The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-05-07
DEATH NJ. A. KELLY.
The Genial Pioneer Druggist
Passes Quietly Away.
PATIENT suFFERiNcs ENDED
Genuine Sorrow On the Part u ALI VIE
Clttsen and Coed Father.

Knew 0in-A Gensle, d-Hsa1ted
Cittsea aad Coed Father.
Matthew A. Kelly, . pioneer druggist Of
Seattle and one of the most popular OF
oid-timers, died suddenly yesterday morn
ing about O'Clock at his residences. ia
South Eleventh street, Of apopiexy. Mr..
Keliy's last illness Was Of only three days
duration and the end came unexpectedly
and without warning Ever since the
great IRE Of June 9, 1850. Mr.. Kelly suf-
fered . decline from his former splendid
health and on two occasions was near
deaths door from strokes OF apopiexy.
To make matters worse his right leg,
which WAS terribly burned while he
was . child, commenced to trouble
him. He bore up manfuiiy under these
difficulties. however. and kent - well ~
possible the knowledge of his sufferings
from his friends. Three days ago he was
confined to his bed from what appeared to
be mild stroke of apoplexy. combined
with rheumatic pains. Saturday night he
suffered intensely. and his wife and son
Chester were With him al the time.
Toward morning he rested easier and Mrs.
Kelly went to her room for little rest.
Soon after this Mr.. Kelly dropped asleep,
and at $50 O'Clock Chester, think
ing that his father Was getting
along nicely, went out OF the
room for a few minutes. In the mean
time Mrs Kelly, who found it impossible
to rest owing to anxiety for her husbands
welfare. arose and returned to his room.
The moment she entered the room her
quick perception told her that . great
change had come. Her calls were heard
by her son. who quickly came to the bed
chamber. only to find that his father, who
a few minutes before was sleeping 30
quietly, had joined the silent majority.
Coroner Horton viewed the remains dur
ing the day and pronounced death due to
apoplexy.
The death Of Matthew Kelly will b re-
ceived with feelings of regret, not only by
the old timers of Seattle and Olympia,
where he was we'll known. but also by
many of the people who came to Seattle
after the great FIRE Of June g, 1850, and BE-
came acquainted with "Matt Kelly" as
he was universally known Mr.. Kelly was
born in Roxbury, Mass. now part Of
Boston, December Is. 1850, his parents
being Of Scotch and Irish ancestry. The
elder Kelly Was . merchant tailor,
and for many years after arriving in
the Hub of New England conducted
. large and flourishing establishment.
Matthew Kelly WAS educated in the Bos-
ton public schools until his 18th year,
whom he started out in life for himself.
He went first to New York city and soon
obtained . position in the CORTLAND street
- - h nat md kA
acquainted with Asa Mercer. one of
Washington's pioneers and the originator
Of female immigration to Puget sound.
Mr.. Mercer, who was in New York city
for the purpose Of organising company
to invite superior women to the new and
spsrsely settled territory Of WASH
ington, became interested in Kelly.
fne-looking. bright. intelligent
young man. and offered him free
transportation to Seattle. The offer was
accepted and on January 16 1853. young
Kelly embarked on the steamer Cont
mental, which was furnished by the
United States government, with the party
OF LIS women who had bravely decided to
cast their lot In the far Northwest The
trip was made by the way Of the Straits Of
Magellan and when San Francisco was
reached landing MAS made. About one
half of the ladies stayed there. but the
others bore bravely on and came to Puget
sound. where they had no trouble in find
ing employment ss school teachers. or At
other light work.
After young Kelly landed at Seattle he
found Q home with Henry Van ASSET. on
the Duwamish river. and for several
months worked for his board, at the same
time attending school. Gardner Kellogg,
the pioneer druggist Of Seattle, became in
tsrested in the young man and took him
into his store, which Was on Yesler avenue
At what is now the southeast corner OF Pto-
neer place While still boy Kelly went TO
Olympia and entered the office of the Weekly
Echo. owned by r II. Hewitt. but after
SIX months service gave up tho newspaper
business and entered the drug store Of
| DIR. Rufus Willard. with whom he re-
manned until $50. Then he returned to
Seattle. and was taken into partnership
| with Gardner Kellogg. who had moved his
store TO point now occupied by the First
National bank. year later Mr.. kellogg
sold GU, his interest in the store, and WAS
| succeeded by Suftren. the firm name being
| Kelly & Snffren. The latter withdrew
| from the firm in about year. and Mr..
| Kelly continued alone until 1873. when
| Mr.. A. b. Young purchased an interest In
the business. Two years later Mr. Young
| sold ont. and from that time on Mr.. Kelly
continued the business alone.
| When the big IRE swept away the BUSH
/ ness portion of the city Mr.. Kelly, who
| had his store al that time where Cooper &
| Levy are now, xas heavy loser The
| shock of the FIRE and the attending excite
ment had visible effect on Mr.. Kelly. ye,
/ he showed the same energy that othe;
/ business iaen did and started in business
again in the kilgsa block on Second
street Later be moved across the street
/ into the rooms occupied now by the Iii,
| kins Banking Company, and remained
| there until August. 1889. when. owing &c
/ unFsiaitting sickness, BE sold out and re-
| tired from business.
/ Mr.. Kelly married Miss Annie Wood
| Of Olympia. schoo.ma,e, and one OF tia
most popular yoang ladies' IN the city. in
| isT9. They Immediately came TO Seattle
and made il their permanent home. Ths
! result Of this uniaa VAS i've children
| Chester Willard Kelly. aged - years
/ ANNE May, deceased; james tiiIoer;
/ Kelly. aged IS years: Blanche A Kelly
!. and Frederick Malthes Kelly. aged Il
] years. he also leaves one sister, Mrs
| IL Ill. Leayist, of Cambridge. Mass, whc
Was here on . visit about year ago and
sa~ her brother Tor the first and last tins