The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-20
A BENEFACTOR TOSAVANNAH
Mr.. Eugene Kelly, the Founder Of The
Southern Bank Of Georgia.

UuuthNlu Uuiih vi u-uiS ius
His Death Generally Deplorsd-He Left
an Estate Valued at $40, 900, ooo-He
Owned Three-ffths of the Capital
Stock of the Southern Bank and Other
Property in This oity-A Sketch of
His Life and Career as a Financier.
Dispatches to the Morning News yes
terday announced the death OF Mr.. Eugene
Kelly, whose life as a successful fnenc!er
is of interest to all sections, and especially
so to Savannah. on account of his bust
ness investments and the spirit of gene
rosity with which he has extended fnan-
cial aid 10 this section.
Mr. Keily's illness began on Dec. 4 with
a stroke of paralysis, and because of his
advanced age. IS years, he had not suffi-
cient strength to rally from the shock.
Despite all that could be done for him he
continued to sink from day to day until
he died at his residence, at SO West Fifty
first street in New York yesterday morn
ing. shortly after o'clock.
Eugene Kelly was son Of Thos. Boyne
/ O'Kelly. of Mullaghmore, Ireland, and
was born in county Tyrone in 1903. The
family had once been very wealthy, and
one Of its members served in the Irish
parliament in 1855 Eugene Kelly was
fairly well provided for when he came TO
this county sixty years ago, and took a
/ clerkship in the store of Dcnnelly 4 Co.
of New York city. He soon went 10 Ken
lucky and afterWard to st. Louis, where
he married and soon after became a
widower. Mr.. Kelly established the New
York house of Eugene Kelly 4 Co., in
1856. In 1851 he married Miss Margaret
Hughes, niece of the late archbishop OF
| New York. When the gold fever broke
out in California, he assisted in estab-
fishing in San Francisco the banking
I house of Donohoe & Kelly, firm that
/ sim exists. All of Mr.. Kelly's business
/ ventures have been prosperous, and when
he retired few years ago his fortune was
! estimated at over $4,000. 900.
Mr.. Kelly has been an earnest Catholic
! and few years ago Pope Leo XIII. APP
/ pointed his son, Eugene, chamberlain Of
/ the Cape and Sword. an honor which has
been conferred on but two Americans. For
/ many years Mr.. Kelly has been known as
/ a liberal philanthropist and promoter Of
/ the cause Of irish home rule lie once
/ contributed $4,000 to the parliamentary
] fund, and was active in securing contri-
/ buttons from others.
! Mr.. Kelly was a steadfast democrat and
/ was one of the Cleveland electors for the
| state of New York in the campaign Of
/ 1884. This was perhaps the only political
! office of any nature whatever that he held
/ during his long career, as he was opposed
| to holding public office. He, however, al
ways took an active interest in lmpor-
| lanI DOllIlcdl QueSllOnS.
To Mr.. Kelly is due the founding of the
| Southern Bank, one of Savannah s
| staunchest and most prominent financial
| institutions. 1T was at his instance that
| the bank was founded in 1870 OF the pro-
| posed capital stock of $500, 000 he sub
| scribed and paid in S250,O00 at once. The
| understanding was that the balance was
to be taken by citizens of Savannah, but
| money was scarce in Savannah at that
time and very little Of it
was taken here. Mr.. Kelly later
GTlhg0Tihpn
| naming untaken amounting to S111 600.
/ He afterward disposed of a considerable
part Of his holdings to citizens here, but
| retained the majority of the stock. His
holdings amounting now to about three
[ fifths of the whole amount.
Mr.. Kelly was elected president of the
bank and the late Capt. John McMahon
| vice president. Mr.. Kelly resided in New
York and the affairs of the bank We're
conducted by Capt, McMahon;, Upon the
| death of Capt. Mcmahon in 1881 Mr. Kelly
| desired that resident of Savannah
| should be made president, as he did not
feel able to fulfill the duties OF that office
| without giving it his constant personal
| attention. He rendered his resignation
and Capt John Flannery was elected
president, which position he has continued
to hold up to the present time. Mr. Kelly
| continued as director of the bank.
Mr.. Kelly always displayed a great fond
ness for Savannah. He frequently visited
/ here and always showed a great interest
in its financial institutions He was always
| exceedingly liberal in furnishing funds to
| enable the banks to meet the heavy de-
| mands of the fall movement of cotton,
| especially when money was scarce and
| difficult to obtain from the usual sources.
Mr.. Kelly had other large investments
l in Savannah besides his stock in the
Southern Bank. He built the Kelly block
| at Bay and Bull streets in 1871. The block
was destroyed by fire in 1876 and was re-
| built by MIR. Kelly. He also purchased the
warehouse property of Capt. Mcmahon on
| West Broad street, which he afterwards
/ sold.
Mr. Kellys interest in Savannah was I'M
derstood and appreciated here, and he
was highly esteemed by all classes. In his
death 1t is realized that Savannah loses
| a good friend.
Both doors of the Southern Bank
were draped in mourning yesterday after
the receipt of telegram announcing Mr..
Kellys death, and appropriate resolu-
lions will be passed at the meeting of the
board of directors which will take place
I Tomorrow