A black background with a white cursive signature that reads 'Olivia.'

J.W. Kelly was born on February 26, 1844 in Waterford, Ireland to Henry & Eliza (Watt) Kelly.

When he was eight years old, his family moved to Dublin where he received a business education, specifically in the wholesale wine trade.

A sepia-toned photograph of a man with a mustache, wearing a formal military-style jacket with epaulets, sitting in a decorated room with intricate wallpaper and furniture.

1844

In February 1863, Kelly emigrated to New York. He’d heard of the booming whiskey business in Nashville, Tennessee and decided to move there in 1864. His first job in Nashville was in the book and stationery business. Kelly also entered into the liquor trade, rectifying and selling his own brands.

Black and white photo of a historic building with arched windows and towers, viewed across a body of water with trees on either side.

1863 - 1864

In September 1866, Kelly stopped in Chattanooga. He began his own company, which included Kelly Tobacco Company, and founded Deep Springs Distillery. Kelly also partnered with Alabama grocer J.G. Webb. Their partnership dissolved in 1876.

Old sepia-toned photo showing a brick building labeled 'J. W. SHERY & CO.' with advertisements for whiskey on the facade, next to a water tower and wooden utility poles.

1866

The Read House opens across the street from Kelly’s office building at 13-15 W Ninth Street. Kelly owned the bar, the billiards, the cigar shop, and one restaurant within the Read House. Read more about the lengthy history between JWK & The Read House.

Historical black-and-white advertisement for a passenger train service to Chattanooga, Tennessee, with the heading 'READ HOUSE.'

1872

Kelly partnered with George W. Davenport near the end of 1876. They retained the tobacco and whiskey business, bought and sold real estate, and were prominent landlords for stores and private homes. G.W. Davenport retired from the firm in July 1890.

Close-up of a handwritten old-fashioned invoice or receipt showing a signature and some cursive text.

1876 - 1889

In 1900, Kelly brought in a new vice president, Carl White.

In December 1892, Kelly was named one of the One Hundred Men Who Have Done Much for Chattanooga. He was the only distiller on the list.

A historical newspaper article about J. W. Kelly from Chattanooga Daily Times, dated December 8, 1892. The page features a portrait sketch of J. W. Kelly with his name underneath, and surrounding it are small oval portraits of various men.

1890 - 1906

J.W. Kelly passed away on March 10, 1907. His wife, Elizabeth “Lizzie”, followed him months later, on November 7. The Kelly’s are interred together in Forest Hills Cemetery, Chattanooga, Section K, Lot 74.

Gravestone with inscriptions, situated outdoors among trees and greenery.

1907

In 1909, the Tennessee legislature passed the Holladay Bill; which forbid the sale of liquor within four miles of any school in the state. The second law passed that day prohibited the manufacture of intoxicating beverages. The company also divided into 2 divisions: J.W. Kelly & Co. and Kelly Tobacco Company. Kelly Tobacco Company would be sold several times between 1914 and 1919.

In February 1911, Henry Kraver sold one-half interest in the Kentucky Peerless Distilling Plant to Carl White for $40,000 ($1.17 million in 2022).

A vintage black and white illustration of a distillery complex, labeled as J. W. Kelly & Co. Distillers in Kentucky, including multiple buildings and a surrounding landscape.

1908 - 1916

J.W. Kelly & Co moved production to Henderson, KY. The company moved out of the building at 13-15 W. Ninth Street and sold non-alcoholic beverages in Tennessee.

When the 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919, J.W. Kelly & Co. ceased operations.

Black and white vintage advertisement for Milo, a non-alcoholic drink, featuring a cartoon man wearing a hat and suspenders, carrying a basket with bottles and a dog walking beside him. Text reads "The Drink You'll Like Milo Non-Alcoholic Have You Tried It?" and provides contact information for J. W. Kelly & Co. distributors in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

1917 - 1919

Prohibition forced the closure of the whiskey company who, by then, had only 1 member left on the board: Carl White. He retired and moved to California, where he passed away. Deep Spring Distillery was demolished in 1927.

Historical black and white photograph of a distillery building with signs reading "J.W. Kelly & Co," "Registered Distillery No. 7," "Second District Tenn.," and "Deep Spring Whiskey."

1920 - 1927

Kelly Tobacco Company changed hands (and names) many times. In 1956, the company was purchased by the Witt Group.

In 1962, Kelly Cigar Company joined the Hav-A-Tampa Group. Kelly Tobacco Company closed its doors in 1963, three years shy of its 100th anniversary.

Vintage advertisement for Kelly Cigar & Tobacco Co. wholesale cigars, confectionery, and tobacco, located at 1433 Market Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee, with telephone number 6-6206.

1928 - 1964

After the distillery was demolished in 1927, the only remaining building that Kelly built was the office at 13-15 W. Ninth Street. This building was the first steel structure built in Chattanooga. It changed hands - and addresses - several times, but the building was finally demolished in the early 1980’s.

Black and white aerial photograph of a downtown street scene, showing buildings, a park with walkways, and a train passing on a curved railway track.

1965 - 1980’s

In 2017, Keeper's Quest re-launched the J.W. Kelly & Co brand and revived Kelly's original whiskey recipe. Work still continues to preserve not only the legacy of Kelly's whiskey but also of the man himself.

You can read more about J.W. Kelly on his Wikipedia page; created and maintained by our Kelly Historian.