Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 323

GEORGE W. KELLEY, residing on section 31, Sweetland Township, Muscatine County, was born in Fayette County, Pa., on the 12th of February, 1847. His parents were James and Elizabeth ( Huvitt ) Kelley, and were natives of the same State. The family consisted of three sons and five daughters, only six of whom are now living : Mary A., is the wife of Samuel G. Cox, and resides at Moravia, Iowa; Susanna became the wife of Hon. Elmus Day, and died in Sweetland Township March 23, 1870; John M. is a resident of Hardin County, Iowa; Samuel S. was a soldier in the late Civil War for nine months, and died from disease contracted while in the service; Elizabeth M. is the wife of J. O. Stewart, and resides in Fayette County, Pa.; Martha M. wedded Robert C. Santee, of Hardin County, this State; Almira is the widow of O. M. Crooker, and resides at Wilton; and George of thie sketch.

Our subject grew to manhood in his native State, and there received a very liberal education, and when about sixteen years of age, began teaching school, and continued in that occupation most of the time until 1870. On the 2d of March, 1869, he was united in marriage at Streator, Ill., with Miss Louisa M. Gibson, a native of LaGrange County, Ind., but at that time a resident of LaSalle County, Ill., where her parents Samuel and Clarissa ( Ladd ) Gibson, settled in 1850. Mrs. Kelley is a descendant of old New England families. Her grandfather, John Hillard Ladd, was a native of the Green Mountain State and a man of prominence, who served as a soldier in the Mexican War. He was a contemporary of William Lloyd Garrison, Garrett Smith and the Lovejoys, and like them was a pronounced Abolitionist.

Mr. and Mrs Gibson had a family of six children: Kennedy, the eldest, left home several weeks ago, and his place of residence is unknowm to the family; Louisa M., now Mrs. Kelley; William L., who is still at home; Anna is now Mrs. Marrow, and lives at Kansas City; Charles S., is also at home in LaSalle County, Ill.; and the youngest died in infancy.

Soon after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley they came to Muscatine County, and during that summer ( 1869 ) he taught school, and in the fall engaged in farming where they now reside, here two children have been born unto them: Charles E., born Sept. 23, 1873, and Jennie S., born May 28, 1877. After about ten years of successful farming life Mr. Kelley in 1880 added dairying to his farming operations, and four years later his inability to meet the increasing demand for his choice butter induced the idea of changing to the creamery business, which, after the usual reverses incident to most new enterprises, has developed into a successful and profitable business.

Though started in a small way his business is constantly increasing, and his creamery is now supplied with the cream from the cows in the surrounding country, covering an area of about fifteen miles, and during the summer of 1888 he manufactured an average of 700 pounds daily. Much of this fine butter finds a ready market in the neighboring towns, but the greater bulk of it is shipped to New York City. Mr. Kelley has always been an uncompromising foe to the enemy of the dairy interest, bogus butter, and has contributed both in time and means to the enactment of laws governing its manufacture and sale. His success in the dairy and creamery business, as well as all things else, is largely due to the ambition, industry, frugality, and mature judgment of his good wife. Mr. and Mrs Kelley are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has held the offices of Treasurer and Trustee since 1877. He has ever been prominent in the work of public instruction, and his influence and aid have always been given to the advancement of any enterprise for the public welfare. In political sentiment Mr. Kelley is rather independent and liberal, though he has usually been a supporter of the Republican party. He is an intelligent, progressive gentleman, who keeps himself thoroughly posted on National and State affairs. In his pleasant country home kindred and stranger are alike made the recipients of a genuine hospitality, which is the natural outgrowth of kind and generous hearts.


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