OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Exceptional People Part 1 *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 May 23, 1999 *********************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio The Kelley Family Book compiled by Hermon Alfred Kelley 1897 And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley 1998 *********************************************** The Island has long been famous for its grapes and lime stone, two products that brought it wealth, but we venture the assertion that no other community in America of equal size has produced so many talented and exceptional people in the same length of time as Kelley's Island. These people, we are extremely proud of. and boast of their exceptional abilities as well as their intelligence and dedication for their humanitarian devotion. In addition to such men as Horace Kelley whose interest in art and whose name is perpetuated in the Kelley Art Gallery at Cleveland, Ohio, to which he bequeathed a large sum of money, the Island has produced several artists of exceptional ability, among them are: Miss Nellie Elfers. daughter of Mr. Fredrick Elfers. Miss Elfers was Director of Art in the Public Schools of Riverside, California. She was a graduate of the New York Art Institute. Mr. Arnold Scheely,who also studied at the New York Art Institute and was a graduate of Columbia College, New York, and the Northwestern University of Chicago, was a landscape painter of great ability. The Kelley's Island Music Union organized in 1885 is the beginning of the Choral Union which is one of he oldest organizations of the Island. The first officers of the Musical Union were: Erastus Huntington, First Chorister; E.J. Goodsell,Second Chorister; D.K. Huntington, First Organist; William Moysey, Second Organist; Miss Mary B. Rush, Secretary and Treasurer. This organization embraced among its members a remarkably large number of singers of exceptional ability. Perhaps the most remarkable singer of them all was Hattie, the daughter of George Kelley. She left the Island at the time of her marriage to Mr. Stewart Chisholm of Cleveland, Ohio and resided in Cleveland where she sang for many years in the choir of the Second Baptist Church of Cleveland. This is the Church to which Mr. John D. Rockfeller belonged. Mrs. Chisholm had a soprano voice of such sweetness, power and range that some of the best musical authorities in Cleveland agreed that it was almost if not fully equal to that of the celebrated Adelini Pattie, who was acknowledged to be the most wonderful singer of her day in the world. Anna Quinn ( Mrs. Chalmers ) had a voice of wonderful beauty. She was a musician of great talent and taught both vocal and instrumental (piano) music in many cities. Miss Emma Burger was a pianist of rare skill whose accomplishments were preferred to all others by Mr. Henry Kelley. Mr. Henry C. Kelley, a brother of Mrs. Chisholm, was as great an artist on the violin, as she was a singer. Only his extreme modesty prevented him from becoming famous. He was the organizer in 1874 of the Kelley's Island Quadrille Band, an organization that furnished music for the Island entertainments for many years. Its original members were: Henry C. Kelley, First Violin; Will Harvey, Second Violin; John Moysey, Flute; Ed ward, Cornet; G.A. Kelley, Bass Vial. G.A. Kelley was a brother of Mr. Henry C.Kelley. Another brother, Charles Kelley sang bautifully and their sister Laura, Mrs Elbert Hamilton, was a brilliant pianist. These are the children of George W. Kelley, a son of Irad Kelley. The Quadrille Band was a pioneer organization of its kind and others joined it from time to time. Hugh Cattanch, Cornet; Otto Dodge, Clarinet; Charles Seeholzer,Jr.,Violin. The latter suceeding Mr. Will Harvey. Mr. Seeholzer was a musician of high order who, in addition to playing te violin, sang delightfully and played the organ at St. Michael's Church. There were many other musicians on the Island and in time a brass band was organized and Professor Reisinger of Sandusky was employed to give it instructions once a week. A second brass band was formed by Simon Huntington, a son of Eratus Huntington and a little later, Frank and Henry Reidy and Fred Elfers organized what was known as the Little German Band. Erastus Huntington possessed a fair singing voice and was a musician of ability. He played the organ for the Congressional Church for many years. In 1924, a new band was organized by Mr. Arnold Elfers, son of Fred Elfers. Under Mr. Elfers' able leadership and direction, this band make remarkable progress and did much to make the 1925 Memorial Day exercises a sucess by rendtion of a large number of pieces appropriate to the occasion. Thus it was seen that the Island was and is rich in Musical talent. But we have not completed our task. There are still others who are deserving of more than passing mention. William Moysey another Island boy besides being an organist possessed a tenior voice of remarkable quality. He was a musician of high order and gave instrumental as well as vocal lessons to many of the island's boys and girls. Miss Mary Rush was a singer of great ability and had a voice of sweetness and power. Mr. Frank Woodford, son of Jessie E. Woodford of Kelley's Island, had two daughters whose voices are of such splendid quality tat thy were selected to sing for the Radio Studios of Cleveland and Pittsburgh. >From time to time the whole world has heard by voices of Bessie, Mrs. E.L.Walker of Lakewood, Cleveland, Ohio, and Cathryne, Mrs R.D. Wible of Pittsburgh, Pa. And last but not least among the musicians is Professor Gehrkens of Oberlin Musical Conservatory, an organist, and his daughter a violinist who also is heard over the radio from time to time. Edward Gehrkens, a brother of Professor Gehrkens achieved fame by his inventions in the electrical field. Three Island boys have found employment in high postion with General Electric Corporation. They were Edward Ghirkins, John Upp and Ernest Holbrook. The latter was accidentally killed at the Niagara River Plant of the Company. John Himmelein an island boy, moved to Sandusky where he was eventually elected President of the City Commission. Herman A. Kelley, son of A.S. Kelley was a prominent admiralty lawyer of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a graduate of Buchtel College and Harvard Law School. He took post graduate work at Goettingen University, Germany. He was admitted to the Bar at Cleveland in 1883. He was the director of the Kelley Art Museum of Cleveland and a trustee of the Horace Kelley Art Bequest. He died in Cleveland, O., February 2, 1925, aged 65 years. Mr. W.D. Kelley ll, son of W.D. Kelley was an engineer who was engaged on some of the most notable engineering projects ever undertaken. He was one of the engineers engaged in the construction of the acqeduct that conveys water to New York City from Ashoken reservoir at the Catskill Mountans. He was for eight years at the head of a surveying party of seventy men that ran the line of the Inter- continental railways in South America. His account or report of this great work was published in two large volumes by the United States Government and attracted the attention of the world. He as well as his brother, Irving, was a graduate of Cornell College. Mr. Irving Kelley was an architect of note who lived in Chicago. The Island has also produced many sailors. Some have risin to the highest rank in the calling. They are as follows in alphabetical order: Captains; Alonzo Dwelle, Frank Hamilton, A.T May, O.E.Moore, Ed. Ohlemacher, C.H. Woodford. The Island has also sent five sons into the highest calling of all, the ministry. Rev. Douglas Kelley, Rev. M.K. Holbrook, Rev. A.M. Seeholzer, Rev. C. Schesserman, and Rev. Joseph Myers. The very fact that the inhabitants of Kelley's Island have been isolated has helped to develop them. Every one was called upon to contribute some of his time and talent for the benefit of the Community with the results that a surprisingly large number of people have been found to possess unusual talents. Musicians, artists, poets, editors, actors, debators, engineers, inventors, writers, politicians, Merchants, captains,State Legislatures, Judges, professors,Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Singers, Bandleaders, Historians, and etc have all been raised on this wonderful Island. Literature has always had a strong appeal and they of Kelley's Island, have always been great readers. The general intelligence and erudition of the people has been remarkable. As has ben said elsewhere, the island people for many years took a large number of periodicals and newspapers than other communities of its size in the United States. It is safe to say therefore, in the whole world. Lecturers have always found a hearty welcome and good financial returns when they visited the island. *********************************************** (Con't in part 2)