Mr. Wm. D. Kelly was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, on January 15, 1815. His father, Joseph Kelly, emigrated from Shenandoah County, Virginia, to this county, at the age of twelve years, being among the early pioneers.
Mr. W. D. Kelly’s boyhood was spent on the farm and among the hills of what is now so extensively known as the Hanging Rock Iron Region. As the country was thinly settled — families living from two to three miles apart — education was confined to the “log cabin” schoolhouse, and “school kept” only occasionally during Winter. Such being the case, Mr. Kelly’s education was limited, as he did not attend school altogether for more than one year.
From the time he was large enough to plow until his majority he was kept at work on his father’s farm. At the age of twenty-one years, he commenced work, farming, without capital, for himself. Being industrious and saving, tire profits of the farm were encouraging for those times, and the money thus earned was invested in land. He left his homestead, near the old Etna Furnace, and removed to the Ohio River, just above the present city of Ironton, purchasing a farm of 200 acres, most of which he at present owns.
Mr. Kelly first became interested in iron in 1844, being a partner for three years in the firm of Dempsey, Rodgers & Co., doing business at Etna Furnace.
In 1849 he became one of the incorporators of the Ohio Iron and Coal Company and the Iron Railroad; also one of the original incorporators of the present city of Ironton, which flourishing little city today and owes much of its prosperity to his enterprise.
In 1851 he associated himself with Messrs. Chestnutwood & Hartzell, and leased Lagrange Furnace, but was soon afterward compelled to carry out the terms of the lease himself, assisted by his two younger brothers. This lease expired in three years; he is being quite successful in the business.
In 1855 he started the Exchange Bank in Ironton, Ohio, with Mr. I. C. Dovel as cashier, which position Mr. Dovel still faithfully holds. During the various branches of business Mr. Kelly has been engaged in, he always took great pride in his farm, giving much of his personal attention to agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture; and so successful were his efforts in this direction that in 1857 he was awarded the first premium by the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, his farm being considered the best-improved farm in the State.
In 1862 he again entered into the iron business, leasing Center Furnace property for five years and in 1865, in company with Messrs. M’Cullough and Douvel, also leased Hecla Furnace, which he operated successfully for four years. At the expiration of the Center Furnace lease, he purchased the entire property, and in 1869 built the Grant Furnace, in Ironton.
In 1868 and 1869 the leases of Center and Hecla Furnaces having expired by limitation, he then associated in the business at Center and Grant Furnaces with his two sons, Lindsay, and Ironton Kelly, since which time he has had no other partners, the furnaces have been, and are now being, successfully operated under the firm name of Wm. D. Kelly & Sons.
SOURCE: Ohio, the future great state, her manufacturers, and a history of her commercial cities, Cincinnati and Cleveland. Publication date 1875
W. D. KELLY
William Dollarhide Kelly
I. R. Nov. 26, 1868 – W. D. Kelly intends to erect, during the coming Winter or Spring, a new charcoal furnace either in or adjacent to the city. It is proposed to be a cold blast furnace and will be supplied with charcoal from up the river.
I. R. Jan. 14, 1869 – MR. KELLY’S FURNACE AND THE DUTY OF IRONTON. Mr. W. D. Kelly desires to construct a furnace in this city, and in order to procure a landing at the river, he asks the City Council to vacate a disjointed useless street in the upper part of the city. Unless this is done, Mr. Kelly will not build his furnace in the city.
The people of Ironton see the incentive which Mr. Kelly’s enterprise will give to the business interests and general prosperity of the city, with the City Council to grant his petition. This is public sentiment. Thus far, it is only a question of conceding a privilege for, at least, a proportionate advantage. – But other interests here come in – interests which must not be silent and impertinently disregarded. – Messrs. Dean and lady own property and reside near the street proposed to be vacated.
They protest against the vacation. They have this right. Believing that the destruction of the street will be prejudicial to their private interests, they do no more than any other citizen would do, under like circumstances. But these gentlemen must not, and we believe do not, set up more than their legal claims.
The dilemma is a delicate one. – What should the Council do? What are the precedents in similar cases? Appropriation and then a submission to an assessment of damages. If the city does not make good the claim of these gentlemen for damages, they can resort to the usual mode of procuring justice. It is not right that Messrs. Dean and Lady should be damaged to the extent of one farthing. They bought the property, fitted themselves up homes, with reference to the avenues established by the city, and if the city destroys one of these public avenues, it breaks its faith to a certain extent and should foot the bill.
We say, then let the City council vacate the street; let us possess ourselves of the advantages offered by Mr. Kelly, and then, if the gentlemen owning property contiguous to the street, feel that they have been damaged, let them bring in their claim against the city, and if it is not promptly met, let them carry the matter to the Courts, where we have no doubt, a Lawrence county jury will settle the matter according to Equity and Common Sense.
I. R. March 4, 1869 – The Kelly Furnace imbroglio still continues. We hope, that by some degree of conciliation on both sides, the matter will be adjusted profitably to both parties, and satisfactorily to the community.
I. R. March 4, 1869 – GRANT FURNACE – Today Gen. Grant takes his seat. Today Messrs. Kelly & sons have named their new Furnace, about which there has been so much talk of late. They have not yet decided as to the exact location, as the Council will not act on their petition till this evening.
But should the City Council not vacate the streets and alleys prayed for, they will build between Fourth and Fifth-sts., just above Mr. Kelly’s residence. They have about eighty laborers employed chopping wood, getting out timber and stone, digging ore, &c., and intend to commence work on the foundation of the stack next week if the weather is favorable. They expect to make cold-blast charcoal iron. The firm name will be W. D. Kelly & Sons, Grant Furnace, Ironton, O.
I. R. March 11, 1869 – KELLY FURNACE AFFAIR – The City Council granted so much of Mr. Kelly’s petition as asks for a vacation between Monroe and Quincy – sts. Requiring from Mr. Kelly a bond of $10,000 to indemnify the city in case a successful suit for damages is made against it. We understand that Mr. Kelly will give no bond, nor act under the arrangement, but that if the matter is unchanged he will erect his furnace elsewhere, if at all.
I. R. Jan. 18, 1871 – 1st Col. Copy – The Kelly Bldg. Assoc. ..purchased the farm of Wm. D. Kelly 70 plus acres at 500 per acre.
I. R. April 17, 1890 – Walk-In A Cemetery (Kelly Cem.) – The Kelly shaft is the prominent object of the Cemetery. It is a tall column surmounted by an eagle. It was erected in 1855 when Mr. W. D. Kelly was 41 years old. Mr. K’s name and birth are chronicled on it, with a blank space below for the final remarks. That was 35 years ago. He is yet in the toils of business, apparently good for years. Yet.
I.R. Sept. 18, 1890 – Willie Kelly, son of I. A. Kelly, left Sunday for Gambier, to attend college.
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