William D. Kelly It is
the men of broad and comprehensive views who give life to communities
and build cities- men who in the darkness of adverse circumstances as well
as in more favorable periods look beyond the clouds and have the pluck
and energy and foresight to push forward their enterprises, extend speculation
and fairly wrest success from calamity. Just such a man is William D. Kelly,
who is the efficient Secretary and Treasurer of Kelly Bros. Manufacturing
Company. He is a native of Michigan, born in Grand Rapids May 15, 1858,
and the son of Daniel and Mary (Clancy) Kelly, both natives of Ireland.
Daniel Kelly, father of the
brothers from whom the company takes its name, removed from Grand Rapids
to Muskegon in 1865. He had encouraged the genius of his sons from their
earliest efforts, and when this firm was formed became the senior partner.
Success achieved by honest industry is proverbial among among Muskegon
manufacturers, and the enterprise of the Kelly brothers is a conspicuous
example of this fact. In the schools of Muskegon our subject received a
good practical education, and besides learning the cabinet-maker's trade
he also learned that of ship-building. In fact, he has proven himself a
genius with tools. His designs are original and of the most unique character,
and no man in Michigan possesses rarer qualities in that direction. He
does all the designing for the extensive works of Kelly Bros.
In schoolboy days, being ambitious
to help themselves, William D. and his brother John built a small ferry-boat
to run on Muskegon Lake, one acting as captain and the other taking charge
of the engine. The venture proved a success, and from their earnings they
were able to build a larger and better boat and finally to launch in their
business career as manufacturers. In 1883 they organized the Kelly Bros.
Manufacturing Company with a capital stock of $40,000, but have increased
it to $60,000. To-day they have an extensive manufactory in Muskegon Heights
and give employment to one hundred and fifty men. Their two-story brick
building has two hundred and sixty-six feet front on McKinney Avenue, extending
back one hundred and fifty feet, giving a floor space of fifty thousand
feet. Their specialty is fine interior decoration and interior finish.
They make all the cases for the Lyon & Healy Organ Company of Chicago,
and the Rigway Refrigerators of Philadelphia, and have filled numerous
extensive contracts for inside finishing, among which may be mentioned
the Hackley Library and many elegant residences in Muskegon, the Cuyahoga
Building in Cleveland, and the recent fitting of the immense refrigerators
in the Hotel Lexington and Hotel Plaza in Chicago. Their lumber sheds and
dry-kilns are extensive and thoroughly equipped. A one hundred and forty
horse power Corliss engine furnishes power for the works, and a one hundred
and fifty incandescent electric light plant is maintained for illuminating.
George N. Cobb After many years spent in the pursuit of diverse
occupations in various States, Mr. Cobb, in 1869, permanently located in
Norton Township, Muskegon County, where he now engages in raising fruit
and also follows the vocation of a general farmer. While his estate is
not large, aggregating about seventy acres, it is well improved and under
excellent cultivation, proving to a close observer the fact that the owner
is a man of sound judgment and intelligence.
Born in Hartford County, Conn., on the 21st of February,
1816, the subject of this sketch is the son of Rev. Amos B. and Mehitable
(Hathaway) Cobb, natives of Connecticut. The father, who was a man of broad
knowledge and eloquence, served for many years in the ministry of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. About 1821 he removed to Massachusetts, where he resided
for four years, and from there proceeded to New York, where he held a number
of pastorates in various places. In 1831 he came to Michigan and became
one of the earliest settlers of Lenawee County. During the following year
he removed to Kalamazoo County and made settlement on Prairie Ronde, where
his death occurred in December, 1876, at the age of eighty-six years. He
was a man of strong character and possessed the perseverance and energy
that had characterized his English ancestors. His wife also died at Prairie
Ronde, passing away about 1855.
In the parental family there were five children:
Alonzo D., who served in the Black Hawk War; George N., of this sketch;
Algernon; David, who died in Wilmington, Ill.: and Fannie, who passed away
while residing in Iowa. The only surviving member of the family is the
subject of this brief notice. He passed the years of childhood and youth
beneath the parental roof, and was a mere lad when he gained a familiarity
with agricultural pursuits by laboring on his father's farm. At the age
of twenty he commenced to work for himself, and for a time was in the employ
of a farmer residing at Ionia, Mich. After working for him during two summer
seasons, he returned to Prairie Ronde, where he stayed one winter.
From Michigan proceeding to Illinois, Mr. Cobb made
the journey via Lake Michigan from St. Joseph to Chicago, and visited the
latter city when it had a population of only eight thousand inhabitants.
From there he went to Boone County, Ill., where he spent one year, working
by the month at anything he could find to do. Next he removed to Wisconsin,
where he spent about three years in the pineries, sixty miles from the
nearest postoffice. Thence returning to Racine County, Wis., he stayed
for ten years there, being occupied principally as a teamster between Milwaukee
and Chicago.
Soon after the close of the Civil War, Mr. Cobb removed
to northwestern Missouri, where he resided until 1869, engaged in farming
pursuits. Coming to Michigan in the year above named, he traded some wild
land in Wisconsin for forty-five acres in Muskegon County, of which about
five acres had been improved. Through diligent exertions and untiring efforts,
he has placed the principal part of his estate under excellent cultivation,
and, although not the largest, it is conceded to be one of the best farms
in Norton Township. Farming has been the principal occupation of his life,
but he has also been otherwise engaged at various times. For fifteen years
he managed and operated a box factory on the bank of Lake Harbor.
