Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-25
NOTED KANSAN DEAD.
Ex-coNGREssMAN HARRISON KEEL
LEY PASSES AWAY.
PROMINENT IN STATE POLITICS.
HELD MANY OFFICES OF TRUsT AS
A REPUBLICAN.
Joined the POpulist Party when Ii
Was Young and Had Been One
of Its Strong supPOFters-
Went to Kansas in
1855.
PROMINENT IN STATE POLITICS


Congressman Harrison Kelley died at his
home in this city at 4:39 o'clock this morn
ing. after a lingering illness. Of stomach
trouble. He had been sick for the past six
months. Early IN May he became very low
and his friends assembled with the expec-
tation of witnessing death claim him. But
he rallied and began to improve. This last
ed until a short time ago, when he began 10
weaken again, and he has gradually grown
worse daily until relieved by death this
morning.
General Kelley was for many years IA
miliar figure in Kansas politics. After be-
ing honored time and again by the Repub-
licans. in the beginning of the Populist
wave he deserted his old party and cast his
lot with the new. In this he was honored
by position.
The general was born in Wood COUNTY,
o., in 1896. and in 1855 was married 10 Miss
Tabetta McCombs. of the same county.
They came to Kansas in 1855 and located in
Coffey county. Shortly after. Mrs. Kelley
died. Later the general married Caroline
Mccullough. another native OF Wood coun-
ty, o., and she and four children. three
daughters and son, survive him.
While a Republican General Kelley held
the positions of state senator: member Of
the house of representatives, director of the
Kansas penitentidry, assistant internal rev.
enue collector. member of the state board
Of charities, receiver of the Topeka land Of
flee and member OF congress Under the
Populists he held the position of regent OF
the state agricultural college and was pres
ident of the board at the time of his death.
His death also leaves a vacancy in the
presidency of the State Historical Society,
to which position he was elected last jan
uary for a term of one year.
General Kelley served during the war in
Company B. Fifth Kansas cavalry. and was
the captain Of the company during the last
of he He OF.T Tag ne II
of general by appointment as brigadier gen.
eral of the Kansas militia by Governor
Samuel J; Crawford. in 1865.
When Hon. Thomas Ryan, now assistant
secretary of the interior, was appointed
minister to Mexico by President Harrison,
Harrison Kelley was elected to the posi-
tion of congressman OF the Fourth Kansas
district, TO fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation OF Mr.. Ryan. This was in
1883 Mr.. Kelley made hit in Washington
by speech he made in congress during his
term in answer to Colonel Henry Waiter
son. the Kentucky editor. Colonel Waiter
son had been pouring hot shot into KAN
icism was so caustic that Kelley decided to
answer 1t. He got the floor on question
d Of PIxbe ob n r. IS coone sha Wa
terson and his Kentucky henchmen.
Il presume" he concluded, that II a
Kentucky Democrat had no other fuel. he
would GO and look at a pile OF nubbins and,
while lost in the contemplation of how
much whisky he could get out of 1t, would
that speech, Kelley was greatly admired by
Kelley was renominated by the Republic
by John Otis, the Farmers Alliance can
didate A few days after that he severed
his connection with the Republicans and
In 1883 General Kelley made Decoration
day speech at Fort Smith. Ark. He de-
Thousands of men were murdered in cold
blood during the war simply because they
were loyal TO the flag; This remark en-
ragged the listeners and there were threats
Of tarring and feathering Kelley. but he
was courageous and he made them take
the dose. Afterward. he said he knew they
would not touch him, because they knew
he told the truth and would not dare TO
assail him.
Mr.. Kelley was one Of Mr.. Bryan's most
iently confident that the boy orator would
be elected. for he, bought 2.e0O ounces of
silver as a speculation, expecting TO be
able to have every 50 cents worth of 1t
coined into a dollar.
Mr.. Kelley left one son, Harry Z. Kelley,
Smith, Ark. and three daughters, Misses
Artie and HERNIA and Mrs. Fannie ArmOry.
All of his children were with him when he
Mr.. Kelley was a large land owner and
vas stakeholder in the Burlington Ma
The funeral will be held Monday. under
he auspices of Allison post, G. A. r. In
erment will be in the cemetery at Ottum-
Topeka, Kas., July 24-CSpecial) Gov
,rnor Leedy feels keenly the loss OF his
I'D friend. Harrison Kelley. He was a
he governor to-day. When he found that
le was on the wrong track he had the
manhood to change. He was no trimmer;
lie was outspoken and blunt. That is why
liked him. His action in leaving the Re
publican party just after a singing defeat |
hows that he was built OF the right stun. |
lie said that although the Alliance had |
lrtven him out of congress, he could not |
lelp Joining them. because he believed |
heir principles were true and that the |
afety of the republic depended upon the |
doption Of them. We offered TO run him |
or congress, governor. senator OF any
hing else but he always declined. He |
aid that he and his wife had little meet |
lg just after leaving the Republican party |
nd then and there II was decided that he |
hould not run for office. The only office /
Ee could ever get him TO take was an |