Married Hattie Sophia Millikan 24 March 1891 in Olathe, Johnson Co., Kansas. They were farmers and raised stock on their 159-acre Lone Elm farm outside of Olathe, described as follows: The Northeast Quarter (1/4) of Section Twenty-two (22), Township Fourteen (14), Range Twenty-three (23), in Johnson County, Kansas. One acre in the northeast corner of the property was donated to the schoolhouse, the Lone Elm School. Will purchased this property from Julius D. Walker on 2 March 1891, just before he married.

Mr. Kelly was a member of the Lone Elm school board for 17 consecutive years, and a member of Lone Elm Grange No. 152 (opposite the Lone Elm schoolhouse) for 49 years (circa 1883-1931, until it disbanded), acting as treasurer of the same for 26 years and as Master and Secretary at different times. After Lone Elm Grange disbanded he transferred to Olathe Grange no. 118 for five years before he died.

Will and Hattie had two daughters. Will Kelly died on the Lone Elm farm at the age of 82.


Today, the replacement farmhouse built by Will and Hattie Kelly in the early 1900s (1903-4 or 1911) on the farm still stands just west of the intersection of West 167th Streeet & South Lone Elm Road, Olathe, Johnson County, Kansas 66062. (38°49'31.7"N 94°50'18.1"W). One can still see the decoration of sea shells in the stucco created by Hattie Kelly in the triangular pediment over the front door.

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From History of Johnson County, Kansas by Ed Blair (Standard Publishing Company, Lawrence, Kansas, 1915, pages 252-253:

"William J. Kelly, a well known and prosperous farmer of Olathe township, has been a resident of Johnson county since he was five years old. He was born in Boone county, Illinois, in 1854, and is a son of Alexander and Jane (Robinson) Kelly, natives of County Arma[g]h, Ireland. Both parents came to America when young and settled in Boone county, Illinois, where they were married. They were the parents of thirteen children, six of whom were born in Illinois, and seven in Johnson county, Kansas. The Kelly family came to Kansas in 1859 and the father, Alexander Kelly, worked at his trade, that of a stone mason, in Olathe for a time and, in 1860, moved onto a rented farm. A short time afterward he and his brother, William, bought a claim of 160 acres where his daughter, Mrs. Belle Shields, now resides. Alexander Kelly was one of the prominent pioneers of Johnson county and was always interested in the advancement and development of his adopted State. He was public-spirited and always took a prominent part in any movement for the upbuilding of Johnson county. He was one of the organizers and a charter member of the Grange and did a great deal to promote the development of that organization. He died December 31, 1903 [sic; tombstone says 1907]. William J. Kelly, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in Johnson county and has followed farming all his life and is one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of the county. Mr. Kelly was married in 1891 to Miss Hattie Millikan, a daughter of Branson Millikan, a native of Indiana and a pioneer of Johnson county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have two children, Edith, born January 11, 1892, a student in the Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhattan, and Mildred, born October 24, 1896. Mr. Kelly is a member of Lone Elm Grange and was initiated in 1883, and is a Republican, which was the political creed of his father."

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His obituary:

William James Kelly

The exorable and tireless reaper Death, has again been busy in our neighborhood and thus it has been in all ages.

"Leaves have their time to fall,
The Stars to rise, and the sun
To Set, but all seasons thou hast
For thine own. O Death.

"Man cometh forth as a flower and is cut down
And the place therefor shall know him no more.

The voice of one saying, "cry" and one said, "What shall I cry? All flesh is as grass and all Godliness thereof is as the flowers of the field. The grass witherith and the flowers fadeth, because the breath of the Lord bloweth upon it. Oh! how we are adminished [sic] to 'be ye also ready'".

William James Kelly, son of Alex and Jane Kelly was born in Belvadere [sic], Ill., April 6, 1854 and departed this life July 16, 1936 in the Lone Elm neighborhood at the age of 82 years, 3 months and 10 days.

He moved to Kansas with his father's family in 1859, just north of Olathe, later moving to what is now known as Clare where he grew to manhood. He was married March 24, 1891 to Miss Hattie S. Millikan and moved to the present home where he has continued to live. To this union were born two daughters Edith and Mildred.

Mr. Kelly was a member of the Lone Elm school board for 17 consecutive years. A member of Lone Elm Grange No. 152 for 53 years, acting as treasurer of the same for 26 years and as Master and Secretary at different times. He was always a loyal Granger, receiving his Golden Sheaf in 1932.

William James Kelly was an honest, upright man whose honesty was above reproach. He loved his family, neighbors and friends.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Mrs. Hattie S. Kelly, two daughters: Mrs. Edith Johnson, Columbus, O.; and Mrs. Mildred Levi who recently moved to Colorado; five sisters and four brothers.

Funeral services were held from the Ruppelius Chapel Monday at 2 p.m. Interment was made in the Olathe cemetery. Rev. A.W. Wolfe officiating.

[Johnson County Democrat (Olathe, Kansas), Thursday, July 23, 1936, page P8]