Morris H. Kelly Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1066-1067 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MORRIS H. KELLY. 

	Morris H. Kelly, who at the time of his death, which occurred on 
the 21st of December, 1904, was receiver of the land office at 
Aberdeen, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the year 1849, of 
Quaker parentage. His father, John Kelly, was a farmer by occupation, 
making that pursuit his life work. He married Elizabeth Hunt and they 
became the parents of eight children. Good educational advantages were 
afforded the family and Morris H. Kelly, after attending the public 
schools, continued his studies in the Quaker Academy at Bloomingdale, 
Indiana. When a young man he left home and went to [Farmer City, 
Illinois, where he engaged in the hardware business. Thinking that he 
would find still broader opportunities in the new but growing 
northwest, he came to South Dakota, moving a stock of goods to Ashton, 
where he arrived on the 3d of March, 1882. He opened the first hardware 
store in the town and conducted the business successfully until July, 
1887, when he went to Aberdeen, There he joined the Western Farm 
Mortgage Company, of which he became treasurer. He was connected 
therewith for a number of years. Later he was made receiver of the land 
office and continued to acceptably fill that position to the time of 
his death. 

	Mr. Kelly was not only active in a business way, but also in 
connection with public affairs. He was interested in everything that 
pertained to civic progress and improvement and for several years did 
excellent service for the city as a member of the city council He was 
also a member of the building committee at the time the Mitchell 
library was erected. He believed in the employment of each opportunity 
and in many ways he demonstrated his devotion to the public good, even 
though he would derive no individual benefit therefrom. 

	In 1872 in Tuscola, Illinois, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to 
Miss Bertha Glasgow, who was born in Charleston, Illinois, a daughter 
of Kimball Glasgow, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, who removed to 
Charleston, Illinois, at an early period in the development of that 
place. He was extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising in that 
locality, being one of the leading representatives of agricultural 
interests there. He married Margaret Reat, of Ohio, and they were the 
parents of eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly had a family of four 
children, namely: Mrs. A. W. Vodish; Margaret R.; John R., who is now a 
lieutenant in the United States army; and Herbert G., deceased. 

	Mr. Kelly voted with the republican party and was always ready to 
support his political position by intelligent argument. He stood very 
high in Masonic circles, was most active in the order and attained an 
honorary thirty-third degree, given only in recognition of valuable 
service to the craft. At one time he was grand commander of the grand 
commandery of the state. In his passing death removed one of the valued 
citizens of Aberdeen, for he was reliable and enterprising in business, 
loyal in citizenship, faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare 
of his family.