My Genealogy Hound

ELI KELLY, dealer in books, music, etc., Troy. Seth Kelly, the father of our subject, emigrated from Massachusetts, about 1820, to West Milton, and was identified with his brother Samuel, for a number of years, in the building of saw-mills, factories, oil-mills, etc.; he was the manufacturer of the celebrated “Kelly’s Scythe” that earned a justly deserved reputation long before reaping machines were thought of. His wife’s maiden name was Mary A. Coppock, a native of Ohio; ‘she was born near Ludlow Falls; her death occurred in August, 1852, and her husband’s in November, 1852. Eli, our subject, was born Nov. 4, 1839, near West Milton, and was 14 years of age when his parents died; he saw but little of the sunny side of life during his boyhood, having to work at any kind of a job that offered itself; on the farm in the summer, he attended the common schools in the winter, and obtained such an education as they then afforded; at the beginning of the war he was 21 years of age, and enlisted as a private in Co. A, 44th O. V. I.; served as such until the reenlistment of regular veterans in 1864; when the 44th Regiment was re-organized with the 8th O. V. C, he received a commission as 2d Lieutenant, and was afterward appointed Adjutant of the regiment, and served until his resignation, June, 1865, which was accepted by the Governor of the State, for reason of wounds received in battle Jan. 11, 1865. Upon his return, he commenced the book and stationery business in Troy, which has been continued to the present time, and has been largely increased, until his establishment is now the best one of the kind in the county; lately has been added the music and sewing machine branch of the business. His marriage to Miss Hattie L. Bates occurred May 4, 1867; she was a graduate of Adrian College, Mich., Class of 1866; they have had three children— Edward Bates was born Feb. 21, 1869; Harry, Feb. 21, 1870, and Robert, July 1, 1875; Harry died in his 4th year, Jan. 15, 1874, and his body was interred in a lovely spot in Rosehill Cemetery. Mr. Kelly is one of our most accommodating business men, and has hosts of friends.