WM. KELLY, 88, DIED FRIDAY AT MASONIC HOME

Business Figure in Blair For Over Half Century.

Blair citizens, who through more than a half century learned to love and respect Wm. Kelly for his genteel bearing and his life of clean cut Christian living, will mourn his passing as of February 17, 1950.

A native of Canada, Mr. Kelly was born near Ottawa on July 21, 1862. His mother died when he was still a baby and his father remarried. To this second marriage two sons and three daughters were born. John and David and Katherine, Mary and Elizabeth.

The family came to the United States in 1876, moving onto a farm northeast of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Here the deceased received his early education in the rural schools. Later he graduated from a commercial college in Omaha and then returned to Missouri Valley where for two years he was employed in the Phoenix Flour Mill. The mill was later destroyed by fire.

The Kelly's located in Blair in 1887. The father having rented out the farm, retired and made his home in Blair until his death in 1893.

Wm. Kelly, who was known as a reliable businessman was employed as superintendent of the Acme Milling Company of Blair, then owned by Edgecomb & Kellogg of Missouri Valley. On the death of Mr. Kellogg, Mr. Kelly and John McKay and Willard Newell took over the mill and engaged in the manufacture of flour and feed in a wholesale manner. He was also local agent for the Crowell Lumber and Grain Co. for a time. Later he entered the internal revenue service where he was engaged until 1922. He served in the bookkeeping department of the municipal light plant. He was also bookkeeper for the Iowa-Nebraska Oil Co. for a number of years.

On Sept. 14, 1886 he was married to Miss Fannie Fern Ford, and to them three children were born, Paul of Omaha; Ethel of Lincoln; and Margaret of Blair.

The wife died some years ago and the father took up his abode in the Masonic Home at Plattsmouth which he as a Mason had helped to support.

He became a Mason at the age of twenty one, and during a period of more than fifty years he held office continually in the three Masonic Orders. He was presented with three medals: the fifty year medal as a Mason; the Jordan medal as the oldest member of Washington County Lodge No. 21; and the fifty year medal from the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar of Nebraska. He was a charter member of McKinley Chapter, No. 161, Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron of that organization.

He held public offices serving as City Councilman, a member of the School Board for more than twenty five years and as County Assessor and City Assessor.

In all his dealings with the public he was held in highest respect. His decisions on matters pertaining to his work were never questioned. He was a man among real men.

His entire life was above reproach and his example to the rising generation was worthy at all times of emulation. In his death the community has lost one of its noblemen.

Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 20th, from the Campbell Mortuary with Rev. Dickerson of the local Methodist church officiating, with the Masons in charge, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #115879325