Biographies: George A. Kelley, 1932, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: June 17, 1932 Winnfield News-American

Passing In Review This Week We Have Geo. A. Kelley

by R. W. Oglesby

All of the old and middle aged people of Winn Parish knew George A. Kelly. 
You ask any of them around the age of fifty or sixty who lived in the
neighborhood in Winnfield if they went to school to him and they will tell you
they did, and nine times out of ten, they will tell you that he was one
teacher who did not spare the rod and spoil the child.  They will say that a
five foot "hickory" was his constant companion and that he had no
conscientious scruples in using it; that the slightest provocation on the part
of the pupil, either girl or boy, called for a "larruping" not known and not
tolerated in this age of enlightenment and spoiled children.  The old timers
believed in it and practiced it.  If a child got a whipping at school, he
wouldn't dare tell it at home, because, if he did, he would get another one
and one of that kind was bad enough.

I do not know just when he got into politics, if I were going to hazard a
guess, I would say that he entered the political game at an early age, because
he was of that kind of temperament.  In his young days he must have been a
very handsome man and belonged to the old school of orators.  I mean by that
he was a sure enough orator.  Even in his old days I was fortunate enough to
hear him in some of his famous philippies.  He was a scrapper and it didn't
make much difference with whom or what he was scrapping, just so he was in
full scrap.  He must have been a full blooded Irishman from both sides.

The first record I have of his holding office was when he was elected to the
Senate from the 24th District composed of Winn, Grant, and Catahoula in 1884,
during the McHenry administration.  That was just after the Carpet Bag days in
Louisiana, and I dare say that a majority of the members of the legislature
had seen service in the Confederate Army.  He was then 44 years of age and
that was the average age for the members of the Senate.  He was listed as a
farmer.  The members from South Louisiana engaged in agricultural pursuits
were "planters", but those from the North section were just plain "farmers". 
But they were all men of the highest type.  No pussyfooting about them. 
Murphy J. Foster who later became one of the most constructive Governors
Louisiana ever had, was a member of this Senate.  So was W. W. Heard, who
became Governor in 1900.  In those days the office sought the man in stead of
the man seeking the office as it is now.  Governors were nominated by a
convention and they usually picked the strongest and most available man for
the position.  Five members of this Senate were Republicans.  They were all
from South Louisiana and thirty-one Democrats.  Clay Knoblock was Lieutenant
Governor and Will A. Strong from Winn Parish was Secretary of State.

When I first knew him he didn't have any particular avocation.  He and his
wife and son lived her in Winnfield.  They both passed away near the same
time.  Mr. Kelly buried them side by side in the Winnfield Cemetery, put
marble monuments at each grave and enclosed both with an iron fence.  He then
drifted into LaSalle Parish and married a widow who lived at Summerville. 
Some years ago, becoming old and infirm, he passed away.  He requested that
his remains be buried at Winnfield, and said that if they did not have enough
funds bo bury him just notify Eastern Star Lodge F. & A. M. of Winnfield and
they would see that his wishes were carried out, and so they were.  He loved
Winnfield and Winnfield people and paid visits here when he was hardly able to
come.

Back in the early development of the timber industry he and some other
citizens of Winnfield formed a company, pooled their small means and bought
timber lands at tax sales.  They had several thousand acres and cashed in at a
fair profit, but not so much as they would have received if they had held on a
while longer.  These lands fell into the hands of northern people, who
manufactured it into lumber.

He was a local preacher in the Baptist Church and probably before I knew him
filled regular appointments but not in the last years of his life.  His
favorite way of greeting a friend was to extend his hand and say, "give me
your henhouse key."  His handshake was always firm and his words of greeting
not in the least doleful.  He always had a ready reply for anything said to
him or to anybody.  He was courteous, genteel, respectful, and gracious, and
bore the stamp of a gentleman in all the walks of life.