Hamilton County OhArchives Biographies.....Kelley, Joseph B. 1857 - 
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Ann Anderson ann.g.anderson@gmail.com July 15, 2005, 9:08 pm

Author: John C Hover, et.al.

    Joseph B. Kelley. Learned in the law, logical in his reasoning, sound in his
deductions, able to divest his mind of all prejudice or bias, with the faculty
of divesting a legal proposition of all that beclouds and to go directly to the
heart of a problem, then in clear, terse language to clothe his opinions or
decisions, Judge Kelley is an ideal jurist. For the past seven years, judge of
the Court of Insolvency, and from 1915 until assuming the duties of that office
an active member of the Hamilton county bar, he has won the entire confidence of
his legal brethren and no man in public or private life is more highly esteemed.
With his unfailing courtesy, perfect mental poise and unimpeachable character he
has also won public regard and the number of his friends is legion. One of them,
in commenting upon Judge Kelley's career, recently said: "Judge Kelley has a
natural judicial air. His dignity is blended with courtesy and kindliness of
heart that makes him popular with the members of the bar who come before him in
practice. His ability commands respect, while his reception of practitioners,
litigants, and visitors, inspires regard." In the Court of Insolvency, many
hundreds of people come in the course of a year; and often under distressing
circumstances. Usually the handling of the law questions involved in any
proceeding may be simple, but there is often need of personal sympathy and a
kindly word of advice that counts as much in relieving difficulties as a
decision of the law in a case. Judge Kelley fills all requirements. Joseph B.
Kelley was born in Rushbon, North Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April 2,
1857, a son of Stephen S. and Martha E. Kelley. He obtained his early education
in the public schools of Danville, Pa., and entered upon his career as a
telegraph operator. Judge Kelley gave this work up and entered the Union
College, Chicago, Ill., where he took up the study of law. He graduated from
this institution with the class of 1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws and
then began his practice in Dakota Territory, where, after practicing some time,
he became a United States Attorney, under President Harrison. Judge Kelley then
returned to Cincinnati in 1891 where he became associated with Henry J. Hauck
and practiced until 1914, when he was elected to the Bench. At the expiration of
his first elective term, Judge Kelley was refused a nomination by the Republican
organization and then became an independent candidate to succeed himself and was
elected over the combined opposition of both the Republican and Democratic
candidates and again chosen to succeed himself his incumbency of the Judge of
the Court of Insolvency, now covering a term of seven years. In political faith
Judge Kelley is a Republican, and he takes a deep interest in the affairs of the
State. Fraternally he is a member of the County and State Bar Associations, the
various Masonic bodies, including the Scottish Rite, and the Shrine, and the
Business Men's Club and many other fraternities. In April, 1884 Judge Kelley was
united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Wehrman, a daughter of Lewis F. Wehrman, a
pioneer and manufacturer, of Cincinnati. To this union have been born three
children: Helen C., who is the wife of Joseph B. Andrews, of Newport, Ky.;
Blanche, who is the wife of Eugene Hoffman, of Cannanea, Mex., and Oscar S., who
resides in Troy, Ohio.

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