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John S. Kelley, a merchant and planter of Murfreesboro, is a native of Pike
County, born Jauary 8, 1849. His grandfather, Elijah Kelley, was engaged in
farming and preaching the word of God for sixty years. He emigrated from
Tennessee to Illinois, and in 1815 moved to Arkansas, locating in Pike,
where he resumed farming. He was among the first men who represented this
county in the State Legislature. He served as county judge for a number of
years, and died in 1884. Both he and wife were members of the Christian
Church, and Mr. Kelley organized the first church (Christian) in Pike
County. His son, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pike
County, in 1827, and married Miss Priscilla Dickson, in 1847. To this union
were born nine children - six boys and three girls. He was a planter by
occupation, in which vocation he continued until his death, in 1883; his
wife is still residing on the old home place. Mr. Kelley, Sr., was a member
of th Masonic fraternity, Pike Lodge No. 91. Bith he and wife were earnest
members of the Christian Church. The subject of this sketch was reared and
education in Pike County, where he attended the private schools, and at the
age of twenty-eight started in life as a planter. In 1885 he commenced
merchandising with a capital of $600, and now has a capital of $5,000
invested. In 1878 he married Miss Amanda Davis a native of Tennessee. Both
Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are worthy members of the Christian Church, and take a
deep interest in religious matters.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike
County, page 330.
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