DANIEL M. KELLY, a prominent citizen, merchant and farmer, is a native of Morgan County, was born April 8, 1826. He is the elder of two children born to the marriage of JAMES and MELINDA (HALL) KELLY, both natives of Tennessee. The latter was a daughter of MARTIN HALL, who came from North Carolina, and located about six miles north of Wartburg. JAMES KELLY resided on Emory River until 1840, when he went to Missouri. He returned the next year, however, and bought the farm where the subject of this sketch now resides. There he continued to live until the war. He then took up his residence on his son’s farm, that he might better protect his slave property. On December 12, 1863, he was taken prisoner by bushwackers or some other lawless band and brutally murdered. His widow survived him until January 11, 1872. DANIEL M. KELLY remained at home, working on the farm until after his marriage. He then engaged in farming for himself and in 1851 began merchandising, which business, in connection with farming, he still follows. On September 29, 1843, he was united in marriage with MARY J. JONES, who died on December 5, 1877, leaving seven children:RACHAEL (MRS. CALVIN G. JOYNER), ELIZA (MRS. JAMES LANGLEY), MELINDA (MRS. LEVI BRASEL), JAMES B., DANIEL M., JR., WILLIAM C. AND SAMUEL W. Since the death of his first wife, Mr. Kelly married RUTH WILSON. Politically he is a stanch Democrat and socially is a member of the Baptist Church.
Transcribed by Julie Cromwell
Source: History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1887.