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Kelly M.D., John Perry      - GOLDEN COLORADO

Dr. John Perry Kelly, of Golden, Colorado, is not only widely known because of the prominent position to which he has attained in medical circles but also by reason of the important part which he has played in the development of the educational interests of the city and his connection with various plans and projects that have been directly beneficial in the life of the community. He was born in Webster county, Iowa, near Fort Dodge, on the 29th of September, 1858, a son of Dr. James and Minerva Jane (Dowd) Kelly, the former also for many years a well known physician of Golden. The
Kelly family has long been represented in Virginia. There was born James Kelly, the great-grandfather of Dr. Kelly of this review, and his father, both of whom engaged in agricultural pursuits. James Kelly was the owner of a plantation in Morgantown, Monongahela county. He married Jane Dale, also a native of Virginia and of English lineage, and their family included Matthew Kelly, who was born in West Virginia in 1802 and who became the grandfather of Dr. J. P. Kelly. In an early day he removed to Ohio and afterward became a resident of Decatur county, Indiana, in 1839, his home
being there established upon a farm, which continued to be his place of residence until he reached his eighty-sixth year and was called to his final rest. In early manhood he wedded Charity Howard, a native of Elizabethtown. Pennsylvania, who died in Indiana at the age of seventy-six years. She was a daughter of Stephen Howard, who removed from Pennsylvania to the Buckeye state, where his last days were passed. He had served with the American army in the War of 1812.

Dr. James Kelly was the eldest of the twelve children of Matthew and Charity Kelly, his birth having occurred in Ohio on the 31st day of December, 1826. He had two brothers who served in the Civil war, Stephen being a member of an Illinois regiment and David of an Indiana company. It was in the year 1839 that Matthew Kelly removed with his family to Indiana, taking up his abode on a farm in Decatur county, and there Dr. James Kelly pursued a common school education, while later he taught in one of the old-time log schoolhouses of that locality for two years. He regarded this, however, merely as an initial step to other professional labor, for it was his earnest desire to become a medical practitioner and even before taking up the profession of teaching he studied medicine under the direction of Dr. Swem, of Greensburg, Indiana. In 1853 he became a student in the medical department of the State University of Michigan and was there graduated with the M. D. degree in 1854. Removing to Webster county, Iowa, he practiced his profession there until 1S60. when he decided to come to Colorado. He outfitted at Topeka, Kansas, and with an ox team made the trip across the plains to Denver, where he arrived on the 11th of June. For a year he engaged in the practice of medicine at Idaho Springs and in 1861 settled upon a farm on Clear creek, Jefferson county, on which he put one hundred head of cattle. It was his purpose to give his time and attention to stock raising, but soon the demands made upon him for professional skill became so great that he was forced to remove to Golden. Here he opened
an office and it was not long before his practice extended all over Jefferson and into Clear Creek, Arapahoe and Gilpin counties. He also opened a drug store, which he conducted from 1866. In the later years of his life he retired from active practice save that a few families who had long benefited by his services refused to employ any other physician. In these later years, however, much of his practice was already turned over to his son. Dr. John P. Kelly, of this review. Through many years Dr. James Kelly was the loved family physician in many a household of Golden and Jefferson county,
and such was his deep interest in his work and his fellowmen that he never refused to respond to a call even when he knew no pecuniary remuneration would be received. He was a man of deep sympathy and high purpose, honored and respected by all.

Dr. James Kelly was a republican in his political views and in 1866 and 1868 was elected treasurer of Jefferson county. He served for several terms as mayor of Golden and as alderman of the city until he declined to longer continue in office. His fellow townsmen recognized in him one who was most loyal to the public good and whose efforts were of a most practical character in bringing about public progress and improvement. He was very prominent in Masonic circles, taking all of the degrees up to the York Rite and becoming a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.

Dr. John Perry Kelly was but eighteen months old when the family home was established in Colorado and his early education therefore was acquired in the public schools of Golden, in which he passed through consecutive grades to the high school. As a student in the University of Michigan he won the degree of Pharmaceutical Chemist and in the spring of 1S81 that of M. D. Returning to Colorado, he was superintendent of the old Arapahoe County Hospital for a year and he practiced for about six months in Denver. On the expiration of that period he again came to Golden, where he has
since remained in active and successful practice. The name of Kelly is inseparably interwoven with the history of the medical profession in Jefferson county and has ever been a synonym for the highest standards and ideals of professional work. Dr. Kelly has constantly broadened his knowledge by reading and study and has furthermore kept in touch with the trend of modern professional thought and progress as a member of the Denver County Medical Society, the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

In Golden, on the 4th of May, 1886, Dr. Kelly was married to Miss Addie Bisher, a daughter of Abraham and Cicily (McCutcheon) Bisher, the latter a native of Pennsylvania. To Dr. and Mrs. Kelly have been born two daughters and a son. Elizabeth May is the wife of John Charles Williams, a mining engineer, who is a graduate of the School of Mines of Colorado and is now assistant director of the experimenting plant. James married Juanita Smith and is operating a large ranch, five miles from Golden.

