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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Thomas F. Kelley Mr. Thomas F.
Kelley was born in New York City, November 23, 1846.
He is the son of Patrick and Julia (Smith) Kelley, both natives of
Ireland, the mother born on January 20, 1816, died in Jasper County, Iowa, in
1899, and the father's death occurred here in 1889 at the age of seventy-seven
years. Their family consisted of
nine children, named as follows: Mrs. Mary O'Neill, deceased; Thomas F., of this
review; Mrs. Julia Rorabaugh, of Colfax; Mrs. Katie Rorabaugh lives near Colfax;
Daniel lives on the old homestead near Colfax.
The rest of the children died in infancy.
The Kelley family came to Jasper County in 1868 and located in Mound
Prairie Township, and here they became well established and influential in their
community. Thomas
F. Kelley graduated from the grammar schools of New York City and entered the
free academy, now known as University of New York City.
When seventeen years of age he came to Knox County, Illinois, where he
remained until 1868, when he came to Jasper County and he has since made this
his home. He has met with a large measure of success as a general farmer and
stock raiser, being now the owner of seventy acres of good land in Independence
Township, which he has placed under excellent improvements and on which stand
good home and convenient outbuildings. Mr.
Kelley showed his patriotic spirit by acting as drummer boy in the New York
Militia during the Civil War, and he made an effort to enter the regular army,
but was refused on account of his youth and size, being at that time a mere boy. On
February 17, 1881, Mr. Kelley was united in marriage with Jessie B. Campbell,
who was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, July 13, 1856, and there she spent her
early childhood, coming with her mother to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1867, and
this has been her residence ever since. Her father, John Campbell, was a soldier
in the Union Army and while in the service he fell ill and died. Both he and his
wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Sarah Leeper, were natives of Ohio.
The mother came to Jasper County, Iowa, and died
here. Their family consisted of six
sons and one daughter, namely: Jessie B., wife of Mr. Kelley; James, Alex,
Thomas, Willis, Collin and George. Six
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, namely: Royston, born October 25,
1881, was graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa; Dean,
born January 6, 1884, was graduated in pharmacy at the Drake University at Des
Moines; John A., born May 4, 1886, died October 5, 1903; Daniel Jay, born March
27, 1890, is principal of the schools at Lynnville, lowa; James A., born
November 23, 1892, was graduated from the Newton high school in the class of
1912. These children were reared in
Jasper County and they have been
well educated, their parents gladly making such sacrifices as were necessary;
but they have been well repaid for their pains, for their children are now well
prepared for the struggle which the poets call the battle of life. Politically,
Mr. Kelley is a Democrat and he has held every district and Township office. He has been assessor in Independence and Mound Prairie
Townships for a period of twenty years, serving ten years in each.
In all his public offices he has won the universal approval of his
constituents and discharged his duties in a manner that has reflected much
credit upon himself and proved his loyalty to right principles.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Baxter. Mrs. Kelley is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
They are well-informed people and their hospitality, kindness and
allegiance to high ideals have won them a wide circle of warm friends. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1190. |
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