The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-02
OBITUAR
Death OF John Kelly, Democratic Politician
and Leader of Tammany.

Hester street, then in the Sixth ward, now in the
Fourteenth. April 20, 1922 His ancestors wera
natives of Tyrone county, Ireland They gave
names to not few who have won distinction in
American history, among whom were Richard
Montgomery, Alexander Porter, of Louisiana,
Archbishop Hughes and Gen. James Shields,
who once had spirited quarrel with Abraham
Lincoln. John Kelly's youth was devoid of the
vices which ordinarily play such havoc with
young men in great cities He was lad OF
spirit but also quiet and thoughtful His early
schooling brief. but after he began the battle
of life in grim earnest he devoted some of his
leisure time in the evenings to the study of En-
glish literature, science and the French language.
He at first met with many discouragements in
seeking employment in the great city. Finally
he visited the Office of the New York Herald,
then but recently established, and asked James
Gordon Bennett If he wanted an office boy.
The editor looked at him sharply for an instant,
and then, satisfied with his scrutiny, said in his
broad Scotch accent "Come in, take off your
hat and go to work" This distinguished editor,
1t is said, became his warm friend. In few
years. however, he decided to leave the Herald
Office and learn trade, to the end that he might
60 into business for himself. Mr.. Bennett ems
deavored to dissuade him from this STEP as he
had made himself favorite by his uniform good
attended to his duties, but the now stalwart
youth replied that he was the main support
as the eldest son OF his mother and her
large family, and that he must take up
other and, what promised to be, mora
profitable work In his bluff, kind way the editor
gave him some good advice, wishing him all sucs
cess, and the two parted with mutual regard.
Young Kelly now apprenticed himself to Jacob
B. Dreamer, soapstone cutter and CRATE setters
and soon learned the trade He possessed great
9th nf will and ~ m w
he undertook Instead of passing his EVENING"
in the LIQUOR saloons in the company OF the bos
sotted and the debased, he endeavored to supply
the deficiencies of his early education, and ha
was not unsuccessful
At twenty-one John Kelly was prosperous
mechanic, in business'for himself, carrying on
CRATE and soapstone factory in Elizabeth street,
New York. In 1853 he was elected alderman OF
the Fourteenth ward of New York; in 1854 ha
was elected member of Congress, after an ex-
citing campaign. In 1856 he was reelected to
Congress in the same campaign in which James
Buchanan was elected President In 1858 Mr..
Kelly introduced bill giving homestead OF
I60 acres to actual settlers.
Mr. Kelly, as member of Congress, vehementiy
attacked Know nothingism, or the principles OF
the American party, who looked with marked
disfavor upon foreigners He favored the ess
tablishment of the Brooklyn navy-yard. In
1858 Mr. Kelly was elected sheriff of New York
He was not at once reelected, as tho Law then
provided that no person could be reelected Sher-
if except after an interval of three years Aftet
a lapse OF this period he was again elected to
that Office. He was in later years offered the
nomination for Mayor, but he declined it,
though his friends maintained that he was sure
of an election. He advocated the election OF
Samuel j. Tilden as Governor, and at the
time said of him: ''He has the most analytical
mind of any statesman denying that DR. Til.
den was a crusty old bachelor In later years.
however it is well known that his opposition to
Mr.. Tiden was pronounced. Mr.. keily's hght
with Governor Robinson is one of the memora-
BILE events ia the political history of New York,
and was due to the tenacity with which he ad-
hered to his friends The quarrel grew out or
Mr. Robinson's refusal to submit to the dicta-
ton of Tammany Hall and the removal OF
County Clerk Gumbleton politician who was
of very little consequence in the party, but
whose removal was mainly the cause of Governor
Robinson's political extinction. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr. Kelly himself ran for Gov
ernor and drew away enough votes from MIR.
Robinson who had been nominated, to elect
Alonzo B. Cornell, the Republican candidate.
During the worst days of the reign of the
Tweed ring Mr.. Kelly was absent in Europe,
whittier he had gone after withdrawing, by rea-
son of a severe domestic affiiction, from q
test with Oakley Hall for the mayoraity of New
York. On his return he co-operated with Sam
uel j. Tilden. Augustus Schelt and others in the
warfare on the ring. He was fearless. though
his life was threatened by some OF the more des'
perate hirelings of Tweed. He became the lead.
er of Tammany Hall in 1872 He secured Mr..
Tilden the nomination for Governor in 1874, and
used his best efforts to make him President
Mr. Kelly made comptroller, by Mayor
Wickham, in 1876.
When Grover Cleveland was nominated for
President Mr.. Kelly thought he saw opportus
nifty to secure the Offices of Mayor and comp.
troller for Tammany Hall, aud, therefore, al-'
though he had been opposed to the nomination
of Mr. Cleveland, preferring Mr.. Bayard, as he
had when General Hancock was nominated, ha
used every endeavor to secure the success OF the
national ticket. and with it the election OF Hugh
j. Grant for Mayor. one Of the few incorruptibla
aldermen of 1884, when the Broadway railroad
franchise was iniquitousy granted to Jacob
Sharp's company Mr. Kelly's friends urge that,
had he SO much as given sign to any or hid
leaders in the twonty-four districts, Of
land, James G.. Blaine could have
been elected as easily as by the turn of hand.
The defeat of Hugh j. Grant was large pecu-
MARY loss, both to that gentleman and to tina
Tammany Hall organization. and struck down
Mr. Kelly politically and physically at one fell
blow He had counted success as certain,
fact that made the disappointment all the keenet
and harder to bear. Even his iron nature sue.
cumbed. as in a larger field such widely different
men as Stephen A. Douglas and Horace Greeley
were mortally stung by the asp, SO to speak. Of
defeat so John Kelly, after the crushing Of hia
cherished project, was never the same man; his
health seemed permanently undermined; he waa
sulkng in his tent; he was physically unable
to assume the active leadership Of his halcy0n
days.
By his first wife Mr. Kelly had four children.
He lost his wife and all his chiren in a few years.
His domestic Affections so affected his health
that he was advised to go to Europe There he
passed winter at Rome. where he purchased
seven very costly paintings which he presented
to St Patrick's Cathedral and the Mount ST.
Vlncents Academy. He has lectured in numers
Gus cities of this country on THE Irish in Amer<
Ca" and the proceeds were devoted to the Cath.
Ollie Church, of which he was a jealous member,
though it may be said of him that he never spoke
against the religion of others, taking the ground
that THAT is between the man and his God"
In Boston he was introduced by General Butler,
and his lecture there brought considerable sum,
which went to the Nun OF Kenmare. In all Mr..
Kelly's lectures have brought some $4,000 to
Catholic institutions
Even his enemies have spoken Of him as Hon-
est John Kelly He was always, for example, q
bitter opponent of William M. Tweed. By his