Addie, the youngest of the family, is the wife of the Rev. Don F. Fenn, of Canon City, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have a daughter, Elizabeth Jane, and Rev. and Mrs. Fenn have a son, Don Perry.

With the public interests of Golden Dr. Kelly has been closely and prominently associated. He was president of the school board when the high school was erected and for eighteen years was a member of the board of trustees of the Colorado School of Mines, serving as president of the board from 1903 to 1911, and he has been active in erecting all of the new buildings. He has served as county health officer and as county coroner and was physician for the Colorado Industrial School for sixteen years. He is likewise a director of the Rubey National Bank. He has in his possession the Bible which was used in swearing in the first territorial officials of Colorado, his father having been a member of the territorial legislature in the fall of 1863. Fraternally Dr. Kelly, like his father, is a prominent Mason, having membership in Golden Lodge, No, 1, A. F. & A. M.; Golden Chapter, No. 5. R. A. M.; Colorado Commandery, No. 1, K. T., of Denver; and El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a life member of the Scottish
Rite Masons and has membership relations with Central City Lodge, No. 558, B. P. O. E.

History of Colorado, Vol. 3, by Stone, Wilbur Fiske (1833-1920), ed., c. 1918-19, pp. 733-735
Kennedy, John G.

John G. Kennedy, deceased, was for a considerable period actively associated with farming- interests in Arapahoe county, near Aurora. He was born in Ireland on the 24th of June, 1S44, a son of John and Mary (Gleason) Kennedy, both of whom were natives of the Emerald isle. The mother died in her native land, but the father afterward came to America, crossing the Atlantic in 1864, at which time he took up his abode in Hancock, Michigan. He there resided for five years and in 1869 removed to Colorado, settling in Denver, where his remaining days were passed.

John G. Kennedy spent the period of his minority in the green isle of Erin and was a young man of twenty years when he accompanied his father on the emigration to the new world. He also came to Colorado with him and in Georgetown, this state, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Curtin, who was born in New York, a daughter of Charles and Katherine (Ryan) Curtin, who were also natives of Ireland. Coming to the new world, they established their home in the Empire state, where they continued to reside until called to their final rest. Their family numbered eleven children.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy began their domestic life in Georgetown, where they lived for seven years and then removed to a ranch in Arapahoe county, upon which Mr. Kennedy continued until he passed away in the year 1902. His business interests were extensive and of a most important character. Adding to his possessions from time to time, he acquired thirty-four hundred acres of land and as the years passed carried on stock raising extensively. He carefully studied the needs of the stock and knew just what breeds of cattle and horses were best adapted to climatic conditions here. He was very thorough in all that he did. painstaking in all of his business affairs and possessed excellent executive ability combined with unfaltering energy and enterprise These qualities therefore won him substantial success as the years passed.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy were born six children: John W.; Mary F., who is a high school graduate and has been successfully engaged in teaching for thirteen years; Patrick E.; Katherine, deceased; Helen N., who Is a high school graduate and is also teaching; and Ruth W., who is a graduate of the Sacred Heart high school. The family are all members of the Catholic church, of which Mr. Kennedy was an adherent. Mrs. Kennedy still owns seventeen hundred acres of the land acquired by her husband and carefully and wisely manages her business interests. Almost a half century has passed since the family home was established in Colorado and throughout the intervening period the name of Kennedy has been a synonym for progressiveness along agricultural and stock raising lines. Mr. Kennedy, passing away in the year 1902, left behind him a large circle of friends who entertained for him warm regard and high esteem because of his well spent life, his intelligently directed activity and his fidelity to every trust reposed in him.

