J. W. KELLEY, fanner; P. O. Topeka; son of Samuel and Anna Kelley; the former was born in Delaware in 1773, and was a farmer and millwright; his wife was born about 1788, in Delaware; her maiden name was Needles. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 8, 1819, in Delaware, where he remained until 1829, when the family moved by team to Ohio, settling near Dayton, and engaged in farming (or rather, the subject of sketch, some time, subsequently, engaged in blacksmithing); during the time they were there, Mr. Kelley's father died, thus leaving his son in care of a widowed mother, who came with him to Illinois in 1854, and settled on the farm where they now reside; this farm, of 305 acres, was, at that time, raw prairie, but now, by his labor, has become fine, arable land; the means by which Mr. Kelley acquired and improved this farm were entirely the fruits of his own labor. His marriage with Clarissa Benham, daughter of R. Benham, of Miami Co., Ohio, was celebrated in 1843; seven children were the fruit of this union, three are deceased:  Joseph, Cassie and William; four living:  Clarence (who taught school and graduated at Lincoln University in 1879, and is now reading law with Dearborn & Campbell, at Havana), Mollie, Frank and Charlie. Mr. Kelley has filled a full share of those humble, but important and useful positions in the schools, and as Township Trustee, and is now a member of the Board of Supervisors, elected in 1873, and has been an active member ever since.



Maintained by Mason County Coordinator Donna Mayer