Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-06-10
JOHN KELLY DEAD.
The Sachem Of Tammany Passes Peace
lyto Rest-Story Of His Rise from
Ward Politician to the
Leadership of the Most
Powerful Political
Body in the
Country.

New York, June 1.-Tammany Halls
great chieftain, John Kelly, died at his
residence in this city at 500 this after
noon. While his death was not sudden,
it was entirely unexpected. Mr.. Kelly
has been shining light and the leader of
an important wing of his party since the
days of Boss" Tweed. For over year
Mr.. Kelly has been ailing. Ever since
the Presidential campaign of 1884 Mr..
Kelly has suffered from nervous piostra.
tion and insomnia, which has been ag.
gravated by chronic dyspepsia This
was nothing unusual to Mr. Kelly as he
had suffered similar attacks on the death
OF his first wife, and again about ten
years ago. The latest attack was brought
on by hard work and over anxiety during
the Cleveland campaign. After the
memorable election of 1884 Mr. Kelly
was taken sick, and has been under the
care of physician ever since This
morning the end seemed near at hand,
and about two O'Clock in the afternoon
the physician abandoned all hope.
The Rev. Fathers Clarkson and Mea-
CHER, of the Dominican Order, were
summoned to the bedside, and the last
rites of the church, of which Mr.. Kelly
was member, were performed. There
were no convulsions or other manifesto
tions of suffering, and the clergymen
present declare they never witnessed a
happier death. About the last thing Mr..
Kelly said was this remark to his wife
and the clergymen: II have tried to live
the life of good Catholic. hope
shall die one. want to be buried as
one" g
John Kelly was born in one of the
down town quarters of New York on
April 10, 1892 He came from stalwart
race of Irishmen from County Tyrone,
Ireland, which has produced many men
conspicuous in American annals-Rich-
ard Montgomery of Revolutionary fame,
Alexander Porter, the Louisiana states
man. Archbishop Hughes, and General
James Shields, among others As a boy
he was quiet and thoughtful, filed how
ever, with abundance of physical cour-
age and never flinching from an antago-
mist on account of superior size.
Mr.. Kelly's first venture in politics was
when he ran as stump candidate for
Ward Assessor. He was defeated Ir
1854 he ran against Mike Walsh for Con
gress and was elected. In Congress Mr..
Kelly was chiefly noted for his defense
of Irish Catholics. For the second time
he was elected to Congress, and his stur-
dy figure began to appear prominently in
the old fashioned circles of Washington.
Alex. II. Stephens became his warm
friend and admirer, and curious pair
the two crOnies were as they walked
about the streets of the Capital together.
Wifeless and childless, John Kelly re-
turned from his wanderings in the fall of
1871. Hardly had he appeared in the
metropolis than he was surrounded by
the best men in the Democratic party,
who begged him to enter Tammany Hall
and smash the corrupt men sitting in its
high place. Some came to him person
ally and Others wrote Among the men
who urged their influence in this direc-
ton were Mr.. Tilden, Horatio Seymour,
Charles O'Conor, Abram S. Hewitt, San
ford Z. Church. August Belmont Dewitt
G. West, Chief Justice Ruger, Senator
German. of Maryland; Samuel ]. Ran.
dali, Thomas F. Bayard, VIM. Butler
Duncan. Congressman Hurd, of Ohio;
Judge Henry Hilton and host Of other
powerful Democrats of the metropolis
and of the country.
1t was plain to every one that John.
Kelly was the man for the hour. Sur
rounded by the wisest men of the metro.
polls he fought Tweeds henchmen.
Day after day he worked and thought
out and executed the will of the reform
element The Tweed ring was scattered,
and Its leaders became outcasts from the
society of honest men.
He was next nominated for Sheriff and
elected by large majority. He was af-
terward reelected. 1t is said that during
his terms as Sheriff Kelly made, honestly
and fairly, over 100000.
So plain John Kelly rose to be the
leader Of the ablest and most powerful
political body in the Republic.
Kelly helped to put Tilden forth in
1874 for the Governorship, in order TO
restore confidence in Tammany Hall. He
quarreled with him year later, and was
routed, horse and flank, by the Sage of
Greystonc at the st. Louis Convention of
1876. He supported Mr.. Tilden loyalty,
however, in the contest that followed,
and he had his revenge by practically
nominating Hancock in 1880 at Cincin-
natl. Mr. Kelly was made Comptroller
by Mayor Wickham, and was ousted by
Mayor Cooper. With Mr.. Kelly's sick
ness his rule in Tammany Hall came to
an end, and another man has taken the