E. TN Book: 1893

This book was published in Chattanooga in 1893 by A.D. Smith & Co. We found it digitized on Google courtesy of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. It does contain a couple small inaccuracies (we’ve notated them), but is overall a great little biographical article. J. W. Kelly is mentioned on pages 306 & 307

J. W. Kelly, Esq. — One of Chattanooga’s leading and prominent citizens is the subject of this sketch, Mr. J. W. Kelly, a native of the “Empire State,” having been born and raised there. (Editor’s note: J.W. Kelly was born and raised in Ireland, and immigrated to New York when he was 19 years old.) He came South during the war and located at Nashville, Tennessee, and came to Chattanooga in the year 1866 and opened a retail liquor store, which he has enlarged to a wholesale business.

In 1876 he began a wholesale liquor and cigar trade under the firm name of Kelly & Davenport, which firm existed for fourteen years, building up a large and profitable business. The trade of the house in the Southern States is an extensive one.

Besides conducting this large house, whose transactions are over $50,000 (over $1.5 million in 2021’s value) a year, Mr. Kelly has found leisure to devote to the promotion of the general interests of Chattanooga at home and abroad. He was one of the founders of the Lookout Rolling Mills, and is a stockholder in the same.

He is also a stockholder in the Merchants National Bank, and is interested in other enterprises of the city. Politics have never very profoundly interested him, and he has never sought a public office. (Editor’s Note: Kelly did hold local offices, and held seats on several committees.) He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and takes a lively interest in its workings. He has been usually successful in business, and has, by industry and good management, accumulated a large fortune.

Mr. Kelly has unbounded faith in the South, and especially East Tennessee. He is a very popular man, well known, and is highly respected.