KELLEY, EZRA, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dennis, Mass. His genealogical record is as follows: He was the son of Cyrenus and Jerusha Kelley, and was born September 26, 1798. His father, Cyrenus, was born February 19, 1770, and his mother, Jerusha, daughter of Judah and Mary Baker, was born September, 1767.
His grandfather, Hattil Kelley, son of John 0.Kelley, was born in Yarmouth, Mass., April 22, 1720, and died March 8, 1809, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine years. He married Hannah Wing, of Rochester,Mass. But little is known of his great-grandfather, John O. Kelley, except that he came to this country from Ireland and settled on Cape Cod.
Ezra Kelley's father was a sturdy farmer, and like his contemporaries in the days of the American Revolution obtained his living from the hard Cape Cod soil. He belonged to that race of men, who, through the hardships and deprivations of the colonial days, developed a character for self-reliance and unswerving integrity. It was these traits of nobility that he transmitted to his children, an inheritance above the value of gold or earthly treasure.
When Ezra was eighteen years of age he left the paternal roof and sought through his own exertion to make a place for himself in the world. With a natural taste for mechanical art he apprenticed himself to Allen Kelley, of South Yarmouth, Mass., and took his first instruction in clock and watchmaking. Here he obtained sufficient rudimental knowledge to fit hire, after two years' service, to enter the employ of John Bailey at Hanover, Mass, In this new field Mr. Kelley developed not only remarkable
skill in his profession, but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in his future career.
In 1820 he left the employ of Mr. Bailey and went to Venezuela, South America, and went into business for himself. He successfully pursued his avocation for several years.
in this new field. In 1838 he returned to his native country, and found a great change had been wrought in the manufacture of clocks and watches. It did not, however, take long for him to adapt himself to new methods and inventions. Mr. Kelley established himself in New Bedford, and for more than half a century has been diligently employed in the business. His clocks have almost a national reputation, and are to be found in many of the households of New England.
When eighty-eight years of age Mr. Kelley made a clock that for finish, style and accuracy is equal to any that ever came from his hand. It is held by one of the family as a treasure and as a sample of the rare skill of this venerable man.
A more important and by far the most profitable invention and discovery of Mr. Kelley was that of a lubricant oil, especially adapted for clocks and watches. This article he produced soon after he took his residence in New Bedford. The superior merits of " Kelley's watch and clock oils " were quickly appreciated, and their use became wider and more general as the years went by. To-day it finds a place in almost every country throughout the world. Mr. Kelley long ago passed the age at which most men cease to work, but he still exercised a vigilant supervision over his business, and thanks to the efficient management of Mr. John Wing, his son-in-law, the article for which he
made a name maintains its high reputation.
His oils were in the recent French Universal Exposition. He has crossed the Atlantic five times, visiting many countries. While Mr. Kelley has made his business life a success, he has not accomplished it at the sacrifice of other things that go to make a well-rounded and useful career. Being a birthright Quaker, he was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying Nancy Simmons, a member of the Methodist Church, with which people he was for many years identified. Mr. Kelley was an anti-slavery man of the most radical type, and it was because of his pronounced opinions on this subject that he withdrew from the Methodist Church.
It was the action of such men as he that precipitated the separation of this body into two organizations — M. E. Church North, and M. E. Church South. In his later years he has rejoined the church of his father, the Friends Meeting.
Mr. Kelley married, January 30, 1823, Miss Nancy Simmons, daughter of Allen and Silence Simmons, of Hingham, Mass. She died in New Bedford, December 9, 1865, at the age of .seventy-one years. They had six children, of which two are living, George S. Kelley and Joanna R., wife of John Wing.
May 12, 1875, he married Abby S. Ellison,daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Wing, of Sandwich.
Ezra Kelley manufactured chronometer, clock and watch oils at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Kelley was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1798, and came to New Bedford in 1818 and engaged in the manufacture of clocks.
His grandfather, Hattil Kelley, son of John 0.Kelley, was born in Yarmouth, Mass., April 22, 1720, and died March 8, 1809, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine years. He married Hannah Wing, of Rochester,Mass. But little is known of his great-grandfather, John O. Kelley, except that he came to this country from Ireland and settled on Cape Cod.
Ezra Kelley's father was a sturdy farmer, and like his contemporaries in the days of the American Revolution obtained his living from the hard Cape Cod soil. He belonged to that race of men, who, through the hardships and deprivations of the colonial days, developed a character for self-reliance and unswerving integrity. It was these traits of nobility that he transmitted to his children, an inheritance above the value of gold or earthly treasure.
When Ezra was eighteen years of age he left the paternal roof and sought through his own exertion to make a place for himself in the world. With a natural taste for mechanical art he apprenticed himself to Allen Kelley, of South Yarmouth, Mass., and took his first instruction in clock and watchmaking. Here he obtained sufficient rudimental knowledge to fit hire, after two years' service, to enter the employ of John Bailey at Hanover, Mass, In this new field Mr. Kelley developed not only remarkable
skill in his profession, but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in his future career.
