John R. Kelly
Who is one of Banner county's progressive agriculturists and leading citizens, has lived in this county many years, homesteading in 1888 and never parting with his original purchase, which now comprises some of the most valuable land in the county. He was born in Worth county, Missouri, December 7, 1867.
The parents of Mr. Kelly were John and Jerusha (Millican) Kelly, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1838, and the latter in Illinois, March 17, 1841. Her death occurred in January, 1907. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church from girlhood. Of their six children, the two sons in Nebraska are John R. and Samuel. In boyhood the father of Mr. Kelley went to Illinois and lived there seven years as a farmer, married there, and then moved to Missouri, where he died in 1872.
John R. Kelley was only five years old when his father died. He started to go to school in Missouri, later went to school for a short time in Page county, Iowa, and when ten years old went to work on a farm in Kansas. He remained one year and then went back to Missouri, where he followed farm life for six years and then went again to Iowa for two years. After another year in Missouri, on March 23, 1887, he came to old Cheyenne county, now Banner, and in July following secured his homestead. At that time $100 would purchase 160 acres of land that now would bring $50 an acre. Mr. Kelly had to depend entirely on his own efforts, and after securing his claim, found it a serious undertaking to make enough money to make his payments. In those days real money was scarce in Nebraska and remuneration for any kind of labor was small, while farm produce brought but inadequate returns in the market. Mr. Kelly relates that in 1892 he and his brother raised wheat and hauled it a distance of twenty-five miles to Kimball and sold it for twenty-four cents a bushel, and pork, at the present time one of the world's luxuries, commanded so small a price that it became a question whether the raising of hogs was worth while. The interest on money at that time had risen to thirty-nine per cent. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Kelly went to Hall county and husked corn in the vicinity of Wood river for a cent and a half a bushel, working for Fremont Dodge. The latter advised Mr. Kelly to keep his Banner county land at all hazards, and the taking of this advice proved very advantageous to Mr. Kelly, although it necessitated much hard work to follow it. During those early years he worked for $1 a day, then acceptable by workers and employers alike, and to secure this had to travel as far as Greely, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
However, those times have long since passed away. Starting with 160 acres, Mr. Kelly acquired more land as his improving circumstances permitted until at present he is the owner of 3,200 acres. It is mainly ranch land and his stock interests are very important. He believes Hereford cattle and Percheron horses the most profitable and feeds about ten head of horses a year and about 200 head of cattle, and raises annually sixty fine cows for breeding purposes. It was on Mr. Kelly's land that the Prairie Oil & Gas Company sunk a shaft that struck an extra good grade of oil but at that time and with the company's facilities, did not seem to indicate oil in paying quantity. Further investigation has convinced Mr. Kelly, however, that some day he will have a well here with a profitable flow of oil.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Anna McKinnon, the ceremony taking place at Harrisburg, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Mickle) McKinnon, natives of Scotland, who settled in Banner county in 1889. They died in Harrisburg, the father in 1904 and the mother in Scottsbluff, May 3, 1918. Three of their children live in Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, and two others, Mrs. Kelly and Edward McKinnon, in Banner county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have had two children, the one survivor, Allison, living at home.
Since early manhood, Mr. Kelly has taken an active part in public matters that he has believed come within the scope of good citizenship. Politically he is a Democrat and has wide influence in county politics but has never accepted any public office except that of sheriff, serving one year (1896) by appointment, and two years by election, his term expiring in January, 1899. He is a member of the Farmers Union, and is financially interested in the Scottsbluff Creamery and the Independent Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio
http://genealogytrails.com/neb/banner/biographiesI.htm#JohnRKelly
Contributor: Marvin Bowman (46921462)
Who is one of Banner county's progressive agriculturists and leading citizens, has lived in this county many years, homesteading in 1888 and never parting with his original purchase, which now comprises some of the most valuable land in the county. He was born in Worth county, Missouri, December 7, 1867.
The parents of Mr. Kelly were John and Jerusha (Millican) Kelly, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1838, and the latter in Illinois, March 17, 1841. Her death occurred in January, 1907. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church from girlhood. Of their six children, the two sons in Nebraska are John R. and Samuel. In boyhood the father of Mr. Kelley went to Illinois and lived there seven years as a farmer, married there, and then moved to Missouri, where he died in 1872.