History of Colorado, Vol. 4, by Stone, Wilbur Fiske (1833-1920), ed., c. 1918, pp. 41-42
Kuehn, Ferdinand

Ferdinand Kuehn is now living retired from active business, although for many years he was closely associated with ranching interests in the vicinity of Denver, being numbered among the leading farmers of Arapahoe county. He was born in Schoenlanke, Prussia, on the 2d of July, 1832, and is a son of David Kuehn, who was a prominent citizen of his town, serving as treasurer there for thirty-five years. He passed away in 1863, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Carolina Leu, died when their son, Ferdinand, was but twenty-seven days old. She also left a daughter, who is now Mrs. Amalia Mittelstadt,

In the land of his birth Ferdinand Kuehn spent the days of his boyhood and youth and after pursuing a public school education he entered the army, serving for two years between the ages of eighteen and twenty under his uncle, Captain August Leu. He afterward determined to try his fortune in the new world and when twenty-four years of age took passage on the steamship Oder, under Captain Swanson, and sailed for America. Making his way to Chicago, he continued a resident of the city for a year and then removed to St. Louis, where he remained until he received his naturalization papers. In 1861 he went to Wyoming and was connected with the Ben Holliday stage line for a year, after which he again went to his native country, spending almost a year in visiting among old-time friends and relatives there. He returned to America about the time that gold was first discovered in Montana and for three years remained in the mines of that state, after which he engaged in freighting between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Montana for a year.

On the expiration of that period Mr. Kuehn removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and was engaged in freighting from that point to Denver until the fall of 1866, when he became a resident of Colorado. Settling at Sand Creek, he removed the following year to a ranch about fourteen miles from Denver, which he still owns and which he occupied for many years. He there engaged in raising stock and hay and as time passed he added many improvements to his place and converted it into an attractive and valuable farm. At length, however, he retired from active business, turning his farm over to the management and care of his nephew, Fred L. Amick, while he is now enjoying the rest that he has earned.

In 1882 Mr. Kuehn was married to Miss Helene Wolter, a daughter of Peter Wolter, who was a teacher of Germany and did not cross the Atlantic to the new world until he reached advanced age.

Mr. Kuehn gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been a reader of the New York Tribune since 1868. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and for a number of years he served on the school board of his district. He has a wide acquaintance in Colorado, where he has now lived for more than half a century, witnessing throughout this extended period the continuous growth and development of the state and taking active interest in all that is accomplished in connection with the progress and upbuilding of the section in which he lives. For many years he was a most active and energetic farmer and his success was the direct result of persistent and earnest labor, his life record indicating what may be accomplished through individual effort.

History of Colorado, Vol. 4, by Stone, Wilbur Fiske (1833-1920), ed., c. 1918, pp. 754-755
Lilley, Hon. John G.

Hon. John G. Lilley, deceased, left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the history of the state, not only by reason of his active and prominent connection with agricultural interests but also as a legislator and as a factor in the development of the state along many other beneficial lines. His life record, therefore, should find a prominent place upon the pages of Colorado's history.

A native of England, John G. Lilley was born at Gillsboro on the 12th of June, 1833, his parents being John and Ann (Buck) Lilley, who were born at North Gillsboro, England. About 1847 they removed from their farm at that place to Birkenhead, Cheshire, where the father engaged in the laundry business until his death In 1886, having for three years survived his wife, who died in 1883. Both were members of the Church of England.

John G. Lilley was a youth of fourteen when the family home was established in Cheshire and for six years he was employed in the Birkenhead market. On reaching the age of twenty he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the new world, attracted by the business opportunities which he believed he might secure on this side of the Atlantic. He spent a few days in Portland, Maine, and then went to New Brunswick, where he remained for ten days, after which he changed his plans and shipped as a steward on a vessel bound for Ireland. He remained on the Emerald isle for six weeks, while the vessel was anchored in Cork, after which he returned to his home in England and devoted a year to the butchering business. At the end of
that time he once more crossed the Atlantic, landing at Boston, Massachusetts, whence he made his way to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the butchering business from 1854 until 1860. In the latter year he came to Colorado and settled in Denver, which was then a little mining town. For two years he devoted his attention to prospecting in the mountains and in 1S62 purchased the farm whereon he continued to reside from that date until his demise. His purchase, made in February, 1862, established his ownership to one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the town of Littleton. As the years passed and lie prospered he added to his holdings until within the boundaries of his place were comprised three hundred and eighty acres.
At a later period, however, not wishing to have the care of so extensive a property, he sold all but one hundred and fifty acres of his land. He not only most progressively developed his farm property and met with substantial success in that undertaking but also became one of the builders of the Rough and Ready grist mill in 1868. This mill soon won the reputation of manufacturing the finest flour in the state, and for years its products were shipped as far east as Boston, commanding the highest prices on the market. Twice during Mr. Lilley's connection with the mill the plant was destroyed by fire but was immediately rebuilt. He also became the senior partner in the firm of Lilley & Coberly, which took extensive contracts for supplying ties for the
building of the Kansas Pacific Railroad. These ties were secured on the Divide and taken to the territory between Littleton and Sheridan. In executing his contracts Mr. Lilley utilized forty wagons, each drawn by seven yoke of oxen, for hauling over the trail. These oxen, together with much other live stock, were stolen and driven off by the Indians, the herder escaping the red-skins by hiding in a dug-put. A man of marked business enterprise, Mr. Lilley never faltered in the accomplishment of his purpose and in his vocabulary there was no such word as fail. When one avenue of opportunity seemed closed he recognized the fact that he could carve out other paths whereby he might reach the desired goal and as the years went on he carefully and wisely directed liis business efforts with tlie result that he won most substantial success in that connection.

