BIO: George W. KELLEY, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ GEORGE W. KELLEY, proprietor of an excellent farm of 300 acres in Worth township, Centre county, is numbered among the most substantial and enterprising agriculturists of the community. He located at his present place in 1853, and from the uncultivated soil has built up a valuable homestead, which will remain as a monument to his industry and energy for generations to come. He has been particularly wise in his investments, and possesses excellent business capacity, making the most of his opportunities, and all through the changes of a busy life, and while laboring for his own interest, has in nowise set aside the interests and well-being of the community around him. Mr. Kelley was born October 10, 1830, in Lebanon county, Penn., where the birth of his parents, John and Elizabeth (Felty) Kelley, also occurred. In 1835 they came to Centre county, where the father engaged in blacksmithing throughout his business career. He was an ardent Democrat in politics, and in religious belief was a Lutheran, dying in that faith in 1893, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. He was three times married, his first wife being the mother of our subject; she died in 1842. To them were born six children: Mary, deceased wife of Martin Houser, of Bellefonte, Penn.; John, a retired tanner, of Greenville, Ohio; another daughter, the deceased wife of Samuel Burkes, also deceased; George; Jeremiah T., a farmer of Centre county; and Samuel, who died when young. For his second wife John Kelley wedded Sarah Hutton, who died one year after their marriage, and he then married ----- Wirts, who died in 1871. Two sons were born of this union: William D., who is employed in the car shops of Altoona, Penn.; and one (name not given) who was killed in the army. During the first fourteen years of his life George W. Kelley lived upon the home farm, and then served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, which he followed until twenty years of age. Not liking that employment he then secured a position on a farm, working for one man for four years and a half, after which he purchased one hundred acres of his present farm, at that time still in its primitive condition. From time to time, as his resources would permit, he added to the original tract until he had 500 acres but has given two of his sons one hundred acres each. On January 20, 1853, Mr. Kelley wedded Miss Lida Frantz, who was born in Bald Eagle Valley, Centre county, November 15, 1833, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Woodring) Frantz. Eight children-five sons and three daughters - have been born to them: Samuel, born November 17, 1853, was drowned while logging in Clearfield county, in March, 1879; Mary, born August 16, 1856, is the wife of Alfred Dodge, a lumberman of Worth township, Centre county; Benjamin, born January 20, 1861, is a farmer in the same township; Peter, born September 17, 1862, is an agriculturist of Worth township; Sarah J., born October 1, 1864, is the wife of Thomas Merriman, a farmer of Taylor township, Centre county; John, born August 30, 1869, is a farmer of Worth township, and Eveline V., born February 15, 1872, and Robert, born December 23, 1877, are still with their parents. Daniel Frantz, the father of Mrs. Kelley, was born in Berks county, Penn., September 13, 1805, and was a son of Jacob and Christiana COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 471 (Walk) Frantz, who were born, reared and married in Berks county, but later became residents of Worth township, then called Half Moon township, Centre county. The mother of Mrs. Kelley was born January 3, 1810, in Dauphin county, Penn., where her parents, Samuel and Maria E. Woodring, were also born. When thirteen years of age she walked from there to Centre county, and her parents came a few months later. Here her father followed farming, but had previously been engaged in the milling business. To Daniel Frantz and his wife were born twelve children, namely: Nancy, now the widow of S. Cowher, a farmer of Centre county; Samuel, deceased; Lida, wife of our subject; Christiana, widow of John Thomas, of Centre county; Jacob, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who operates the old homestead farm in Worth township; Abraham, who was also a Union soldier, and is now a farmer of Blair county, Penn.; Peter, who died at Philadelphia from the effects of wounds received in the service of his country; Hannah, who died when young; David, a farmer of Pine Grove, Penn.; John, a farmer of Bald Eagle; Rachel, wife of Martin Funk, who was disabled while a member of the Union army, and is now a resident of Port Matilda, Centre county; and Belle, who has been twice married (her first husband was George Brindle, who was killed in a logging camp, and she afterward wedded William Shay, a coal miner and farmer of Blair county). The mother of these children departed this life May 13, 1886, and the father passed away November 26, 1895, at the advanced age of ninety years. In August, 1864, Mr. Kelley was drafted for service in the Union army, and became a member of Company I, 102nd P.V.I., First Brigade, Sixth Army Corps. He participated in a number of battles and skirmishes, including the engagements of Winchester and Petersburg. Politically, he adheres to the Democratic party, and by his fellow citizens has been elected school director, overseer of the poor, tax collector and constable, the duties of which he discharged in a prompt and most efficient manner. He is an intelligent, keen-sighted man, of good financial ability, and his upright and honorable course commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life.