Dale County AlArchives Biographies.....Kelly, George W. September 24 1853 - living in 1893 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 18, 2004, 6:28 pm Author: Brant & Fuller (1893) GEORGE W. KELLY, merchant of Midland City, was born in Terrell county, Ga., September 24, 1853. He is a son of E. B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Kelly, the former of whom was born in Morgan county, Ga., and there grew to manhood. He had but limited school opportunities, his time being occupied by his duties upon the farm. He married in his twenty-second year and moved to Alabama in 1856, settling in Dale county, near the present site of Midland City. Here he bought and improved a farm, remaining thereon until 1885, when he retired from active life, and now leads a life of ease and retirement in Midland. While never taking an active interest in politics, he has always been a believer in democratic principles. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, for many years. His wife was also a native of Georgia. She was married in her twentieth year, and is now the mother of ten children, four of whom still survive, and two of whom reside in Columbus, Ga., and one in Florida. Mrs. Kelly has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, since her twelfth year. The subject of this sketch grew up on the farm, with but limited educational advantages, and was given his freedom by his father when in his twentieth year. He then worked for his father one year for $200, with which he purchased 160 acres of land. After the purchase he at once commenced to improve his farm, raised two crops and then rented it and entered the store of his brother, John. R. Kelly, at Newton, as clerk with whom he worked for eight or ten months, when he went to Campbellton, Fla., and opened a branch store with a stock of general merchandise. In this business our subject was a full partner, and manager of the Florida store. In this connection he continued for three years, and then returned to Newton, consolidated the two stocks of goods, and worked as full partner until 1887, when he withdrew from the firm. He then removed to his farm near Midland City and opened a small commissary store for the use of his farm hands, and upon the advent of the railroad he put in a good stock of general merchandise, and at the present time carries a stock of from $3,000 to $6,000 worth of goods. He transacts from $30,000 to $40,000 worth of business a year. Mr. Kelly was married in 1879 to Miss Florence D. Bailey, daughter of Capt. P. M. Bailey. She was born in Dale county, was educated there and married in her twentieth year. She was the mother of two children, Pearl E. and Florence D. Early in life she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, south, in which connection she remained until her death, which occurred in December, 1883. In 1885 our subject was married to Miss Ella E. Shipper, daughter of Rev. J. L. Shipper, a Methodist minister, who has done much for south-eastern Alabama, many hundreds being been converted under his ministry. The wife of our subject was born in Dale county in 1864, and grew up in Alabama. Her educational advantages were of the best, as she attended the schools at Greenville and Tuskegee, Ala. She has been the mother of three children, two of whom are living: Jennie F. and the baby. Mrs. Kelly has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south, ever since her eleventh year. Our subject took an active part in securing the construction of the Alabama Midland railroad, and is a stockholder in the company. It was through his efforts that the depot was built where it now stands, he giving the railroad company all the terminal facilities they wanted, in all fifty-three acres of ground. He has been very successful as a business man. He now owns a fine dwelling house, a large store building, and from 1300 to 1,000 acres of land. He has always done his share of work in supporting moral and religious establishments, and is highly honored by his fellow-citizens. Additional Comments: from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 823-824 Published by Brant & Fuller (1893) Madison, WI This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb