Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 480
SAMUEL G. KELLEY, proprietor of the Lily Lake Creamery, of Wilton, Iowa, one of the most important manufacturing enterprises of Muscatine County,and, indeed, of this part of the State, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Dec. 22, 1836, and was reared to farm life. During the latter part of the War of the Rebellion he served as a member of the 59th Battalion of Ohio Volunteers. In March, 1856, he came to Muscatine County, where he purchased a fine farm, comprising 160 acres in Fulton Township, which he still owns. In 1856 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Shannon, who is also a native of Ohio, and their union has been blessed with a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, five sons and two daughters : William, who is connected with his father in the creamery business ; Louisa, wife of Sumner Bookwalter, a resident od St. Paul, Minn.; Samuel L., who for many years was associated with his father in business, is now one of the prominent business men of Toledo, Iowa ; Bert, Orange, Thomas D., and Rita.

Mr. Kelley may be regarded as the pioneer of the creamery industry of Muscatine County. He began collecting cream from the farmers in 1876, having erected a creamery on his farm in Fulton Township. He began operations on a small scale, driving only one wagon, but his business rapidly increased, and in 1881, he built a creamery at Wilton. The following year the creamery on his farm was discontinued, while that at Wilton was enlarged. In 1886 he lost his factory by fire, involving a serious loss, but, with characteristic energy, he rebuilt at once, and on a larger scale. His present building is a substantial brick structure, which has a capacity for turning out about 2,000 pounds of butter a day, and during the summer season the actual amount manufactured is from 800 to 1,200 pounds per day. The growth of the Lily Lake Creamery may be somewhat realized from the fact that twelve wagons are now used in collecting the cream, traveling over extensive routes, and branch factories have been built at West Liberty and at Lone Tree. The "Lily Lake" butter, for such the brand is called, is equal to any in the market, it being conceded that the famous Elgin butter is not superior. Mr. Kelley has recently been experimenting with dairy butter, purchasing the same in a generally unsalted conditionand subjecting it to a finishing process that converts it into a first class article. This branch of the business promises to be an important enterprise. Besides its manufacturing interests the firm does an extensive produce business. The importance of this industry, as conducted by Mr. Kelley and his son, is very great, especially to the farmers of the surrounding country, as the firm pays out to them an amount of money averaging nearly $100,000 per year, and which has reached the large sum of $140,000. Mr. Kelley also devotes much attention to the raising of cattle, and has kept in times past on his fine farm in Fulton Township a herd of about thirty thoroughbred Short-horns, which he recently sold, having rented his farm. In the spring of 1889 Mr. Kelley started a cheese factory in connection with his creamery, commencing with the milk from about 600 cows, with a capacity to manufacture about 1,800 pounds per day.

In his political sentiments Mr. Kelley is a supporter of the Republican party. He is one of the progressive citizens of Muscatine County, and the growth and development of his material interests attest to his ability as a business man.

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