Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer

Wellington County, Ontario GenWeb - Pioneer - KELLY, Charles W

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Pioneer - KELLY, Charles W.

Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County

Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906

KELLY, Charles W ., one of the prominent business men of Guelph, is a son of the late J. W. B. Kelly and Eliza A. Frederick. The late J. W. B. Kelly was b. in Wentworth Co., Ont. He came to Guelph in 1842, and built and operated the first cabinet factory in the town, which was situated near the Eramosa bridge, and in its time was one of the principal industries of Guelph. For some years the family occupied the Priory, during which time Methodist ministers frequently held service there; this was before the Methodist church had been built in Guelph. Mr. Kelly was very active in church matters, holding the different church offices, and was class leader for over fifty years. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him. In after years he purchased a farm near the city limits, and later he retired to Guelph, where he died. His wife is also dead.

Charles W. Kelly , b. in Guelph, was educated at the public school and Collegiate Institute. In 1881 he embarked in the organ business, with small capital and in a limited way. He was one of the first to sell the Bell organ, and confined himself exclusively to the local output of the Bell Organ Co., and eventually controlled the whole retail piano and organ trade of that establishment for Guelph, South Wellington and Halton. His new and palatial store on Upper Wyndham Street, Guelph is said to be the best retail music store, both in size, appointments, variety, and quality of goods carried, in the Province, outside of Toronto, and is the only music store in the city. Mr. Kelly, while never aspiring to municipal honors, has always taken an active interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the city. He has been twelve years a member of the Board of Education, and was Chairman in 1903. He is Vice-President of the Trustee section of the Ontario Educational Association and President of the Guelph Retail Merchants' Association. He is a Conservative in politics, and a member of the Dublin Street Methodist Church, where he is Treasurer. He m. Miss Submit Belfry. Issue: Ina M., Governor - General Medal graduate of the Ontario Ladies College; Charles B., medical student in Toronto; and Fred B., teller in the Sovereign Bank, Berlin.

From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto:Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906