American frontiersman and businessman who as the mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, briefly supervised the law-enforcement careers of such officers as the Earp and Masterson brothers: Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Bat, Ed, and James Masterson.

Note: bio info provided by LBeebe (#47085083)

The Dodge City Globe
Dodge City, Kansas
Thursday, September 12, 1912
page 1

"Jim" Kelly, Dodge Pioneer, Is Dead.

He was a Scout Under Custer and Was The Second Mayor of Dodge - A Leading Figure In Early Days.

Came Here From Hays in '72.

Built the Opera House Here in 1886 - Lost His Property in the Panic of the '80's - Service in Indian Campaigns Won Him A Home At Fort Dodge For Last Years.

(Tuesday)
The funeral of James H. Kelly, one of the frontier men of Kansas and one of the pioneers of Dodge, was held at Fort Dodge yesterday afternoon. The old timer died Sunday night, having been a sufferer through the summer from tuberculosis. He was 79 years old and had lived in Dodge forty years, having come here in 1872. A number of the old timers attended the funeral from Dodge; A. Gluck, Brick Bond, A.J. Anthony, Mike Sutton, H.B. Bell, Frank Chapman, T.J. Schall, Lou Madison, John Madden, Stuart Sutton, Heinie Schmidt.

The service was held in the Fort church, Chaplain Crouch officiating. Burial was in the Fort Dodge cemetery. None of Mr. Kelly's relatives were present at the funeral. It is not known that he had any except one daughter, Irene, and she has been away from Dodge for several years. It is probable that even her father did not know her address.

In the early days in Dodge City, "Jim" Kelly was one of the central figures and in the western pariance, was a good man to "tie to." He was open-hearted and generous, optimistic and friendly. Whatever he had that a friend needed that friend always received. His generosity kept him from wealth and a panic finally robbed him of property. His help tided through the hard times many of the men who are now substantial business men in the western country.

He had been a scout under Custer serving several years on the frontier. It was this service that secured him a home at Fort Dodge, a special bill being introduced several years ago to reward the frontiersman for his services as scout. He had settled at Fort Hayes after the Indian wars and his house, brought overland, was one of the first habitations in Dodge City. Several years ago at a reunion here Joe Waters, of Topeka, read an original poem on "Jim Kelly and His Dog."

Kelly was the second mayor of Dodge, following George Hoover. He built the opera house in '86 and controlled it for a number of years until he sold it to A. Gluck. He was in the restaurant business for a number of years and made real estate investments that brought him a good income. He lost his holdings in the panic of the later '80's.

When he was elected mayor he appointed Ed Masterson, a brother of Bat, marshal and he was killed while in discharge of his duty. Kelly was a great lover of sports. In his day it was popular for every man to have a bunch of hounds and Kelly had some Russian hounds that he had imported that were winners at all the coursing meets which took the place of horse races in those days.

Attired in a suit of white corduroy and mounted on his big white horse he was a figure not soon to be forgotten. In his later days he was in the habit of relating that he had caught antelope with his hounds where the third ward school now stands.

Several months ago the Santa Fe Magazine contained a historical review of Dodge and among the anecdotes was the one of Jim Kelly and his bear. It was as follows: Old Jim rooms was occupied by a traveling man just from the East. Having retired late the night before he was still asleep, and as the weather was warm, his door stood ajar. Into the room rushed Paddy who sought refuge under the bed. For a time all was silent except for the snoring of the tired wayfarer.

Finding he no longer was pursued the bear finally began to feel uncomfortable, as there was none too much room between the bed slats and the floor. While bruin was changing his position, the bed mattress, traveling man, slat springs, and all began to heave wildly about, which of course, brought the slumberer to his senses.

Hastily peering under the bed, he saw two firey eyes glaring at him. Paddy, thinking perhaps his tormentors had come, dared a growl. It is useless to picture this man's thoughts. The next instant, the hotel clerk heard a loud yell, and a white apparition shot through the door and out of doors. Clad only in a night shirt, the scared knight of the grip sprinted the entire length of the Front street, not stopping until he reached the depot. Here Dirty Face Jones and Prairie Dog Dave rounded him up and, after convincing the fellow that he was really sober, escorted him back to the hotel. He left town that day and it is rumored that the landlord made Kelly tie up his bear.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)

American frontiersman and businessman who as the mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, briefly supervised the law-enforcement careers of such officers as the Earp and Masterson brothers: Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Bat, Ed, and James Masterson.

