Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Dr. Jesse R. Kelly *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Dr. Jesse R. Kelly, one of the enterprising and prominent citizens of Goshen Township, and son of Hiram and Elizabeth (McGee) Kelly, was born in Habersham County, Ga., November 29, 1833. The father was a native of North Carolina, born in 1787, and was reared in his native State. After his marriage he moved to Georgia, and reared his family in Habersham and Cherokee Counties of that State. In 1858 he moved to Madison County, Ark., where he died July 13, 1862, and is buried in that county. He was a blacksmith by occupation, and owned a farm, which he operated in connection with his trade. He was a member of the Methodist Church, was a zealous leader in the same, and was an exhorter, a class-leader and steward nearly all his life. The mother was a native of North Carolina, and died when our subject was fifteen years of age. She was also a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, her faith being none less than her husband's. Their family consisted of nine children, eight now living, four sons and four daughters. Dr. Jesse R. Kelly was next to the youngest child in point of birth. He attained his growth on the farm, and remained with his father until twenty-one years of age, when, in 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Richards, of South Carolina, who was born in 1835. The fruit of this union were nine children: John T. (deceased); Mary A., wife of A. J. Parker; Alexander (deceased); Sarah R. H., wife of James Condiff; Marcus L., Lydia J., Julia L., Hettie and Eddie L. Dr. Kelly attended lectures at the Atlanta Medical College, having studied medicine for some time previous to [p.969] this, and graduated from this institution in 1859. He then entered upon his practice at Hindsville, Madison County, and continued here for four years with a very successful practice. He then endeavored to retire from practice, and in 1878 moved to Goshen and lived there until 1884, when he moved to his farm, three miles east of Goshen, where he has a beautiful mountain farm of 360 acres, 175 under cultivation and twenty-five acres in orchard. During the war, from 1862 to 1867, Dr. Kelly resided in Texas, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession. He was detailed by the Confederate government to practice for the people left at home, etc. He engaged in merchandising at Goshen from 1878 to 1883, and continued his practice at the same time. He was licensed to preach in the Methodist Church, South, in 1868, was ordained deacon in 1848, and has been zealously engaged in that work ever since. His wife and all the family, with the exception of the two youngest, are members of the same church. The Doctor has been a Master Mason since 1868, and has always been Democratic in his political views. He was postmaster at Goshen for five years, and is an excellent citizen.