The marriage of Mr. Cobb occurred in the town of
Texas, Kalamazoo County, Mich., in 1848, and united him with Miss Helen
Tabor, who was born in New York. She is the daughter of Abram and Eliza
Tabor, early settlers of Kalamazoo County, both of whom resided there until
death. Unto our subject and his wife there were born two children, one
of whom, Lester G., is deceased. The only surviving child is Rush B., who
is now master of a steamboat on Spring Lake. In politics Mr. Cobb has always
been a strong adherent, first of the Whig party and later of the Republican.
His father was also a strong Whig sympathizer and later became a Republican,
but at the time of the nomination of Horace Greeley for the Presidency
he changed his views and gave that famous Democrat his firm allegiance
and his ballot. Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for Henry
Clay. He has served in a number of political capacities, and has been prominent
in the public life of the community. For a time he represented his township
on the County Board of Supervisors, and he has also officiated as Justice
of the Peace. Socially, he has been a member of the Independent Order of
Fellows at Kenosha, Wis., for many years.
Hon. Nelson De Long
At the Bar of the State
of Michigan many men have won brilliant triumphs, but none have attained
a greater fame than that which a just recognition of his talents brings
to Mr. De Long, who is conceded to be the ablest jury lawyer in central
and western Michigan. To him belongs the distinction of having won a larger
number of cases than any attorney in this part of the State. In addition
to his professional labors, he has held with honor various local positions
of trust, and has twice been chosen Mayor of Muskegon. As chief executive
he vigorously promoted the interests of the city and made an enviable record,
which, in connection with other qualities, has contributed to his popularity
throughout the city and county.
A native of Michigan,
our subject was born in Essex, Clinton County, November 6, 1848. His parents,
Nelson and Lydia A. (Ayers) De Long, were widely known and highly esteemed
in the Wolverine State. The father, an industrious man and upright citizen,
was a farmer by occupation and a practical general agriculturist. Emigrating
from the Empire State, he located in Clinton County, where he made his
home until his death, in 1891. He came to Michigan a young man full of
ambition and earnest purpose to win his way in life, and was successful
in his vocation. A pioneer of Clinton County, he shared the privations
of the early days, and clearing, cultivating and improving the land, participated
in the promotion of the farming interests of his adopted State. His beloved
wife; daughter of John Ayers, entered into rest many years before her husband,
passing away in 1874.
Our subject was the
fourth of the seven children, of whom five yet survive. Reared upon the
old homestead in Clinton County, he attended the public schools of Essex
and assisted his father in the care of the farm, devoting a large part
of his time to agricultural pursuits until he had reached nineteen years,
when he enjoyed the benefits of instruction in the Normal School at Maple
Rapids. Having completed his studies in the latter well-known institution,
he taught school for a time and then entered the law department of the
State University at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated March 29, 1871.
He then located in Maple Rapids and began the practice of his profession.
Succeeding as an advocate
at the Bar, Mr. De Long likewise met with public favor, and was elected
Justice of the Peace and also held the important position of Circuit Court
Commissioner. In the month of August, 1873, he removed to Muskegon and
opened an office for the general practice of law. In a brief time he entered
into partnership with Joab Baker, under the firm name of Baker & De
Long, the partnership continued until 1875, when Mr. Baker retired from
the firm. Mr. De Long continued the practice of his profession alone until
1881, when he formed a partnership with William W. and Eugene Fellows,
under the firm name of De Long, Fellows & Fellows. In the fall of 1876,
he was chosen to fill the office of Prosecuting Attorney and served
in that capacity for one term. In 1880 he was reelected, holding the position
until June, 1882, when he resigned. Forming a partnership with F. W. Cook
and Eugene Fellows, under the firm title of Cook, De Long & Fellows,
he conducted his practice in this connection until November 10, 1884.
In the spring of 1882,
Mr. De Long made the race for Mayor on the laboring men's ticket against
a prominent Democrat, who was nominated by the Republicans and Democrats.
Notwithstanding this opposition, he was elected by the handsome majority
of nine hundred and sixty-one votes. In 1883, he was re-elected chief executive
of the city. He formed a law partnership with James O'Hara in 1887, and
the firm continued until August, 1893. In 1887 he was prominently brought
before the people as candidate for Circuit Judge, on the Democratic ticket,
but, the district being overwhelmingly Republican, he suffered defeat.
From 1889 to 1891, he served as Attorney of the city of Muskegon. In 1893
he was again nominated on the Democratic ticket for the position of Judge
of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, composed of Muskegon and Oceana Counties,
and his popularity at home is attested by the fact that he had a majority
of nearly one thousand in Muskegon County. Oceana, however, contributing
to his opponent's majority, secured the defeat of Mr. De Long.
June 27, 1872, occurred
the marriage of Nelson De Long and Miss Jennie L. McCartney, an accomplished
young lady residing in Maple Rapids, Mich., and the daughter of Robert
and Lou (Webster) McCartney. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. De Long was
Lyman Webster, a man of ability and high position. In February, 1890, Mrs.
De Long departed this life, leaving one child, a daughter, Nina L., who
resides with her father in their beautiful home at No. 98 Rawson Street,
Muskegon. Mr. De Long and his daughter occupy a position of distinction
in social circles and enjoy the regard of their acquaintances.
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