Dubuque County >> 1894 Index
Jones County
Clayton County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties
Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Becky Teubner.

THOMAS KELEHER, who is now living a retired life in the enjoyment of a well earned competency and is a resident of Elkader, is a son of the Emerald Isle, coming of one of those enterprising Irish families who have accomplished so much in the development and upbuilding of Clayton County. He is one of the honored pioneers of these parts, having settled within the limits of the county in 1855.

The birth of our subject occurred in Waterford County, Ireland, in 1833, and of that country his father, Tobias, was also a native. The family removed to America in 1848, when Thomas Keleher was a lad of fifteen years, and their first location was in New York City. The father's death occurred in Clayton County, His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Mulvey, and both parents were adherents of the Catholic Church, Mrs. Keleher died in Clayton County.

Thomas Keleher came to Clayton County in 1855 and soon after settled on a farm in Boardman Township, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, improving and greatly increasing the value of his property. For about thirty-five years he continued to operate his farm, which is one of the most desirable in the township and which is still in the possession of our subject. The place comprises two hundred and forty acres of good land, which is improved with fences, desirable residence, barns and outbuildings. In 1891 Mr. Keleher retired from the active and arduous duties pertaining to running a farm and since that time has been a resident of the city. In 1860 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mary Direen, who departed this life on January 19, 1878, leaving four sons and one daughter, who in order of birth are as follows: William, Jeremiah, Frank, Edward and Anna. Thomas Keleher married his present wife in 1881. Prior to this her name was Anna Roach, and by this union one son and three daughters have been born, namely: John, Mary, Stella and Chloe. The parents are zealous workers in the Catholic Church, in the faith of which they are rearing their children and they are also giving them the benefits of a good education. Thomas Keleher, who is favorably known in Clayton County, has actively participated in its improvement; he has also been industrious and enterprising, attending strictly to his own affairs, By these means he has succeeded in acquiring ample means for providing himself and family with the necessities of life. Commencing at the bottom round of the ladder he worked upward step by step, and by persevering energy and well directed efforts acquired his large and valuable property. In regard to his polities he is a Democrat, using his influence and voting for the support of that party.

JAMES KELLY is a representative of the mercantile interests of Dubuque, being the senior member of the firm of Kelly & Son dealers in books, stationery and periodicals. They have a well appointed store, equipped with everything found in a first-class establishment of the kind, and carry a large and well assorted stock of books and stationery, together with all the latest periodicals. The members of the firm are pleasant, genial gentlemen, who try earnestly to please their customers, and by their courteous treatment and honorable dealing they have won a liberal patronage. Mr. Kelly, whose name heads this record, is a native of the Emerald Isle, and attended the public schools of that country until sixteen years of age. In the spring of 1852 he sailed for the United States, hoping to find here a home and fortune. For two years he lived with an uncle at Lancaster, Pa., and attended the high school. For two years he engaged in clerking in a general store owned by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Pennsylvania Railroad Company, On the expiration of that period he determined to continue his journey westward, and in accordance with this resolution came to Dubuque, where for two years he was employed as a salesman by the firm of McGuire & Co., dealers in books and stationery. In 1853 he began business for himself on a small scale, opening a news stand which he stocked with periodicals and home newspapers. He was the first man to establish a news stand in the state. His business increased with the growth of the city's population, and he added a stock of books and stationery. He is now one of the oldest news and book dealers, in years of continuous business, in the state, He counts his customers by the hundreds, for his courteous treatment always insures the continuance of patronage when once obtained. His store is located at No. 747 Main Street, and is 21x70 feet in dimensions.

In 1865 Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Miss Katie Fitzpatrick, daughter of John Fitzpatrick, an old and highly respected citizen of Dubuque, who came hither in 1840. Unto our subject and his wife have been born seven children, five sons and two daughters, namely: three boys who died when young; Clermont D., who is now clerking in Chicago; Joseph T., who is now associated with his father in business, under the firm name of James Kelly & Son; and Mary and Isabel, who are yet at home. Mr. Kelly and his family are all members of St. Raphael's Catholic Church.

They reside at No. 394 Bluff Street, and their home is noted for its hospitality, its doors being ever open for the reception of their many friends. They are highly esteemed, and with pleasure we present to our readers this record of their lives. Mr. Kelly is a self-made man, who entered upon his business career at an early age in the humble capacity of a clerk. Thus he labored until he had acquired a sum sufficient to establish a small news stand, when he began business for himself. Steadily has he worked his way upward, and his resolution, enterprise and perseverance have brought him well merited success.

MICHAEL KENNEDY

For about forty years the subject of this sketch has been intimately connected with the growth and development of Clayton County, as he settled on a farm in Volga Township in the early days of its history, the land being then but little broken and there being few settlements within its limits. For ten years he engaged in improving and cultivating his farm, making it one of the valuable ones of the township; he never spared his energy in any direction when he believed it might be directed to the advantage of his place. In 1866 he retired to some extent from active cares, removing his family to Elkader, where he resided for three years.

