Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Kelly, Hon Thomas J 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:26 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

HON. THOMAS J. KELLY. This gentleman, whose name will be at once recognized by 
many as that of a prominent merchant of Joliet, is serving that city as her 
Mayor for his third term, of two years each. His incumbency of the office is 
marked by steps that reflect credit alike upon himself and the constituency 
that elected him and prove acceptable to the entire community. The dry-goods 
establishment on Jefferson Street that is conducted by Mr. Kelly is a 
flourishing enterprise, its patrons being sure of courteous treatment at the 
hands of the employes and of a strictly honorable dealing from all, no other 
method being permitted by the proprietor but that due to his self respect and 
integrity. The greater part of the life of our subject has been spent in this 
vicinity, although the Emerald Isle claims him as her son. He was born June 
24, 1841, and with his parents, Edward and Rose Kelly, crossed the briny deep 
when about six years old. The father bought a farm five miles south of the 
city of Joliet, later becoming the owner of one three-fourths of a mile north 
of the city limits, upon which he resided until his death in 1871. The mother 
is still living, her home being in the city. The family were early members of 
St. Patrick's Church. The household band comprised four sons and three 
daughters, three of whom have joined their father beyond the tomb. Patrick H. 
and Edward died in Watsonville, Cal.; Mary also is deceased. The survivors are 
T. J., the third in order of birth; Joseph A., the fifth; Kate and Bridget. 
Being a prosperous farmer and the owner of a fine property of three hundred 
and twenty acres of land, the elder Kelly was able to give his children good 
educational advantages and secure for them that best heritage. With the 
exception of the time devoted to study in institutions of learning distant 
from his home, Thomas Kelly grew to maturity upon his father's farm. He 
attended the University of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind., and St. Mary's 
College at Wilmington, Del., completing his thorough course of study at the 
College of the Holy Cross in Montreal, Canada. For a time after being 
graduated he carried on agricultural work on the old farm, but since 1887 has 
been continuously in business in the city of Joliet. He had become one of the 
prominent farmers of the county as he is now one of the prominent merchants of 
the city. The career of the Hon. Mr. Kelly as a public servant began in 1880 
when he was elected Supervisor of Joliet City and township. The following year 
he was re-elected and in 1883 was the successful candidate for the Mayoralty, 
continuing in the office four years. In 1884 and 1886 he was also Assistant 
Supervisor of the township and city, and for a year or two was Chairman of the 
County Board. Again has he been elected to act as Mayor, a place for which his 
high mental attainments and good judgment amply qualify him. The estimable 
wife of Mr. Kelly bore the maiden name of Mary Fitzpatrick. The rites of 
wedlock having been celebrated between them September 10, 1868. Mrs. Kelly is 
a daughter of Patrick Fitzpatrick, an early settler of the county in which he 
located in 1832. She was born on the farm directly west of Lockport, was 
educated at St. Mary's Academy, at South Bend, Ind., and possesses many fine 
traits of character. St. Mary's Church was organized as a parish in 1867, with 
Father Flannigan as the first pastor in charge. He was succeeded in 1869 by 
the Rev. P. W. Riordan, now Archbishop of San Francisco, and he in turn by 
Rev. J. Mackin now of Elgin, Kane County. The Rev. Thomas Murphy was the next 
incumbent in charge, he being the man who began the erection of the new 
church, dying suddenly of apoplexy before its completion in 1877. The next 
pastor of the church was the Rev. M. F. Burk, who completed the building to 
its present condition and erected the fine stone building on Eastern Avenue 
that accommodates the parochial school. The latter edifice compares favorably 
with any school building in the city. It is known as the Sacred Heart, and is 
conducted by the Ladies of Loretto. After a most successful pastorate of ten 
years, Father Burk was appointed Bishop of Cheyenne, and was succeeded here by 
the present pastor, the Rev. Father Thomas P. Mangan. 

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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