In 1820 he left the employ of Mr. Bailey and went to Venezuela, South America, and went into business for himself. He successfully pursued his avocation for several years.
in this new field. In 1838 he returned to his native country, and found a great change had been wrought in the manufacture of clocks and watches. It did not, however, take long for him to adapt himself to new methods and inventions. Mr. Kelley established himself in New Bedford, and for more than half a century has been diligently employed in the business. His clocks have almost a national reputation, and are to be found in many of the households of New England.
When eighty-eight years of age Mr. Kelley made a clock that for finish, style and accuracy is equal to any that ever came from his hand. It is held by one of the family as a treasure and as a sample of the rare skill of this venerable man.
A more important and by far the most profitable invention and discovery of Mr. Kelley was that of a lubricant oil, especially adapted for clocks and watches. This article he produced soon after he took his residence in New Bedford. The superior merits of " Kelley's watch and clock oils " were quickly appreciated, and their use became wider and more general as the years went by. To-day it finds a place in almost every country throughout the world. Mr. Kelley long ago passed the age at which most men cease to work, but he still exercised a vigilant supervision over his business, and thanks to the efficient management of Mr. John Wing, his son-in-law, the article for which he
made a name maintains its high reputation.
His oils were in the recent French Universal Exposition. He has crossed the Atlantic five times, visiting many countries. While Mr. Kelley has made his business life a success, he has not accomplished it at the sacrifice of other things that go to make a well-rounded and useful career. Being a birthright Quaker, he was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying Nancy Simmons, a member of the Methodist Church, with which people he was for many years identified. Mr. Kelley was an anti-slavery man of the most radical type, and it was because of his pronounced opinions on this subject that he withdrew from the Methodist Church.
It was the action of such men as he that precipitated the separation of this body into two organizations — M. E. Church North, and M. E. Church South. In his later years he has rejoined the church of his father, the Friends Meeting.
Mr. Kelley married, January 30, 1823, Miss Nancy Simmons, daughter of Allen and Silence Simmons, of Hingham, Mass. She died in New Bedford, December 9, 1865, at the age of .seventy-one years. They had six children, of which two are living, George S. Kelley and Joanna R., wife of John Wing.
May 12, 1875, he married Abby S. Ellison,daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Wing, of Sandwich.
Ezra Kelley manufactured chronometer, clock and watch oils at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Kelley was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1798, and came to New Bedford in 1818 and engaged in the manufacture of clocks.
KELLEY, EZRA, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dennis, Mass. His genealogical record is as follows: He was the son of Cyrenus and Jerusha Kelley, and was born September 26, 1798. His father, Cyrenus, was born February 19, 1770, and his mother, Jerusha, daughter of Judah and Mary Baker, was born September, 1767.
His grandfather, Hattil Kelley, son of John 0.Kelley, was born in Yarmouth, Mass., April 22, 1720, and died March 8, 1809, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine years. He married Hannah Wing, of Rochester,Mass. But little is known of his great-grandfather, John O. Kelley, except that he came to this country from Ireland and settled on Cape Cod.
Ezra Kelley's father was a sturdy farmer, and like his contemporaries in the days of the American Revolution obtained his living from the hard Cape Cod soil. He belonged to that race of men, who, through the hardships and deprivations of the colonial days, developed a character for self-reliance and unswerving integrity. It was these traits of nobility that he transmitted to his children, an inheritance above the value of gold or earthly treasure.
When Ezra was eighteen years of age he left the paternal roof and sought through his own exertion to make a place for himself in the world. With a natural taste for mechanical art he apprenticed himself to Allen Kelley, of South Yarmouth, Mass., and took his first instruction in clock and watchmaking. Here he obtained sufficient rudimental knowledge to fit hire, after two years' service, to enter the employ of John Bailey at Hanover, Mass, In this new field Mr. Kelley developed not only remarkable
skill in his profession, but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in his future career.
In 1820 he left the employ of Mr. Bailey and went to Venezuela, South America, and went into business for himself. He successfully pursued his avocation for several years.
in this new field. In 1838 he returned to his native country, and found a great change had been wrought in the manufacture of clocks and watches. It did not, however, take long for him to adapt himself to new methods and inventions. Mr. Kelley established himself in New Bedford, and for more than half a century has been diligently employed in the business. His clocks have almost a national reputation, and are to be found in many of the households of New England.
When eighty-eight years of age Mr. Kelley made a clock that for finish, style and accuracy is equal to any that ever came from his hand. It is held by one of the family as a treasure and as a sample of the rare skill of this venerable man.
A more important and by far the most profitable invention and discovery of Mr. Kelley was that of a lubricant oil, especially adapted for clocks and watches. This article he produced soon after he took his residence in New Bedford. The superior merits of " Kelley's watch and clock oils " were quickly appreciated, and their use became wider and more general as the years went by. To-day it finds a place in almost every country throughout the world. Mr. Kelley long ago passed the age at which most men cease to work, but he still exercised a vigilant supervision over his business, and thanks to the efficient management of Mr. John Wing, his son-in-law, the article for which he
made a name maintains its high reputation.