Note: bio info provided by LBeebe (#47085083)

The Dodge City Globe
Dodge City, Kansas
Thursday, September 12, 1912
page 1

"Jim" Kelly, Dodge Pioneer, Is Dead.

He was a Scout Under Custer and Was The Second Mayor of Dodge - A Leading Figure In Early Days.

Came Here From Hays in '72.

Built the Opera House Here in 1886 - Lost His Property in the Panic of the '80's - Service in Indian Campaigns Won Him A Home At Fort Dodge For Last Years.

(Tuesday)
The funeral of James H. Kelly, one of the frontier men of Kansas and one of the pioneers of Dodge, was held at Fort Dodge yesterday afternoon. The old timer died Sunday night, having been a sufferer through the summer from tuberculosis. He was 79 years old and had lived in Dodge forty years, having come here in 1872. A number of the old timers attended the funeral from Dodge; A. Gluck, Brick Bond, A.J. Anthony, Mike Sutton, H.B. Bell, Frank Chapman, T.J. Schall, Lou Madison, John Madden, Stuart Sutton, Heinie Schmidt.

The service was held in the Fort church, Chaplain Crouch officiating. Burial was in the Fort Dodge cemetery. None of Mr. Kelly's relatives were present at the funeral. It is not known that he had any except one daughter, Irene, and she has been away from Dodge for several years. It is probable that even her father did not know her address.

In the early days in Dodge City, "Jim" Kelly was one of the central figures and in the western pariance, was a good man to "tie to." He was open-hearted and generous, optimistic and friendly. Whatever he had that a friend needed that friend always received. His generosity kept him from wealth and a panic finally robbed him of property. His help tided through the hard times many of the men who are now substantial business men in the western country.

He had been a scout under Custer serving several years on the frontier. It was this service that secured him a home at Fort Dodge, a special bill being introduced several years ago to reward the frontiersman for his services as scout. He had settled at Fort Hayes after the Indian wars and his house, brought overland, was one of the first habitations in Dodge City. Several years ago at a reunion here Joe Waters, of Topeka, read an original poem on "Jim Kelly and His Dog."

Kelly was the second mayor of Dodge, following George Hoover. He built the opera house in '86 and controlled it for a number of years until he sold it to A. Gluck. He was in the restaurant business for a number of years and made real estate investments that brought him a good income. He lost his holdings in the panic of the later '80's.

When he was elected mayor he appointed Ed Masterson, a brother of Bat, marshal and he was killed while in discharge of his duty. Kelly was a great lover of sports. In his day it was popular for every man to have a bunch of hounds and Kelly had some Russian hounds that he had imported that were winners at all the coursing meets which took the place of horse races in those days.

Attired in a suit of white corduroy and mounted on his big white horse he was a figure not soon to be forgotten. In his later days he was in the habit of relating that he had caught antelope with his hounds where the third ward school now stands.

Several months ago the Santa Fe Magazine contained a historical review of Dodge and among the anecdotes was the one of Jim Kelly and his bear. It was as follows: Old Jim rooms was occupied by a traveling man just from the East. Having retired late the night before he was still asleep, and as the weather was warm, his door stood ajar. Into the room rushed Paddy who sought refuge under the bed. For a time all was silent except for the snoring of the tired wayfarer.

Finding he no longer was pursued the bear finally began to feel uncomfortable, as there was none too much room between the bed slats and the floor. While bruin was changing his position, the bed mattress, traveling man, slat springs, and all began to heave wildly about, which of course, brought the slumberer to his senses.

Hastily peering under the bed, he saw two firey eyes glaring at him. Paddy, thinking perhaps his tormentors had come, dared a growl. It is useless to picture this man's thoughts. The next instant, the hotel clerk heard a loud yell, and a white apparition shot through the door and out of doors. Clad only in a night shirt, the scared knight of the grip sprinted the entire length of the Front street, not stopping until he reached the depot. Here Dirty Face Jones and Prairie Dog Dave rounded him up and, after convincing the fellow that he was really sober, escorted him back to the hotel. He left town that day and it is rumored that the landlord made Kelly tie up his bear.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield)