Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 484-485; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Stephen A. Kelly, a son of a well-known and highly respected
pioneer, John B. Kelly, and a native of this county, is one of its most
progressive and popular citizens, and is an intelligent and efficient
civic official. He is prominently identified with the farming interests
of Orion Township, where he is ably managing his extensive agricultural
interests on his father's finely improved farm on section 11, which the
latter purchased half a century ago, and developed by hard and
persistent labor into one of the choicest estates in this locality.
The father of our subject was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y.,
February 6, 1820. His first marriage was in 1840, to Miss Elizabeth
Smith, who died in 1841 leaving no children. He was married the second
time to Rachael Proctor, of McLean County, Ill., their union taking
place February 19, 1842. She was born April 24, 1821. Mr. Kelly had
come to Orion Township in the spring of 1840, and purchased the farm on
which he resided with his family until his death, August 10, 1890. He
was very much prospered in his pioneer labors and accumulated a
comfortable property. For many years he took an active part in public
affairs, but transmitted to his son Stephen, our subject, that interest
formerly held by himself, as he was in very feeble health, he having
been severely injured in the Chatsworth disaster, August 10, 1887,
having been one of that large party of excursionists that started from
Peoria to visit Niagara Falls. He was one of the original Republicans
of this State and voted for Fremont, was very active in aiding to raise
troops for the late war, and gave two of his sons to the service. He
was entrusted with all the numerous township offices at some period of
his residence in the township, and was valued very highly in his civic
capacity.
By their marriage John B. and Rachael Kelly became the parents
of fourteen children, as follows: Elizabeth, born September 14, 1844,
married John W. Tyndall, February 13, 1868, and lives in Orion
Township; Nelson, born December 25, 1845, married Sophia Bitts and
lives in Peoria County; Alonzo, born February 10, 1847, enlisted in
Company E, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, and died at Baton Rouge, La.,
February 1, 1864; William, born April 15, 1848, lives in Pekin; Jennie,
born September 12, 1849, married Walter Eagles and lives in Orion
Township; Hannah, born November 14, 1859, married Mark Bowton, and died
January 8, 1872; Ranson, born August 29, 1852, married Alice Richardson
and lives on the homestead; Alice, born November 6, 1853, married F.
Rice, December 12, 1872, and lives in Orion Township; Stephen A., born
November 26, 1856, married Lyde Kleffman January 21, 1888, who died
November 20, 1889, leaving one daughter, Lyde; John F., born September
3, 1857, married Alice Bell and lives in Orion Township; Oren, born
December 7, 1859, died in infancy; Cassia A., born January 8, 1860,
married Lemuel R. Vandeventer, and lives in Orion Township; Emma, born
August 15, 1862, died August 22, 1866; Warren, born July 6, 1864,
married Annie Duffield and lives in Peoria.
Stephen A. Kelly, of this sketch, was reared and educated in
this county, and early adopted the calling to which he had been bred.
In 1883 he went to Dakota, and there he engaged in stock-raising and
was quite successful financially. He subsequently returned to Orion
Township, and is now managing his father's valuable farm on section 11,
this comprises three hundred and twenty acres, and is amply supplied
with substantial and conveniently arranged buildings, and all the
appurtenances of a first-class farm.
Mr. Kelly is a true, courteous gentleman, considerate and genial
in his intercourse with others, and a general favorite among his
associates. In business matters he is wide-awake and keen, and is
judicious and fair in his dealings. His character and capability
eminently fit him for positions of trust and honor, and he is following
in his father's footsteps as a public official. He represents Orion
township on the County Board of Supervisors, and the fact that the
township is a Democratic stronghold, yet he, a stanch Republican, was
elected by a majority of fifty-one, demonstrates his popularity.
