Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-19

SATURDAY evening, at O.45 O'Clock, at his
residence, No. 213 West street. His
death resulted from paralysis and was
not unexpected. He had been unwcll
for two years. About n year ago he
had light stroke of paralysis and since
then he had been quite feeble The
death of his wife, nine months ago, and
Nc death of his lastsuryiving son, which
eurred in Florida last August, were
severe blows to him and possibly lac
tened his death. Soon after the death
Of his wife he had another paralytic
stroke, the second being much more
severe than the first, and after that his
decline became rapid. lie had been
confined to the house for four weeks
and to his room for ten days Daring
the last three days he was unconscious.
y He was born al Milburn, N. r., IN
1918. His father died in 1926 and his
mother two years later. During the
four years Immediately following .he
death of his father he attended school in
Reading, Pa, and when he was rs years
old he became an apprentice to learn the
trade of millwright with his uncle,
John Mcleod, at the latter's mills, on
the Brandywine, now Riddles cotton
factory. Later on he went to Rich
mond, Va, to superintend the erection
OF large plantof papcrmill machinery
He remained there, engaged in this work,
IL months, and returned home ut the
close OF his contract to take charge Of
large job of machinery erection at mill
on the Brandywine.
Subsequently he became master of
the United States Dredgc, then employed
under the control of the City Council in
dredging the Delaware and the Chris
tiana. This position first procured for
him the title of captain. The necessity
for thorough overhauling of the mill
and renewal Of the machinery of the
boat brought him into acquaintance
with the firm Of Belts, Pussy & Harlan
and finally into business connection
with them. In 1870 he went to Cuba in
the interest Of l. F. Morris & Co., to
erect large sugar mill, put in the ma
chinery and ''take off the CROP" as the
phrase went, meaning the harvesting,
working and storing, if not shipping,
the seasons sugar crop. All of these
missions he accomplished with great
success and at the end OF eight months
he returned home.
In 1S41 he became an employee Of
Belts, Pussy & Harlan, now the Harlan
& Hollingsworth Company, and the
first important piece of work he under
took for his new employers was the re-
fitting Of the steamer Sun with new
cylinder and sundry new parts for her
machinery. The successful accomplish
ment Of this undertaking, which at first
seemed to be beyond the ability of
the firm, marked new era in the his
tory of tho concern and established ii
as the first iron shipbuilding yard in the
United States. The details of this first
successful effort to make an iron
cylinder for large vessel and of Cap
tain Kelley's success in setting it in
place with the accompanying machinery
form an important epoch in the history
of shipbuildng in the United States.
Upto this time the machine work turned
out by the firm had been of an unim.
portant character, consisting of niscel-
laneous mill work, local repairs and
some few land engines, although in this
year they rebuilt locomotive for the
Philadelphia, Wilmington s. Baltimore
Railroad Company. They had not at
tempted any marine work, although
they had for some time been preparing
themselves for it as best they could,
knowing that of such in all probability
would consist their future operations.
In 1874 Captain Kelley was offered
and after much urging accepted the
position of commander of. the Il. I. du
Pont, passenger and freight packet
running between this city and Philadel-
phia. The position was unsuited to his
tastes, however, and he soon resigned ii,
taking his discharge with honorable
papers, and the next day he returned to
his position with the shipbuilding firm.
From that time he continued for 10 or
10 years to erect all the machinery built
by the firm and in 1876 he was promoted
to the more responsible position Of
superintendent of dock and REPAIRS He
had long career Of useful devotion to
the interests Of employers who not only
annually recognized his sterling merits
but who by and bye invited him to
share in the profits of their Joint enter
prise by becoming az stakeholder and
director in the corporation afterwards
formed and in whose councils he
always distinguished himself as stancli
adherent of the policy of justice and
morality in all the dealings of the con-
Germ. He retired from active business
some years ago but continued as stock.
holder and director of the Harlan &
Hollingsworth Company.
AS citizen he was held in high es-
TEEN. He possessed considerable wealth
and was most benevolent He dislikcd
notoriety and did not herald his philan.
trophy. To church benevolences and
NIL charities, and especially in aid of tn,
poor, his purse was always open. In
his death the church has lost valued
member and the needy beloved bene-
factor. For 66 years he was commu
meant Of the Methodist Episcopal and
for many years he was member oi
Grace Church. He was for long time
o class leader and the president of the
board of trustees Of Grace Church ant
treasurer of the centenary fund and the
board of stewards of Wilmington Con
ference. Twenty months ago, owing tt
failing health, he resigned these
positions. He was member Of CORN
THAN Lodge, A. +. A. NJ. In politics hi
was Republican. At the time of hi
y death and for several months previous
n he was member of the Board Of Por
Wardens.
W In 1887 he married Miss Margaret A
Bellingham of this city. They had sever
= children, of whom three are living
Mrs. Emma j. Carter, Mrs. Mary A
M Williamson and Mrs. Ellen u. Pierson