John W. Kelley Biography from History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire

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Surname: KELLEY
Source:  History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens
          by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill., 1915

Page 779

     JOHN W. KELLEY, one of Portsmouth's leading attorneys and
citizens, who died at the Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline, Mass., on Sep-
tember 20th, 1913, was born in this city, December 3, 1865, the son of
John and Ellen (Nagle) Kelley. He was graduated from the Ports-
mouth High School in 1883 with high honors and entered Dartmouth
College in 1884, graduating with the Class of 1888. While there he
was prominent in athletic and social life. He was president of his
class, a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, a member of the
Varsity football team for three years and its manager for two years,
manager of the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Association team for
two years, and in his senior year was elected to the Sphinx and made
business editor of The Dartmouth, the college bi-weekly publication.
In 1887, in company with two classmates he organized the Dartmouth
Glee and Banjo Clubs. In all these various enterprises connected with
college life, "Jack Kelley" was looked upon as a ruling spirit. He was
regarded as a wizard of accomplishment, and his college career has often
been admiringly referred to by Dartmouth alumni as a brilliant demon-
stration of "one man power." This pre-eminence followed him into
the serious business of his life.
     After his graduation from Dartmouth he returned to Portsmouth and
entered the law office of Frink and Bachelder. While studying with
them he was elected principal of the Whipple School and held that posi-
tion from 1890 to 1894, in March of the latter year being admitted to the
bar. As a teacher he was active and successful and was a delegate to
various educational conventions throughout the state. In 1894 he opened
a law office for himself, and in this, as in everything else he took hold of,
he "made good," soon becoming known as one of the leading attorneys
of the state of New Hampshire. In 1896 he became city solicitor, a posi-
tion he held for two years. In the fo1lowing year he was a candidate
for county solicitor but was defeated by five votes in the convention.
Two years later he was practically given a unanimous vote in the con-
vention and was elected. After serving three years he declined another
nomination, his private business requiring his full attention.

Page 780

     As a member of the Water Commission, a position he held for sev-
eral years, he was engaged in a controversy with the Board of Aldermen
in 1890 over the question of the city paying hydrant rental, and after
a hard fight he beat them out by raising water rates until the Board
finally allowed $3,000 a year for hydrant rental. He was active in start-
ing the sinking fund for the water bonds and while in the office greatly
improved the entire system.
     Mr. Kelley was long associated with the Boston & Maine Railroad,
first as counsel in this city and later as chief counsel in New Hampshire,
a position he held at the time of his death. He was very active in the
famous rate case, which he conducted with the General Counsel Edgar
Rich, and the two attorneys made a great reputation for themselves in
this case. It was his work on this case that first undermined his health,
as he overran his reserve strength.
     For many years he was counsel for the Frank Jones Brewing Com-
pany, and was one of the leading attorneys in the famous Eddy will case,
representing Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy's son, George Glover, in his fight
for a division of her estate. His law practice was very large and rep-
resentative. He always maintained an interest in the schools and served
two years on the Board of Instruction. A Republican in politics, he
was for some years the recognized leader of his party in Rockingham
County and one of its leading members in the state. After giving up his
position as county solicitor he never accepted any political office, although
often urged to do so.
     Mr. Kelley was active in everything that pertained to the interests
of Portsmouth and was ever ready to contribute of his time and money
to a worthy cause. For years he was an active member of the Board
of Trade and was its president when the old board became active. He
was a member of the Country Club and Warwick Club and an active
member of the Portsmouth Athletic and Yacht Club. He aided largely
in building up the Y. M. C. A. and was very active in its service, freely
giving of his time and money. He was also a member of Alpha Council,
Royal Arcanum, and served as its trustee for several years. As well
stated by a local journal, "His death marks the passing of one of Ports-
mouth's most brilljant minds, and he is a distinct loss, not only to the
legal fraternity of the city, but of the state. To his friends-and they
are numbered by the thousands-his death is a great blow, for he was
a good fellow and a good friend." A kind father and loving husband,
his loss was still more severely felt by his bereaved family.
     Mr. Kelley was married January 12, 1898, to Romaine G. Sherwood,
daughter of William H. Sherwood of Ohio. He left, besides his wife,
two children, John S. and Barbara R., and two sisters, Mrs. Mary A.
McCarty and Margaret V., wife of Major Robt. E. Callan, U. S. A., of
Fort Andrews, Boston Harbor. The family is one of the most prominent
in Portsmouth. Mrs. Kelley's residence is at No. 266 Middle Street.