BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 589-590.

HARRY M. KELLY, secretary of the Belmont Glass company, and the youngest
and one of the most prominent glass men in the Ohio valley, was born
in Muskingum county, Ohio, in 1864, the son of James A. and Martha
(Peairs) Kelly, who were both natives of that county. James was the
son of Albert Kelly, a native of that part of Virginia, which is now
the state of West Virginia. He came to Muskingum county at an early
date, being one of the pioneers of that county. He was a farmer.
James received but a limited education in the schools of his native
county and then followed in his father's footsteps as a tiller of
the soil. He died in 1871. His widow and six of the nine children
born to them still survive. Harry, Kelly, attended the common schools,
afterward entering Muskingum college, he also took a commercial course
in the Eastman Business college, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which
he entered the employ of the Appleton Publishing company, of Cincinnati,
with whom he remained but a short time. In 1884 he came to Bellaire,
accepting the position of assistant book-keeper of the AEtna Glass
company, but was soon compelled to relinquish this place on account
of the strike of that year. After being forced from his position by
the strike, Mr. Kelly connected himself with the B. & O. R. R. company,
serving that company as ticket agent, collector and freight clerk, for
two years. In January, 1887, he was tendered the position of book-keeper
for the company of which he is now the secretary. Mr. Kelly kept the
books and also acted in the capacity of traveling salesman until
August, 1889, when he was elected to fill the place vacated by W. F.
Snively. The Belmont Glass company is one of the oldest glass works
on the Ohio side of the river, having been organized in 1866, under
the name of Barnes, Faupel & Co., and was not incorporated until
two years later, when it became the Belmont Glass company. Mr. Kelly
is a K. of P. and a loyal republican. Although a young man, he fills
the responsible office he holds with as much ability as any man in a
similar position in the Ohio valley.