The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-23
JUDGE w. L. KELLY.

died. The postmaster came to him and
gave him the keys telling him. to take
care of things until he had time to look
around and appoint someone in place of.
the man who had just died Mr.. Kelly
at once took charge of the office, and at
the end of a few weeks was greatly sur
prsed to have the postmaster tell him
that he was to receive the appointment
as assistant postmaster of the city of
Louisville. The position was quite inn
pOrtant for a young man barely eighteen
years of age, and the responsibilities Of
it developed in him the painstaking care
that has always been manifested in his
work.
Shortly after being made postmaster at
Louisville Mr.. Kelly began to think of
taking up some work for his personal
Improvement. He had considerable time
at his disposal, and so decided to take a
course in law in the University of Louis
Vile. 1t was natural that he should de-
eide to take a law course, for his grand
father had sat on the bench in Ken
lucky from 1904 to 1897 and then resign
ed because of his old age. His own
father had been a lawyer and was a
member of the constitutional convention
in 1913. At the time of his DEATH in 1854,
he was a clerk of the circuit court III
Washington county.
Takes Law Course in Louisville.
AS soon as Mr.. Kelly decided to take
a course in the University, he at once
matriculated and took up the work as a
student. Devoting as much time as he
could to his studies without neglecting
the duties of his official position, he con-
tinued the work until 1860, when he
received the diploma of the university
admitting him to the bar In Kentucky.
This old document, stained with age, is
still retained by the judge, and he de-
lights in showing it to inqurers, as it
is signed by some men who have gained
national regulations.
Among theses who signed Judge Kelly s
diploma were Henry Pirtle, chancellor of
the chanceIloT's court in Louisville; w F.
Bullock, one of the most prominent
lawyers in the state and judge of the
circuit court at Louisville; II. F. Simrall,
who was on the supreme bench of Mis-
siSsippi for a number of>yearS, and James
Guthrie, one of the best lawyers in the
state and at one time a member of the
presidents cabinet as secretary of the
treasury.
Although Judge Kelly had graduated
from the university with honors and had
been admitted to the bar in Kentucky, he
did not begin the practice of his profess
sion for several years. Instead he re-
manned in the postoffice until 1854 when
he resigned to accept another position
unuer the poStoff1ce department. When
he left the pOstoffice at Louisville in
1864 it was after serving for nine years
as deputy postmaster and at that time
he was but twenty-seven years of age
Mail Service in the War.
This was the time of the Civil war and
there was great deal of trouble with the
delivery of the mails in the army. The
postmaster general, Montgomery Blair.
had long been in search of a man who
was fitted TO take charge of the mail
service in the military division of the
Mississippi which included ali the ter
ritory west of the Allegheny mountains
and south of the Ohio river. The posi-
ton was an important one and had a
great deal Of responsibility connected with
It. AS it was given to Judge Kelly with
out any solicitation on his part it was a
tribute to his worth and an evidence of
the esteem in which he was held by the
department al Washington.
AS soon as he received his commission
ne at once reported to the headquarters
of Gen. Sherman, who was in command
of the division. His account of his first
interview with Gen. Sherman illustrates
plainly the peculiarities of the hero of