Mr. Lilley was always a republican and when the currency question became a paramount issue he stood with the silver wing of the party. He was for more than a quarter of a century president of the school board in his district and in 1872 his fellow townsmen sent him as their representative to the state legislature, where he took a most active part in supporting those measures which he believed would be of benefit to the commonwealth. He was particularly earnest in his advocacy of legislation having to do with the cattle industry in the state. In 1879 he became county commissioner of Arapahoe county and served most capably in that position for three years. He was familiar with every phase of pioneer life and experiences and in 1864 became captain of a company that was organized to protect life and property from the raids of the Indians. This company was called into active service in 1868 to suppress the Utes and Cheyennes, who had been most troublesome. At all times Mr. Lilley took a most active and helpful part in promoting every movement or project for the benefit and welfare of community, commonwealth and country. He was a progressive citizen, highly honored because of his sterling personal worth, and when death called him in April, 1909, his loss was deeply felt by many friends as well as
by his immediate family.

It was in 1855 that Mr. Lilley returned to England, where on Christmas day he was married to Miss Louise Ann Hay, after which he brought his bride to his new home. He was at that time residing in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Some time later they came to Colorado, where Mrs. Lilley remained until called to her final rest on the 7th of May, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Lilley became the parents of ten children: William H., a resident of Jefferson, Colorado; Anna, deceased; Maggie, the wife of Frank Soper; Fred; Lucy, who has also passed away; Harry; Marcia L., the wife of Charles Watlington; Josepha,
the wife of J. Sherman Brown; Benjamin E.; and John G.

In 1898 Mr. Lilley was again married, his second union being with Miss Alice James, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Leroy B. and Sarah (Tilton) James, both of whom were natives of Missouri. The mother died in that state and the father afterward came to Colorado, where he passed away in 1909. They had a family of nine children, three of whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Lilley was born a daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of Earl Radcliffe, of Littleton.

Mrs. Lilley is a highly educated woman who was graduated from the high school at Louisiana, Missouri, and taught in that state for several years. She then came to Colorado and was a teacher in Littleton, acting as assistant principal of the high school of that place for a decade prior to her marriage. She afterward took up the dairy business, in which she still continues and she is now conducting a most extensive business, having a herd of one hundred and fifty cows. The product is sold at wholesale in Denver, averaging two hundred gallons per day throughout the year. She has all the latest dairy equipment, such as milking machine and everything found in a first-class dairy establishment. Her ranch comprises one hundred and fifty acres
of fine bottom land, all of which is irrigated. There are two large silos upon the place, eighteen by forty feet. She utilizes two big motor trucks to deliver milk in Denver. Another attractive feature of the farm is a fine orchard containing various kinds of fruit. She is extensively engaged in raising corn and alfalfa, and all of the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of plowing, planting and harvesting is found upon her place. There are also large poultry buildings and she is making a specialty of raising fine chickens. In addition to her ranch property she owns many valuable building lots in the village of Littleton and a fine residence there. She is also a stockholder in the Nevada Irrigation Company, which has one of the best water rights in the state.

Mrs. Lilley's literary talent in her younger years was manifest in the writing of several fine poems, but her extensive business affairs at present leave her little opportunity for activity of that kind. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and she has exercised a widely felt and beneficial influence in the community along lines of moral and cultural development. Her efforts during her labors in the educational field, were not limited to the curriculum of the school room but were broad enough to include the all important feature of character building and moral worth. She was largely instrumental in securing the establishment of a public library in Littleton, having been one of the original committee of three, chosen for that purpose. She also sponsored, and brought about, the organization of a literary society among the pupils of the high school, and was president of the Reading Club, an organization which was the nucleus of the Woman's Club of today. In looking back over the past, with due consideration, and giving credit for the part she has had in community building, it is difficult, if not wholly impossible, to accurately gauge the exact extent ot her influence in moulding the minds and shaping the characters of the boys and girls who came under her influence as pupils, and who have become the active men and women of
today, many of whom, freely acknowledge to her in person, their gratitude for her interest in their welfare. A lady of splendid traits of heart and mind as well as of marked business ability, she commands the highest respect of all and those who know her are proud to call her friend.

History of Colorado, Vol. 4, by Stone, Wilbur Fiske (1833-1920), ed., c. 1918, pp. 49-53