A native of Ireland, Mr. Kennedy was born in County Tipperary September 26, 1816, being a son of Michael and Jude (Stapleton) Kennedy, also natives of the Emerald Isle. In the schools of his native land he acquired a good general education and there continued to make his home for many years after reaching his majority. In 1844 he carried into effect a resolution which had been growing within him for some time to seek his fortune in the United States, and therefore he set forth in one of the slow sailing-vessels of that period and in due course of time arrived in New York City. Going to Syracuse, N. Y., he made that city his place of abode for a period of ten years, when in 1854 he departed for the west and for one year was a resident of Dubuque, this state, after which, as previously stated, he came to this county.

About 1860 Mr. Kennedy went to Highland Township and there conducted a farm until 1894, when he once more retired to make his home in Elkader. His hard-earned money, which he has acquired through years of honest and industrious effort, he has invested mainly in real estate. He has never regretted the fact that he decided to cast in his lot with the inhabitants of this favored region for his efforts have been blessed with success far beyond his expectations, and he has laid up ample means whereby to spend in comfort his declining years.

In 1848, while a resident of Syracuse, N. Y., Mr. Kennedy married Miss Catherine Burke, who was called from this life in the spring of 1855, leaving five children to mourn her loss. In the latter part of 1855 our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Mooney, who was a faithful and devoted helpmate and companion to her husband for about thirty-five years. She departed this life on the 7th of August, 1891, leaving many loving friends, who deeply lamented her loss. In politics Mr. Kennedy is independent, preferring not to be bound by party ties but to vote for the man whom he considers best qualified in every way to carry out the wishes of the people.

JACOB KERPER, a leading and wealthy merchant of New Vienna, was born in the small village of Welschbillig, near Treir, in the kingdom of Prussia, August 26, 1848. Since 1879 he has been Postmaster at New Vienna, and since 1875 has been School Treasurer. In the various enterprises and interests of this locality he has ever taken a prominent part, and was one of the incorporators of the Dyersville German State Bank, of which he is Vice-President and Director. He is an example of the American self-made man, one who is upright and honest in all his dealings. By his sterling qualities he has won the confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, and his large fortune has been made by the exercise of his supe­rior commercial qualifications, his transactions be­ing marked by the utmost sincerity and honesty of purpose. Such a man is a credit to any country or locality, and it is with pleasure that we record his Mr. Kerper is the second in the family of five sons, whose parents were John and Mary (Wertz) Kerper. Bernard is a leading farmer of Dubuque County; Mathias is at Granville, Iowa; Michael died in New Vienna in 1883, at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving a wife and one child; Antoine is in the mercantile business at Petersburg, Iowa. The father of these children was a farmer in his native land and in 1852 came to America, settling on a farm on the then almost wild prairie of this county. He became a leading farmer in the township of New Wine, and there both he and his worthy wife are still making their home. Our subject grew to mature years much as did other boys on the western prairies, working on the farm and attending the district school. When he had attained his seventeenth year he entered Epworth College, where he continued his studies for two years, after which we find him for a like period a teacher in the public schools of the county. He again returned to school, completing his college education in 1868. In the fall of the following year he entered a general store at Farley, Dubuque County, as a clerk, remaining as such until 1872, when he came to New Vienna. In a like capacity he was employed in a store for two years, but as he was of ambitious mettle he would not long be con­tented with a subordinate position. There are some men fitted to lead and guide others, and Mr. Kerper is one of this stamp. His integrity and ability were recognized by his em­ployer, and as the latter wished to retire from busi­ness, he sold the entire stock to young Kerper on time. The latter thus set about making for him­self a fortune. Being possessed with a strong determination to succeed, it was not long until he had the entire debt paid, and since then has made rapid strides in the financial world. In 1880 he purchased the site of his present large establishment and erected the extensive building where he now does business. The store is, without a doubt, the best in the county outside of the city of Dubuque, and would do credit to even that metropolis. In the year 1878 Miss Mary Ann Meyer became the wife of our subject. Mrs. Kerper is the daugh­ter of George Meyer, for many years a leading farmer and now living a retired life in this village. Six living children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kerper, George, the eldest, was born May 26,1875, and was educated at Buffalo, N. Y., where he was graduated in June, 1892; he is now employed in his father's store, Mary Frances died July 1, 1876, when in infancy; Magdelina, born May 20, 1876, died September 2, 1878; Mathias, whose birth oc­curred March 8, 1880, died March 12, 1888; Ber­nard was born March 4, 1879; Annie Geneva, January 8, 1882; Agnes Lena, October 2, 1883; Nicholas Otto, December 16, 1884; Mathias Edmund, February 8, 1886; Oscar Joseph, born in January, 1891, died the following February. In his political faith our subject is a Democrat. He is an exemplary member of the Catholic Church and is a member of the Catholic Mutual Protective Association. In the Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Dubuque he is serving as Director.