Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-05-31
From the Dubnqsc Times.
DEATH OF TOW KELLY.

DEATH OF TOW KELLY.
That strange, eccentric, and somewhat "a
nous old settler, Tom Kelly, died in his hu
On the west slope Of the beautiful bluff a hicl
bears bis name, at 3 o'clock Z. y. May 18th
aged 55 years. He was so strange char
acter, and his name at least was SO general
ly known, though thousands in our city nevel
saw him, that q sketch Of his life will bt
read with interest.
Tom Kelly was one Of the very first Of the
settlers OH the tract Of land included in the
limits of Dubuque. lie was born in King,
county, Ireland, in 1909. He emigrased te
Canada in 1926 remained there two years
and half, and then went south, journeying
through the Southern States TO New Orleans
Thence be came up the Mississippi river
and landed in Galena in 1881. In the spring
Of 1882 he came to Dubuque, and worked
in the mines until he, With others. was or.
dered Of by Lieut.. JEFF. Davis. ne came
back in 1884, built . cabin Just opposite
what is now Graham's brick yard living
there many years and again commenced
mining. He was one Of the most industri-
Gus Of miners. In 1884 be struck big lode
on the bluff named after him. He then stak.
ed off, as was the custom Of miners then,
about forty acres on the bluff, and held j,
until it was open for entry, when he came in
possession Of the land. He was in cornpa.
ny with Cardiff and Lang worthy, and the
mine was one Of the most productive ever
known on this side Of the river. How much
was taken out is not known. Several years
after, be discovered another lead on the bluff,
near Third street. which also yielded large.
ly. In 1888 he built furnace on his bluff,
and commenced smelling his own mineral.
He lived all this time alone, only mixing
with men as his business compelled him to
do SO, working hard either prospecting,
smelling, or minisg.
In 1851, he shipped an enormous quantity
Of lead for New York ria New Orleans. He
had it insured for $4,000. On the way, it
was lost in the ocean, and be went to ST.
Louis to collect the insurance money, receiv
ing drafts on New York for the amount. He
started for Few York with the drafts in his
pocket, to get them cashed himself. At Al
bany his strange appearance-long hair,
rough clothes, and singular rdemeanor-caus-
ed ill-bred boys to follow aud annoy him.
The result was, that one day be fired . pistol
at q vexing crc wd, and mortally wounded
man. He was tried, judged TO be insane,
and sent to the Utica Insane Asylum, the
State authorities taking possession of his
drafts, which they have retained ever since
to the amount OF $4,000. What became of
the rest is not known. He remained at Uti.
ca three years, We think, when he escaped,
and made his way back to Dubuque.
He then built cabin on the south side Of
his bluff. 1t was composed of stones, was
low, and almost covered with earth. 1t had
no windows, and but one small door. Be.
low it be had piece Of ground, fenced with
brush, which be cultivated. He did his own
cooking and washing. His bluff, covered as
it was with trees, was the resort of scores of
people every summers day, and is q most
inviting picnic spot. Il was free to all, If
they would MT abuse his trees nor approach
his hut. Either of these transgressions an.
noyed him excessively, and the transgressor
was soon made to feel that the best place for
him was somewhere else.
In 81 and '63 the roof of his hut caved
in, and be vacated it, after putting up .
worse one west of il, in more retired spot.
He continued his prospecting all these
years, and in '64 struck another lode, which
has added largely to his wealth.
His singular mode Of life, and Els reputed
wealth, Is we'll as his rough appearance,
made him notorious. He wa, opposed to
giving money for any purpose whatever, and
rarely did such thing. We believe, how>
ever, that several times be, unasked, gave
Bishop Smyth money to build the Cathedral,
being . Catholic in religion. Now andthen
he would come down town to- make purchas.
es OF provisions, sometimes talking freely
for him, and again neve. saying one word
more than was necessaT ' for business pur.
poses. He was quite Intelligent on many
subjects, though we telieve be read very lit.
lie, if any, and wrote. less. He was the best
weather prophet v.e ever say, ard rarely, if
ever, did his pr 1gnostications fail Of fulfil
nent., Being alone was his enjoyment. We
'nce heard b. IN say: winter Is the pleas
'ntest TIM. There don't nobody but cows
,ome on the bluff in the winte." We think
lis use of the comb Was unfrequent, and
,elief / i the efficacy Of water would have
,een 2 ood for him. How be could endure
ivin2 in his hut, close and dark even in day.
lghs :, save - q candle lighted it, with the
re .und for his floor, we can't imagine.
But thus he lived here thirty years. He
as taken i'll, month ago, with bilious fe-
yer, We think. Then boils and carbuncles
nearly covered his body, and weakened him
So that his physicians could not rally him.
His nephew, William Kelly, and wife, took
care of him till he died. His wealth is esti>
mated at 100000 by his relatives, though
where it is, save the thirty acres on the bluff,
and the mineral in bis yard they nor any one
else know. He leaves two brothers, sister,
two nephews ard . niece. He made no
will.