McDonough ILGenWeb

KELLY, John M. (deceased), for forty-seven years a successful and substantial farmer in Scotland Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., August 15, 1829, a son of George and Nancy (Marshall) Kelly, natives of Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather came from Ireland, and his grandfather was an only child. His father, George Kelly, was a farmer by occupation, and also operated a saw-mill. John M. Kelly was reared on a farm in his native county, and received such instruction as the boys of that period were wont to obtain in the public schools. He followed agricultural pursuits in Huntingdon County, Pa. In 1851 he went to Crawford County, Ohio, where he remained three years, and then returned to Pennsylvania. One year afterward he came to McDonough County and located on Section 18, Scotland Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He departed this life May 2, 1902, aged seventy-two years, eight months and seventeen days. Besides the 160 acres of fine land where he lived, he owned 240 acres in Chalmers Township.

On March 11, 1856, Mr. Kelly was wedded, in Pennsylvania, to Agnes Doran, who died January 14, 1873. The offspring of this union was five children, two of whom, Walker and Charles, fell victims of diphtheria in childhood. Those surviving are: Alice Belle (Mrs. Frank P. Hogan), of Macomb; George B., of Idaho; and John Blair, of Macomb. On April 27, 1875, Mr. Kelly took for his second wife Isabella McAlister, a native of Scotland. One child was the issue of this union, namely: Anna Elizabeth (Mrs. Carl Henderson), of Scotland Township. In politics. Mr. Kelly gave his support to the Democratic party, but never cared for office or public preferment. Religiously, he was connected with the Christian Church, in which he officiated as elder for some time. Mr. Kelly was a man of fine characteristics, enterprising, hospitable, generous and charitable, and was warmly esteemed by all within the circle of his acquaintance.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 923-924, extracted 11 May 2019 by Norma Hass.