The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-06-11
DEATH OF JOHN KELLY.
The Career Of the Noted Leader or Tam
many Hall.

New YORK, June John Kelly
died at 20 this afternoon, he had
been i'll for two years. During the last
few weeks he seemed to feel compare
lively well. but on Sunday at p. m. he
was taken with an attack of fainting,
and became weaker afterward. On
Monday he was worse, but this morning
an Improvement was apparent. At noon,
however, he began to sink and the ap-
proach Of the end was realized. His
death was painless, and be was cOnsci-
GUS to the last. Only Mrs. Kelly and
her two children were present when the
patient passed away. No funeral ar
rangements have as yet been made.
John Kelly was born in New York
city, in Hester street, April 20, 1871.
His ancestors were natives of County
Tyrone, Ireland, His youth was devoid
of the vices which ordinarily play havoc
with young men in great cities He
was a lad of spirit, but also quiet and
thoughtful. His early schooling was
brief, but after he began the battle o.
life in earnest he devoted some of his
leisure time in the evenings to the study
of English literature, science and the
French language. His first employment
was In the New York Herald office as an
errand boy, which he relinquished for
| the purpose OF learning trade. He ap-
prenticed himself to a sOapstOne cutter
/ and grate-setteI, soon learned the trade,
/ and at q years Of age was in business
/ for himself, the prosperous owner Of a
( crate and soapsIOne factory in Elizabeth
! street, New York. He was elected AL
/ derman OF the Fourteenth ward in 1858.
/ In 1854 he was elected to Congress, and
| in 1856 was reelected. In 1853 he was
! 2 NT,rvr I
! in 1864 During the worst days of the
reign of the Tweed ring he was in Eu-
! rope, seeking relief from the mental and
| physical depression occasioned by losing
| his first wife and four children
! within short period. When
he returned, however, he aided in prose-
| cutting the Tweed Tingsters, and in 1872
! he became the leader Of Tammany Hall.
! In 1876 Mayor Wickham appointed him
Comptroller. His fight with Governor
| Robinson over the removal of County
Clerk Gum0letOn Is one of the noted
events in New York politics. AS the
leader Of Tammany Hall, however, he
| quaTTeied with q number of Dem 0cTatiC
/ statesmen hs refused to bliudly TecOg
MIA the claims Of that organization
He quaTTeled with Lucius Robinson anC
built up the County Democracy by seek
ing 10 become the autoCTaU of New Y ORR
city politics he quarre!ed with Sanue
!. Tilden he qUaTTeled with all The
Mayors that he elected and could no
mold as clay In the pOtter's hands
lastly he quarTeled with MI Cleveland
though when it came to the natiOna
election he showed more regard for th,
welfare of the Democratic party thar
his record in politics had led man,
Democrats to hope for. His disap
pOiDtment iR losing the Tammany Ioca
ticket at this election, however, is be
liGved TO have had much 10 do with th
physical collapse which has ended in nj
demise.
Mr.. Kelly leaves a widow (the neic
Of the late Cardinal McC!osky) and tw
children. His private life was stainless
and he had far more culture then tn
, average city politician and also nor
! ability. Even his enemies bave spoke
a.. OF him as Honest John Kelly"