The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-06-09
JOHN KELLY is DEAD.
The Tammany Sachem Passes Away after a
Long Illness.
No One Present at the Time of His Death
But His Wife and Chiidren-A
Sketch of His Private and Po-
litical Life

NEw YORK, June John Kelly died at
500 this afternoon. Mr.. Kelly has been
sick for several months. During the last
few weeks he seemed to feel comparatively
well, but on Thursday last he was taken
with an attack of fainting and became weak
er afterward. Monday he was worse, but
this morning an improvement was apparent.
At noon, however, he began to sink, and the
approach of the end was realized. Mr.. Kel-
ly's death was painless, although he was con-
scious to the last. Only Mrs. Kelly and her
two children were present when the patient
passed away. Mrs. Kelly was prostrated by
the blow, and is too i'll to see anybody. No
arrangements have as yet been made.
Late this evening Mr.. Brennan announced
that the funeral would take place on Satur-
day at the Cathedral. A solemn requiem
mass will be celebrated over the remains.
Archbishop Corrigan, who called at the
house during the evening, will probably Off
ciate.
John Kelly was born in the city of New York
April 20, lo22. He was descended from the stall
wart lrishmen OF Tyrone County who played an
important part in the early history OF the United
States, and who gave us SUCH illustrious names as
-
isiana; Archbishop Hughes, General James
Shields and others; As boy, John was
lad of spirit, however, who never finehed
antagonist account OF his
superior size. His early schooling was of brief
duration, but he was stndiOus and made the most
of his opportunities. Even after he left school
and began Il battle of life in earnest he avoided
eisHre TO the study Of Fre1c E1@i6 iteTat1r ms
and science, and as the editor Of the Utica OBJ
server wrote OF him in 1873: IF anbOdy has i'm
ant man, he does not want to confront that de-
lusiOn with an actual examination of Mr. Kelly's
requirements. A Utica man who met him once
IN The presence OF Professor Bonamy Price, OF
oxford, says that he held his own in discussion
OF political economy with England's foremost
teacher OF that science
Passing over mis- earlier struggles. we find him
at twenty one prosperous mechanic in business
for himself, having sOa pstone and crate factory
with many influential people as customers At
this time be had not a thought of politics. al
though he was as fully a leader of the young men
became Of Tammany al a later day. AT the Ivy
Green, great resort of politicians, he would
Cancy Peter b. i0 sWeenv Matthew Brenns9 @ Sn5
David C. BrOderick. He was Captain of the En-
met Guards for several years, resigning when
figure in the old Volunteer Fire Department,
which was then in its zenith, and his herculean
strength and great courage were freouent' talked
of by the entire town. His fearlessness, later in
life, served him in good stead on several occas-
ions when his life was threatened by the hirelings
With the election of President Buchanan Mr..
Kelly became one of the ADMINISTRATION leaders
age and it was about this time that he received
through his unrelenting opposition to public JOB
berry and dishonesty OF every description, the
sobriquet. which has stuck TO him ever since, of
Honest John Kelly. His biograPher tells the story
thus:
zone day General Cass. Secretary of State visit
ed the Capitol and in conversation with a friend,
said: Look at John Kelly moving along quietly
among the members. The man is full of latent
fhofh hag a1t- Of 10 fc
equal to half dozen of those fellows around him.
Yes by all odds, the biggest man among them all.
The country will yet hear from Honest John Kel-
ly.' Those words of General Cass, uttered i'm his
imposing George -the-Third style of conversation,
shortly after were repeated to old James Gordon
Bennett, the friend OF Kelly's boyhOOd, and the
editor took early opportunity to mention Honest
John Kelly in the Herald, and frequently alter
ward applied the same title to him. The appella-
tion struck the public as appropriate, and
passed into general use. The subject of this
memoir has been called Honest John Kelly from
Coming down to a comparatively recent period,
the biOgrapber traverSes ground familiar 10 the
Sheriff, and the splendid record he made while in
that office; his nomination for Mayor against A.
Oakley Hall, ana his subsequent withdrawal from
the race by reason of severe family atiliction;
his visit to Europe, his many charities his rela-
tiOns with Mr. Tilden and their cooperation in re-
forming Tammany and driving the Ring from
power; his elevation to the ComptroIership-an
these are matters within the memory OF the read
ers OF the Sentinel.
The biography from which we quote fifty closes
with general tribute by the most influential pOr-
tions OF the press of the country. and more espe-
cially of New York, to the honesty, ability and
worth of John Kelly. In moments when partisan
passions had abated even his bitterest enemies
in politics and on the press (socially he had no
enemies( found time to do him Justice and
they did it willingly. His position and popularity
in Tsmmany Hall, ''the right wing OF the Ma
tional Democracy are recognized everywhere in
the United States. Probably no higher and GER
tainly no more truthful eulogium of a public
man was ever uttered than that spoken by Hon.
A = 80 IN, aaH rrha hoc
The assertion that John Kelly is a dictator is
an insult to Tammany and its members. All or
CARNATIONS must have leaders, and no one but
John Kelly could have done the work that he has
performed. The city of New York owes to that
calumniated man honOrs that statues could not
adequately pay. There is no desire in John Kellys
breast so strong as to be relieved from his present
onerous position; but if some one of respectability
not found to do such abors, the city of New
York would be soon nninhahiIable q q den of