J.E. Kelley, McCook's greatest benefactor

When John Kelley died in 1942, Bishop, George Allen Beecher, presided at his funeral at St. Patrick's Church. In his eulogy he honored Mr. Kelley as "The Greatest Community Benefactor to have lived in McCook" -- strong words, as McCook has had a good many citizens over the years who have contributed a good deal to our community.

John Kelley was born in Birmingham, Iowa, in 1862, the son of a merchant. As a boy he worked in his father's store. Though his prospects in Birmingham were favorable, as soon as he turned 16 he abandoned the mercantile/grocery business and left Birmingham. After a short stay in Hastings he landed a position with a law office in Kirwin, Kan., where he was allowed to study law in his free time. After five years with the law firm, he was appointed to the position of Clerk in the local U.S. Land Office, eventually rising to the office of Chief Law Clerk in the Kirwin U.S. Land Office.

On April 17, 1885, Kelley married his wife, Nora, in Phillipsburg, Kan. On the 18th, John and Nora traveled by horse and buggy to McCook, where a job with the U.S. Land Office awaited him. In 1885, McCook was something of a "boom town." In order to take part in the building fury, Kelley sold his horse and buggy and used the money to buy his first piece of property in McCook -- the first of many.

When Kelley arrived in McCook, the U.S. Land Office was located in a small building on land between the present Keystone Hotel and the Fox Theater. It was a very busy place in 1885, with new settlers arriving each day. In 1889, Thomas Colfer, the manager of the Lincoln Land Co. died, and Mr. Kelley was chosen to succeed Colfer as agent for that company. He set up his own office (on the lot where the Keystone Hotel now stands), for the practice of law and the abstracting of land titles.

Note: The Lincoln Land Company was a business that was formed and run by officials of the Burlington Railroad, but operated as a separate entity from the railroad. This company preceded the railroad in its "march to the west," buying up probable town sites along the railroad's right of way (using insider information?). McCook was one of these town sites owned by the Lincoln Land Co. Over time the Lincoln Land Company acquired a tremendous amount of choice land adjacent to the railroad, and could exert a great deal of influence on the railroad's operations. In 1882, as the railroad approached, the Lincoln Land Co. dictated that Fairview, a tiny spot on the banks of the Republican, and located along the railroad's right of way, would be bypassed, in favor of the adjacent, new town of McCook. Later, the Company was able to have the new RR terminal, McCook, chosen as a Division Point for the Burlington line, much to the disappointment of more established cities, like Indianola and Culbertson.

Kelley was a very good Agent for the Lincoln Land Co. in McCook. His practice of law was successful, and he continued to buy and sell property in his own name. He was a shrewd trader, but was known as a scrupulously honest businessman.

Mr. Kelley was a valuable asset to the City of McCook. In addition to being the President of J.E. Kelley and Son, John Kelley was President of 1st Trust Co. of McCook, and President of McCook Co-operative Building and Savings Assn. He was McCook's first City Clerk. Later, he served seven terms as Mayor of McCook. He was one of the organizers and served as the first Secretary of McCook's Chamber of Commerce. He was the second Exalted Ruler of the McCook Elk's Club in 1923, and that year attended the National Elks Convention in Boston.

Mr. Kelley was a very progressive businessman. He installed a line between his office and his home, becoming the first in town to own a telephone, in 1887. He later was an organizer and stockholder in the first McCook Telephone exchange.

Kelley was active in national politics. For many years he served as Chairman of the Red Willow County GOP. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1924, which nominated Calvin Coolidge for the Presidency. In 1925 Kelley acted as official host for President and Mrs. Coolidge on their visit to Omaha.

In 1919 The Lincoln Land Co. decided to pull out of McCook, and John Kelley bought up all of the remaining property that the Company owned in McCook and Red Willow County, immediately making Kelley McCook's and the county's largest landholder. Kelley spent the rest of his life disposing of that property.

Unfortunately, being McCook's largest land owner did not make him McCook's wealthiest citizen. During the 1920s Kelley did well in selling parts of his land holdings to others, even developing some McCook sub divisions himself. However, with the Stock Market crash in '29, the Depression in the '30s, and the war years, 1941-'46, real estate expansion in McCook came to a standstill. Taxes on all his properties continued, however, and for a time threatened to drive Mr. Kelley to bankruptcy.

During his lifetime Kelley gave away a large percentage of his McCook holdings, or sold them for very little money. Thirty-five acres of land along a sleepy little creek north and east of McCook is now Kelley Park. The City Auditorium sits on land that once belonged to John Kelley. Land for McCook College, Weiland Field, and Brooks Dormitory was donated to the McCook School Board by Mr. Kelley. Land for the old Elk's Golf Course, once known as Kelley Country Club, was donated by Kelley. Organizers for the old St. Catherine's Hospital bought their land from Kelley for a token.

Kelley served as a mentor and sounding board for many young people in McCook, dispensing sound, conservative advice, and encouragement. His friendship with Charles McMillen led to the construction of McCook College's first building. Kelley and Charles McMillen's mother talked from time to time after Charles' death. These conversations led to Mrs. McMillen's decision to erect and donate a building, McMillen Hall, to McCook College, as a memorial to her son, in 1935.

John Kelley was one of McCook's leading attorneys in McCook for some 57 years. He and his only son, Charles operated the abstract/real estate business of Kelley and Son.

Charles was especially interested in the real estate end of the business, and was an early promoter of oil wells in the area (before local oil fields had been proved).

John Kelley died in October, 1942. Disposition of most of the Kelley holdings fell to Mr. Kelley's only son, Charles and his grandson, Don Kelley. They sold the McCook School District the land for the present High School, Junior high School, YMCA, and practice football field and track. What is more, they included land adjacent to these entities, so that the district could develop the area around the school and recoup a great deal of the costs associated with the building of the new schools.

Considering Kelley's generous gifts of his time, talent, and valuable property, over a 57 year career, and the effect Kelley had on our city, Bishop Beecher may well have been right in calling Kelley, "McCook's Greatest Community Benefactor."

Source: Gazette Centennial Edition, Trails West, by Ray and Rutledge.