His oils were in the recent French Universal Exposition. He has crossed the Atlantic five times, visiting many countries. While Mr. Kelley has made his business life a success, he has not accomplished it at the sacrifice of other things that go to make a well-rounded and useful career. Being a birthright Quaker, he was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying Nancy Simmons, a member of the Methodist Church, with which people he was for many years identified. Mr. Kelley was an anti-slavery man of the most radical type, and it was because of his pronounced opinions on this subject that he withdrew from the Methodist Church.
It was the action of such men as he that precipitated the separation of this body into two organizations — M. E. Church North, and M. E. Church South. In his later years he has rejoined the church of his father, the Friends Meeting.
Mr. Kelley married, January 30, 1823, Miss Nancy Simmons, daughter of Allen and Silence Simmons, of Hingham, Mass. She died in New Bedford, December 9, 1865, at the age of .seventy-one years. They had six children, of which two are living, George S. Kelley and Joanna R., wife of John Wing.
May 12, 1875, he married Abby S. Ellison,daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Wing, of Sandwich.
Ezra Kelley manufactured chronometer, clock and watch oils at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Kelley was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1798, and came to New Bedford in 1818 and engaged in the manufacture of clocks.
His grandfather, Hattil Kelley, son of John 0.Kelley, was born in Yarmouth, Mass., April 22, 1720, and died March 8, 1809, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-nine years. He married Hannah Wing, of Rochester,Mass. But little is known of his great-grandfather, John O. Kelley, except that he came to this country from Ireland and settled on Cape Cod.
Ezra Kelley's father was a sturdy farmer, and like his contemporaries in the days of the American Revolution obtained his living from the hard Cape Cod soil. He belonged to that race of men, who, through the hardships and deprivations of the colonial days, developed a character for self-reliance and unswerving integrity. It was these traits of nobility that he transmitted to his children, an inheritance above the value of gold or earthly treasure.
When Ezra was eighteen years of age he left the paternal roof and sought through his own exertion to make a place for himself in the world. With a natural taste for mechanical art he apprenticed himself to Allen Kelley, of South Yarmouth, Mass., and took his first instruction in clock and watchmaking. Here he obtained sufficient rudimental knowledge to fit hire, after two years' service, to enter the employ of John Bailey at Hanover, Mass, In this new field Mr. Kelley developed not only remarkable
skill in his profession, but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in but an executive ability that was to be of great service to him in his future career.
In 1820 he left the employ of Mr. Bailey and went to Venezuela, South America, and went into business for himself. He successfully pursued his avocation for several years.
in this new field. In 1838 he returned to his native country, and found a great change had been wrought in the manufacture of clocks and watches. It did not, however, take long for him to adapt himself to new methods and inventions. Mr. Kelley established himself in New Bedford, and for more than half a century has been diligently employed in the business. His clocks have almost a national reputation, and are to be found in many of the households of New England.
When eighty-eight years of age Mr. Kelley made a clock that for finish, style and accuracy is equal to any that ever came from his hand. It is held by one of the family as a treasure and as a sample of the rare skill of this venerable man.
A more important and by far the most profitable invention and discovery of Mr. Kelley was that of a lubricant oil, especially adapted for clocks and watches. This article he produced soon after he took his residence in New Bedford. The superior merits of " Kelley's watch and clock oils " were quickly appreciated, and their use became wider and more general as the years went by. To-day it finds a place in almost every country throughout the world. Mr. Kelley long ago passed the age at which most men cease to work, but he still exercised a vigilant supervision over his business, and thanks to the efficient management of Mr. John Wing, his son-in-law, the article for which he
made a name maintains its high reputation.
His oils were in the recent French Universal Exposition. He has crossed the Atlantic five times, visiting many countries. While Mr. Kelley has made his business life a success, he has not accomplished it at the sacrifice of other things that go to make a well-rounded and useful career. Being a birthright Quaker, he was expelled from the Society of Friends for marrying Nancy Simmons, a member of the Methodist Church, with which people he was for many years identified. Mr. Kelley was an anti-slavery man of the most radical type, and it was because of his pronounced opinions on this subject that he withdrew from the Methodist Church.
It was the action of such men as he that precipitated the separation of this body into two organizations — M. E. Church North, and M. E. Church South. In his later years he has rejoined the church of his father, the Friends Meeting.
Mr. Kelley married, January 30, 1823, Miss Nancy Simmons, daughter of Allen and Silence Simmons, of Hingham, Mass. She died in New Bedford, December 9, 1865, at the age of .seventy-one years. They had six children, of which two are living, George S. Kelley and Joanna R., wife of John Wing.
May 12, 1875, he married Abby S. Ellison,daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Wing, of Sandwich.
Ezra Kelley manufactured chronometer, clock and watch oils at Mount Pleasant. Mr. Kelley was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1798, and came to New Bedford in 1818 and engaged in the manufacture of clocks.
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Siblings
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