George Alexander Kelly; Winn Parish, Louisiana Contributed by Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 George Alexander Kelly ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The Kellys came from Georgia. His father's name was Franklin and was well known in the early history of this country. He was a brick mason and besides he was well endowed with intellectual gifts. Senator Geo. A. Kelly was one of five sons, all of whom possessed strong intellect, however, none of them probably equal to the subject our sketch. He was born Dec. 11, 1839 in Alexandria and was educated in the schools of Rapides and Winn. He early manifested a love for and aptness in education and educational matters. He was a precocious, bright and independent, which soon gave him a position, in the ascendant. He became a teacher and right well did he perform his duty in this roll, as men and women of middle age throughout the country will testify. He entered the Christian ministry young, but in mature manhood, as a preacher, he was eloquent clear, forcible. He was a leader and his service was sought far and wide, but the labor was onerous and the compensation inadequate and he entered politics an held positions in the House of Legislature and also in the State Senate. He was well fitted for this line of life. He is now engaged in the ministry and only resorts to other things, the necessities of inadequate compensation require. He has always been proud, independent, self poised, with intellectual endowments, which had they been exercised in other sections more favorable would have lead to any height. He married Miss Lou Alford in 1860, and Mrs. Adair in 1906. He has lived his entire life in Louisiana. he was a soldier in the Confederate war--orderly sergeant in infantry. He is a Baptist, a Mason, Knight of Pythias, Woodman, F. E. and C. U. of A. He is popular and much beloved. He thinks there is a bright future for this parish and this section. His motto: "To live for the service of God and mankind." (The above article appeared in The Guardian newspaper, Vol. XXVII, No. 8-9, published September-October, 1907 at Winnfield, LA., and was copied from Watson Memorial Library, Cammie Henry Archives, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA. and submitted by Greggory Ellis Davies, Winnfield, LA.) Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 John F. Kelly John F. Kelly, M. D., is a name that has become familiar throughout this section of the country, for he has entered the doors of many of its inhabitants in his professional capacity, and wherever he has been his agreeable and pleasant countenance has brought sunshine with it, and his well-known, thorough knowledge of his profession has secured the confidence of all. He was born in Smith County, Miss., July 16, 1836, to Archibald and Margaret McGill Kelly, who were born in the Old North State. The father died in Caldwell parish, La., in 1848 at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother in Winnfield, La., when sixty-seven years of age. The grandparents of Dr. Kelly came from Scotland, and in 1846 the Kellys settled in Louisiana, taking up their abode in Caldwell Parish, at which place the Doctor was educated. He began the study of medicine in 1857, in the office of Dr. C. C. Meredith of that place. The winter of 1860-1861 he spent in the University of Louisiana, but in May of the latter year he joined Company I, Third Louisiana Infantry, and served throughout the war, being on detached duty a part of that time. An assistant surgeon at the fall of Vicksburg he was left in charge of the sick and wounded of his regiment, and there remained until November, 1863. After the war he returned home and entered upon the practice of medicine, a calling to which he has devoted his attention ever since, with the exception of a short time, during 1867 he graduated at the New Orleans School of Medicine. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1872 was elected to the State Senate from the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District, being re-elected in 1878. He made a faithful trusty and intelligent legislator, and did all in his power to prove himself worthy the responsible position to which he had been elected, and with the best results. He was married in 1865 to Miss Lillie A. Wade, who was born in Tennessee in 1847, and has borne him five children: Maggie, Kate, Daniel W., John L., and Angus H. Dr. Kelly is a member of Eastern Star Lodge No. 151, F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. (The above article was copied from "Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana" published in 1890 by The Southern Publishing Company.)