The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-06-10
BIOGRAPHICAL.


"John Kelly-Grate Setter" was the sign
which hung from a modest two-story house
in Mott street, New York, in 1874. It indi-
Gated the humble beginning of one who,
twelve years later, was member of Con-
gress, and who, for thirty years since then,
was one of the most prominent political
figures of New York. His name was ia
miliar to everybody, and his features have
been portrayed so frequently by the carica-
turists that even children recognized il. 1t
is said that the editor of an illustrated pa
per at one time instructed his artists to re-
member that when timely subjects did not
present themselves cartoon on John Kelly
was always in order, and Kelly has been
seen on a street-car perusing this very pa
per, has eye twinkling merrily when he
found humorous representation of him
self. Johns strong characteristic was his
unostentatiousness, and for that reason
people know very little about his private
life.
John Kelly was born in New York City
April 20, 1922. His father died when he
was s years old. When the New York
Herald was in its infancy young Kelly
walked into the Office one day and asked
the elder Bennett if he wanted an Office
boy. Bennett was good Judge of char
acter and quick in deciding. He talked
with the youth q few minutes, and then
told him to go to work. He became
great favorite with Bennett, and when at
length he grew older and determined on
learning a trade, so as to better support
the large family that was depending on
him. Mr.. Bennett offered him strong in
ducements to remain, and on parting with
him predicted that he would succeed any,
where. The elder Bennett was as strong d
friend of Kelly's as the present Bennett
was bitter enemy. Kelly learned the trade
of soapstone cutting and CRATE setting, at
which he afterward made a considera-
BILE fortune. He proved to be re-
markably shrewd business man, and his
faith in the future of New York City was
so great that with every 5000 or 5000 he
would get he bought a lot uptown; these
lots are worth to-day from $4,000 to &c.
600, and Mr.. Kelly has died a millionaire.
Though his charity was distributed most
secretly, it is estimated that he dispensed
S250,000 in that way. When young man
John was notable as an athlete. The no.
torious John Morrisey said of Kelly that he
had the build of an ideal pugilist. Though
the cartoonists have always represented him
as a dumpy man, he was nearly six feet in
height and weighed about 240 pounds. He
ran with the Sire laddies" in his early DAYS,
and made hosts of friends, who elected him
Alderman in 1853. Tweed, of ring fame,
afterward said of this body: There never
was a time before that you could not buy
the Board of Aldermen, and if it was not
for John Kellys severity you could buy it
now"
In 1854 he was elected TO the Thirty fifth
Congress. He resigned his seat before his
last term was completed to take the office
of Sheriff, to which he had been elected.
1t was while in Congress that General Cass,
President Buchanan's Secretary of State,
spoke of him as Honest John Kelly"
which he has been commonly called since.
In 1868 he was chosen the candidate for the
Mayoralty in opposition to Bill Tweeds
Tammany Hall candidates, but an awful
burden of domestic affiict on in the loss of
his wife and son compelled him to with
draw and take his two daughters-all that
was left Of his family-to Europe for his
own health as well as theirs. He remained
away three years, and during his absence
New York City was given over wholly to
the plumber Of the Tweed ring. Prom
inent men like Mr.. Tilden, Seymour, Hew-
lit, and Belmont sought Mr.. Kelly TO help
them in this crisis. He had vowed never
to again enter politics. Their importu-
mites continued for year. till at last
he entered the fight, and while Mr.. Tilden
and Charles O'Conor attacked the Tweed
ring in the Legislature and in the courts
Mr.. Kelly had a hand hand tussle with
them in Tammany Hall, their citadel. and
routed them, as is we'll known. This gave
him prestige which he held since. An
idea of the tremendous power which this
ring welded may be obtained from the fact
that it gave employment to $4,000 persons
ND disbursed S30,0O0,O00 annually. In
SO Mr.. Kelly was appointed Comptroller
the city, and not only stopped the debt
of the city increasing, something unprece-
dented, but actually reduced it 80, 900, 900