The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-04-01

~
Benjamin Kelley, an old an respected resi-
dent of Belfast. and known throughout east
and northern Maine as the manufacturer
of the Kelley axe, died March 25th at his
home in East Belfast aged rs years, 2 months
and q days. He had been gradually failing in
health for the past year or two, and in the
past few months the decline had been so
rapid that the end was not unexpected to his
relatives and friends His demise is keenlv
felt, however, by them and by large circle Of
friends and acquaintance who had strong
admiration for his sturdy manhood and whole
hearted Christian character.
Benj Kelley, Jr., as he was long known in
this city, was the son of Major BENJAMIN and
Catherine (Campbell) Kelley and was horn
near his late home in East Belfast, January A,
1884. He was educated in the Belfast common
schools and the old Belfast academy and as a
young man became associated with the various
enterprises with which his father was con-
nected including the mandatory which
had been established water power on
Goose river in 1920 by the elder Kelley, who
came here from the old family home in Booth
bay shortly before. For q period he also
worked in the paper mill erected on the same
stream.
At the outbreak of the Civil War Benjamin
Kelley was member of the Belfast City
Greys, local militia company, and he together
with many other members of the company
was mustered into Company X OF the Fourth
Maine Regiment, which went to the front un-
der Colonel, afterwards General Hiram G.
Berry of Rockland. Mr.. Kelley vas orderly
sergeant and then second and first lieutenant
and acting captain of his company, but was
engaged in only one important battle that If
Bull Run, in July, 1861, shortly after the
Fourth Maine had arrived at the front In
February of the following year Mr.. Kelley
resigned his commission as first lieutenant and
returned home.
Later he stood draft for further service but
as his younger brother, Louira A, had gone to
the front with the 18th Maine and had been
killed at Gettysburg, he decided to remain with
his family at home and he entered actively into
the axe business, first with his father and then,
after his death in 1878. was associated with
his brother-in- law, the late Walter B. Rankin,
and of late years with the latter's son, Elmer
|. Rankin. For nearly fifty years Mr.. Kelley
supervised the manufacture, and for much of
the time himself attended to the tempering of
all the put out by the concern, and not
until failing health overlook him two years or
so ago did he relinquish this work 10 other
hands. The reputation made by his axes was
a most enviahle one.
Mr.. Kelley was devoted to his home and
family and took Just pride in it and them.
He did not engage actively in politics, but had
represented his ward as councilman and alder
man and had been a member of the Republican
citycommittee and frequent delegate to county
and State conventions. He joined the Masonic
body, Phoenix Lodge of Belfast, previous to
going to the front in 1861 and always mani
Tested interest in the order. He joined the
Waldo Lodge of Odd Fellows early in its ex-
istence and went through the encampment and
the canton. He was a member of Thomas H.
Marshall Post, G. A. r. of Belfast, but was not
actively identified with the order.
Mr.. Kelley succeeded his father as one of the
strong supporters of the Universalist church
in Belfast and until recent years was one Of the
most constant in attendance. He was long
treasurer and member of the managing board
and at all times ready to help in furthering the
interests of the church and society.
Mr.. Kelley was first married to Miss Laura
Rankin, daughter of Richard Rankin of Winter
| port, who died shortly after he returned from
the war in 1862. In September, 1868, he was
married to Miss Mary f. Rankin, cousin of his
first wife and native of Richmond, Va. He is
survived by his widow and three children: Wal
ter B. Kelley, who is president and genera
manager of an extensive manufacturing busl-
ness in St. Paul, Mimi; Maj. Edward H. Kelley
managing editor of the Bangor Daily CONNER
cia, and Miss Elizabeth A. Kelley. who has
remained at home and tenderly cared for hel
parents. Other near relatives are his niece
Mrs. Elmer A. Sherman, a nephew, Elmer
Rankin, a cousin, Mrs Edwin Frost, all of Bel
fast, and cousin, John E. Kelley Of Boothbay
former sheriff of Lincoln county.
The funeral was held Monday afternoon al
the home in East Belfast, at 2.30 o'clock Rev
Ashley A. Smith, pastor of the Cniversalis1
church, officated The bearers We're the two
sons, Walter B. and Edward H. Kelley, Elme,
A. Sherman and Elmer |. Rankin. There was
very large attendance which included repre-
sentatives of the orders of which the deceased
was member.