IAGenWeb Project - Allamakee co.

D.J. Kelley

 

Farming and stock-raising interests of Allamakee county find a progressive and worthy representative in D.J. Kelley, who owns a fine property of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Iowa township. He is one of Allamakee county's native sons, his birth having occurred in 1869. His parents were Patrick and Bridget Kelley, natives of Ireland, who came at different times to the United States, both settling in New York city, where their marriage occurred. Immediately afterward they came west to Iowa and in Iowa township, Allamakee county, rented land, upon which they resided for a time, later purchasing a farm six miles southwest of New Albin, which the father continued to develop and improve until his death, which occurred in 1910, becoming during that time one of the leading and representative agriculturists of this section of the state. His wife survives him and resides upon the homestead, being now eighty years of age. To their union were born five children, four of whom still survive: D.J. of this review; John F., of New Albin; Annie, who makes her home with her mother; and Edward, who also lives upon the homestead. D.J. Kelley grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Iowa township, acquiring his early education in the district schools and later attending a business college at Waukon. At the age of twenty-five he began his independent career, turning his attention to the occupation to which he had been reared, renting land near the old homestead and continuing to develop and improve it for a number of years. In 1908 he bought eighty acres in the same vicinity and to this he has since added, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty-five acres, which he has brought to a well improved and excellent condition. In connection with the tilling of the soil he engages extensively in raising and breeding high-grade stock and this forms one of the most important sources of his income. He is also a stockholder in the New Albin Creamery, a director and stockholder in the Farmers Telephone Company and a secretary of the New Albin & Irish Hollow Telephone Company and is well known in business circles of the city as a resourceful, able, and progressive business man, who always carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In 1899 Mr. Kelley was united in marriage to Miss Ella Morgan, a daughter of Lawrence Morgan, who passed away, leaving a widow, who resides in New Albin, and six children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Mathew Flynn, of Dorchester, Iowa; Ella, the wife of the subject of this review; Maggie, who married Michael Donovan, of New Albin; Theresa, now Mrs. William Beckwell, of the same city; Alice, a sister in St. Francis Convent; and Francis, who makes his home near New Albin. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are devout members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Kelley is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Forresters. Always a staunch supporter of democratic policies and principles, he has done a great deal to promote his party's cause in Allamakee county and in 1912 was elected township assessor, a capacity in which he is still serving. He is a believer in pure and clean politics and never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will advance the moral or material welfare of his city or county.

-transcribed by Cathy Joynt-Labath

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