Thomas Kelley

Thomas Kelley, after a brief illness and submitting to an operation, died at the Blair hospital Friday, June 28.

The deceased was born at Syracuse, N.Y., May 28, 1852. His parents came west in 1860, settling in Wisconsin. Later the family moved to Mo. Valley and at the age of 17, Thomas went to work for the S.C. & P. Ry. Co., finally becoming an engineer, running on the road for many years. He was one of the most widely known, most capable and popular men in the employment of the company.

In 1874 he was married to Miss Eliv Byrd Stockton of Blair, who died six years ago. Three sons and a daughter are living: Donald, in the U.S. navy; John of Nickerson, Neb.; Thomas jr., and Mrs. Reinhold Bloomquist of Blair.

The services were held at the Catholic church, conducted by Father O’Driscoll, on Sunday, June 30, at 10 a.m.

The deceased was a member of the M.W.A. and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and carried insurance in the two orders to the amount of $3,500.

For twenty-one years he had charge of the waterworks station at Blair and he was faithful and painstaking. He was really the whole thing in the care and operation of the plant.

Thomas F. Kelley was a remarkable man in many ways. He was a high-class mechanic and engineer and well posted along the lines pertaining to mechanical affairs and was looked upon as authority in the management and handling of the city waterworks plant. He was also active in politics and was not only well posted in county and state affairs, but studied the game clear through and returns began coming in after a presidential election he could make estimates on the final outcome in New York and other distant states and his prognostications were remarkably accurate, based upon results of four years before.

Few men ever lived in Blair who were better known or more popular. He was loved and respected because of his ability and manhood.

Pilot 3 Jul 1912

Thos. F. Kelly

Thos. F. Kelly died at the Blair hospital at 8:50 last Friday morning, of kidney trouble following an illness of several months duration. The funeral was held at the Catholic church at 10:30 Sunday morning, Father O’Driscoll officiating in celebration of high mass. Interment was made in Blair cemetery by the side of his wife, whose death occurred some six years ago. Mr. Kelly was born in Syracuse, N.Y., May 28, 1852, going to Wisconsin with his parents in 1860. When he was 17 years of age he went to Missouri Valley and went to work for the S.C. & P. road and was a locomotive engineer for many years. For the past 21 years he has been city engineer, having charge of the city water works plant. He was married to Miss Elie Byrd Stockton, daughter of Mrs. J.F. White, in this city in 1874 and five children were born to them, three sons, Donald, who is in the naval service, John of Nickerson and Tom of this city, and Mrs. R. Bloomquist of this city. Edna, died some years ago. The pallbearers were Jas. E. Maher and J.K. Powers, representing the church, Chris Schmidt and Ed. Matthiesen, representing the Blair Volunteer Fire Department, and John McKay and Clark O’Hanlon, representing the Modern Woodman lodge. Mr. Kelly was also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and carried $1,500 insurance in that order. He carried $2,000 in the M.W.A., being one of the charter members of Trapbois camp. Mr. Kelly was one of Blair’s most prominent citizens, known and loved by all who knew him. He was one of the leaders in the democratic party and no county convention was complete without him. He was a good citizen and will be mourned and missed by all.

CARD OF THANKS

We desire to express our most sincere thanks for kindness and sympathy shown by friends and neighbors.

Mrs. May Blomquist; F.M Kelley; T.F. Kelley, Jr.; J.J. Kelley; Mrs. Peter Stafford; W. McDonald

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~