John R. Kelley was only five years old when his father died. He started to go to school in Missouri, later went to school for a short time in Page county, Iowa, and when ten years old went to work on a farm in Kansas. He remained one year and then went back to Missouri, where he followed farm life for six years and then went again to Iowa for two years. After another year in Missouri, on March 23, 1887, he came to old Cheyenne county, now Banner, and in July following secured his homestead. At that time $100 would purchase 160 acres of land that now would bring $50 an acre. Mr. Kelly had to depend entirely on his own efforts, and after securing his claim, found it a serious undertaking to make enough money to make his payments. In those days real money was scarce in Nebraska and remuneration for any kind of labor was small, while farm produce brought but inadequate returns in the market. Mr. Kelly relates that in 1892 he and his brother raised wheat and hauled it a distance of twenty-five miles to Kimball and sold it for twenty-four cents a bushel, and pork, at the present time one of the world's luxuries, commanded so small a price that it became a question whether the raising of hogs was worth while. The interest on money at that time had risen to thirty-nine per cent. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Kelly went to Hall county and husked corn in the vicinity of Wood river for a cent and a half a bushel, working for Fremont Dodge. The latter advised Mr. Kelly to keep his Banner county land at all hazards, and the taking of this advice proved very advantageous to Mr. Kelly, although it necessitated much hard work to follow it. During those early years he worked for $1 a day, then acceptable by workers and employers alike, and to secure this had to travel as far as Greely, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
However, those times have long since passed away. Starting with 160 acres, Mr. Kelly acquired more land as his improving circumstances permitted until at present he is the owner of 3,200 acres. It is mainly ranch land and his stock interests are very important. He believes Hereford cattle and Percheron horses the most profitable and feeds about ten head of horses a year and about 200 head of cattle, and raises annually sixty fine cows for breeding purposes. It was on Mr. Kelly's land that the Prairie Oil & Gas Company sunk a shaft that struck an extra good grade of oil but at that time and with the company's facilities, did not seem to indicate oil in paying quantity. Further investigation has convinced Mr. Kelly, however, that some day he will have a well here with a profitable flow of oil.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Anna McKinnon, the ceremony taking place at Harrisburg, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Mickle) McKinnon, natives of Scotland, who settled in Banner county in 1889. They died in Harrisburg, the father in 1904 and the mother in Scottsbluff, May 3, 1918. Three of their children live in Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, and two others, Mrs. Kelly and Edward McKinnon, in Banner county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have had two children, the one survivor, Allison, living at home.
Since early manhood, Mr. Kelly has taken an active part in public matters that he has believed come within the scope of good citizenship. Politically he is a Democrat and has wide influence in county politics but has never accepted any public office except that of sheriff, serving one year (1896) by appointment, and two years by election, his term expiring in January, 1899. He is a member of the Farmers Union, and is financially interested in the Scottsbluff Creamery and the Independent Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio
http://genealogytrails.com/neb/banner/biographiesI.htm#JohnRKelly
Contributor: Marvin Bowman (46921462)
John R. Kelly
Who is one of Banner county's progressive agriculturists and leading citizens, has lived in this county many years, homesteading in 1888 and never parting with his original purchase, which now comprises some of the most valuable land in the county. He was born in Worth county, Missouri, December 7, 1867.
The parents of Mr. Kelly were John and Jerusha (Millican) Kelly, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1838, and the latter in Illinois, March 17, 1841. Her death occurred in January, 1907. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church from girlhood. Of their six children, the two sons in Nebraska are John R. and Samuel. In boyhood the father of Mr. Kelley went to Illinois and lived there seven years as a farmer, married there, and then moved to Missouri, where he died in 1872.
John R. Kelley was only five years old when his father died. He started to go to school in Missouri, later went to school for a short time in Page county, Iowa, and when ten years old went to work on a farm in Kansas. He remained one year and then went back to Missouri, where he followed farm life for six years and then went again to Iowa for two years. After another year in Missouri, on March 23, 1887, he came to old Cheyenne county, now Banner, and in July following secured his homestead. At that time $100 would purchase 160 acres of land that now would bring $50 an acre. Mr. Kelly had to depend entirely on his own efforts, and after securing his claim, found it a serious undertaking to make enough money to make his payments. In those days real money was scarce in Nebraska and remuneration for any kind of labor was small, while farm produce brought but inadequate returns in the market. Mr. Kelly relates that in 1892 he and his brother raised wheat and hauled it a distance of twenty-five miles to Kimball and sold it for twenty-four cents a bushel, and pork, at the present time one of the world's luxuries, commanded so small a price that it became a question whether the raising of hogs was worth while. The interest on money at that time had risen to thirty-nine per cent. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Kelly went to Hall county and husked corn in the vicinity of Wood river for a cent and a half a bushel, working for Fremont Dodge. The latter advised Mr. Kelly to keep his Banner county land at all hazards, and the taking of this advice proved very advantageous to Mr. Kelly, although it necessitated much hard work to follow it. During those early years he worked for $1 a day, then acceptable by workers and employers alike, and to secure this had to travel as far as Greely, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
However, those times have long since passed away. Starting with 160 acres, Mr. Kelly acquired more land as his improving circumstances permitted until at present he is the owner of 3,200 acres. It is mainly ranch land and his stock interests are very important. He believes Hereford cattle and Percheron horses the most profitable and feeds about ten head of horses a year and about 200 head of cattle, and raises annually sixty fine cows for breeding purposes. It was on Mr. Kelly's land that the Prairie Oil & Gas Company sunk a shaft that struck an extra good grade of oil but at that time and with the company's facilities, did not seem to indicate oil in paying quantity. Further investigation has convinced Mr. Kelly, however, that some day he will have a well here with a profitable flow of oil.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Anna McKinnon, the ceremony taking place at Harrisburg, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Mickle) McKinnon, natives of Scotland, who settled in Banner county in 1889. They died in Harrisburg, the father in 1904 and the mother in Scottsbluff, May 3, 1918. Three of their children live in Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, and two others, Mrs. Kelly and Edward McKinnon, in Banner county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have had two children, the one survivor, Allison, living at home.
