one of the most extensive feeders in Dayton township. He was also one of the promoters and stockholders of the First National Bank of Clarence and in business affairs displays keen discrimination and sound judgment so that his labors have been uniformly successful.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have been born three sons, Robert G., Glen L. and Lester D. The parents are members of the Clarence Presbyterian church, in the work of which they are actively interested. Politically Mr. Kelly is a republican but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, as he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He is a worker—one of Dayton township’s most industrious citizens. Moreover, he is public-spirited and cooperates in all measures for the general good. He has widely utilized his time and talents and as the years have passed his close application and perseverance in business matters have won him a place among the men of affluence in his adopted county.
