H. R. KELLEY, Superintendent of Schools at Vienna, is a gentleman of
broad culture, and of high reputation as a teacher, and is among the
first of his profession in Johnson County, of which he is a native. He
is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of the county,
and was born November 3, 1851, in Tunnel Hill Township, of which his
paternal grandfather, Benjamin KELLEY, was an early settler. He had
cleared and improved a farm in Tennessee prior to his migration to this
State. Wishing to improve his fortunes, and hearing favorable accounts
of the fertility of the soil and taking into account the cheapness of
the land in its natural condition, he determined to found here a new
home. He loaded his household effects into an ox-wagon and brought his
family directly to Johnson County. He secured one hundred and sixty
acres of land in the forest and entered with characteristic courage and
vigor into his struggle with the forces of nature, and he experienced
all the vicissitudes of pioneer life, but by hard and unremitting labor
a fine farm was reclaimed from the wilderness. The grandfather died in
Johnson County at a ripe age, and he is remembered and honored as one
of the sterling pioneers of this section, who helped to lay the solid
foundation of its present prosperity. His widow removed to the State of
Kansas, and there died at a venerable age.
The father of our subject, Leander H. KELLEY, is a native of Tennessee.
He had but little opportunity to attend school, but he was naturally of
an inquiring turn of mind and a good scholar, and succeeded in learning
enough to constitute a fair education at the time, and was qualified to
teach, in which occupation he engaged for a while. He married at the
youthful age of twenty years, and then left the paternal home with his
bride, Rhoda WEBB, also from Tennessee, and began farming un a farm
that he owned. He devoted his energies to its improvement, and then
sold it and bought another in the same township (Tunnel Hill), which he
still occupies. He is an experienced, capable farmer, thoroughly
understanding the fundamental principles of his calling, and has a
well-equipped farm, which he manages so as to obtain an assured income
each year. He and his wife were blessed with twelve children: Evaline,
who is living in Tunnel Hill Township; H. R.; Elisha, deceased; W. A.,
a farmer; John R., a farmer of Goreville Township; Thomas C., a
missionary in the South; Alfred, who died in infancy; Melinda, who
married Elder I. SMITH and is now dead; Mary Jane, wife of John
McCORMACK; Benjamin F., living on the old homestead; Martha, deceased;
and Viola, who died in infancy.
The subject of this biographical sketch is the second child of the
family. His boyhood was passed on a farm and he early became familiar
with hard work. His tastes, however, were in the direction of scholarly
pursuits rather than for the calling to which he was reared, and he
devoted himself to his books, determined to secure an education. After
leaving the public schools he attended school at Carmi a year, and made
such rapid progress in his studies that he was well-fitted to undertake
the responsibilities of a teacher, and at the age of nineteen entered
upon his professional career. His first school was in his native
township and was known as the Webb School, and lie has been engaged in
teaching most of the lime since 1871 in his own neighborhood until the
present, his twenty years' service so near home attesting strongly his
worth as an instructor. His reputation as a thoroughly competent
teacher won him the honor of a call to his present important position
as Superintendent of the schools at Vienna, and he assumed the duties
of his new office October 3, 1892. He is a progressive educator,
keeping well abreast of the times in educational matters, and is well
versed in modern methods of instruction. He is conscientious in his
work, earnest and faithful in his teaching and, as he is yet a young
man, life lies before him with fair promise of many years of usefulness
in his chosen sphere of labor as one who is contributing to the
elevation of society by fostering a love of learning in the minds of
the youth of to-day and the citizens of to-morrow.
Our subject's happiness and well-being were materially enhanced by his
marriage, in 1883, with Miss Allie SUMPTER, of White County. Four
children gladden their home: William Otto, Goldie Irene, Bessie May and
Raoul Homer.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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