Since early manhood, Mr. Kelly has taken an active part in public matters that he has believed come within the scope of good citizenship. Politically he is a Democrat and has wide influence in county politics but has never accepted any public office except that of sheriff, serving one year (1896) by appointment, and two years by election, his term expiring in January, 1899. He is a member of the Farmers Union, and is financially interested in the Scottsbluff Creamery and the Independent Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio
http://genealogytrails.com/neb/banner/biographiesI.htm#JohnRKelly
Contributor: Marvin Bowman (46921462)
Who is one of Banner county's progressive agriculturists and leading citizens, has lived in this county many years, homesteading in 1888 and never parting with his original purchase, which now comprises some of the most valuable land in the county. He was born in Worth county, Missouri, December 7, 1867.
The parents of Mr. Kelly were John and Jerusha (Millican) Kelly, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1838, and the latter in Illinois, March 17, 1841. Her death occurred in January, 1907. She was a faithful member of the Baptist church from girlhood. Of their six children, the two sons in Nebraska are John R. and Samuel. In boyhood the father of Mr. Kelley went to Illinois and lived there seven years as a farmer, married there, and then moved to Missouri, where he died in 1872.
John R. Kelley was only five years old when his father died. He started to go to school in Missouri, later went to school for a short time in Page county, Iowa, and when ten years old went to work on a farm in Kansas. He remained one year and then went back to Missouri, where he followed farm life for six years and then went again to Iowa for two years. After another year in Missouri, on March 23, 1887, he came to old Cheyenne county, now Banner, and in July following secured his homestead. At that time $100 would purchase 160 acres of land that now would bring $50 an acre. Mr. Kelly had to depend entirely on his own efforts, and after securing his claim, found it a serious undertaking to make enough money to make his payments. In those days real money was scarce in Nebraska and remuneration for any kind of labor was small, while farm produce brought but inadequate returns in the market. Mr. Kelly relates that in 1892 he and his brother raised wheat and hauled it a distance of twenty-five miles to Kimball and sold it for twenty-four cents a bushel, and pork, at the present time one of the world's luxuries, commanded so small a price that it became a question whether the raising of hogs was worth while. The interest on money at that time had risen to thirty-nine per cent. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Kelly went to Hall county and husked corn in the vicinity of Wood river for a cent and a half a bushel, working for Fremont Dodge. The latter advised Mr. Kelly to keep his Banner county land at all hazards, and the taking of this advice proved very advantageous to Mr. Kelly, although it necessitated much hard work to follow it. During those early years he worked for $1 a day, then acceptable by workers and employers alike, and to secure this had to travel as far as Greely, Colorado, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.
However, those times have long since passed away. Starting with 160 acres, Mr. Kelly acquired more land as his improving circumstances permitted until at present he is the owner of 3,200 acres. It is mainly ranch land and his stock interests are very important. He believes Hereford cattle and Percheron horses the most profitable and feeds about ten head of horses a year and about 200 head of cattle, and raises annually sixty fine cows for breeding purposes. It was on Mr. Kelly's land that the Prairie Oil & Gas Company sunk a shaft that struck an extra good grade of oil but at that time and with the company's facilities, did not seem to indicate oil in paying quantity. Further investigation has convinced Mr. Kelly, however, that some day he will have a well here with a profitable flow of oil.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Anna McKinnon, the ceremony taking place at Harrisburg, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Mickle) McKinnon, natives of Scotland, who settled in Banner county in 1889. They died in Harrisburg, the father in 1904 and the mother in Scottsbluff, May 3, 1918. Three of their children live in Scottsbluff county, Nebraska, and two others, Mrs. Kelly and Edward McKinnon, in Banner county. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have had two children, the one survivor, Allison, living at home.
Since early manhood, Mr. Kelly has taken an active part in public matters that he has believed come within the scope of good citizenship. Politically he is a Democrat and has wide influence in county politics but has never accepted any public office except that of sheriff, serving one year (1896) by appointment, and two years by election, his term expiring in January, 1899. He is a member of the Farmers Union, and is financially interested in the Scottsbluff Creamery and the Independent Lumber Company of Scottsbluff.
Source: History of Western Nebraska and Its People; Banner, Box Butte, Cheyenne, Dawes, Deuel, Garden, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, and Sioux Counties. A Group Often Called The Panhandle of Nebraska, Vol. 3, 1921
Transcribed by: Mary Saggio
http://genealogytrails.com/neb/banner/biographiesI.htm#JohnRKelly
Contributor: Marvin Bowman (46921462)
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