California Biographies, Santa Cruz County.
EDWARD J. KELLY. 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

Source:
History of Santa Cruz County, California 
Pacific Press Publishing Company
San Francisco, Cal. 1892
By E. S. Harrison 

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
 

EDWARD J. KELLY. 

The first member of this branch of the Kelly family to locate in the United States was Eugene Kelly, one of four 
brothers, and a grand-uncle of Edward J. Kelly, who came to this country from Ireland in the early part of the nine- 
teenth century, and ultimately became one of the first landowners in the Pajaro valley, Santa Cruz county, Cal. A man 
of penetration and possessing a keen business understanding, he grasped opportunities as they presented themselves and 
in time became a prominent factor in the upbuilding of his community. His abilities however were not confined to this 
locality, but extended to San Francisco, where he was the founder of the wholesale dry goods establishment of Murphy 
& Grant and one of the founders of the Donohoe-Kelly Bank, also the founder of the Eugene Kelly Co. Bank, of New York 
City. 

The father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, Edward Kelly, was also a native of the Emerald 
Isle. In young manhood he immigrated to the United States, and for a time made his home in Illinois, but finally came 
to California. Returning to New York City from Illinois, he embarked on a vessel bound for the west, and after a 
voyage attended with the usual experiences and hardships he finally reached the Pajaro valley in 1850. He at once 
entered upon a farming and stock-raising enterprise which he continued for over thirty years, or until his death in 
1884. His wife, who in maidenhood was Ellen McAleer, was like himself a native of Ireland, but has been a resident of 
California since 1873. Two children were born of the marriage of Edward and Ellen (McAleer) Kelly, Mary E. and 
Edward J. 

Born near Watsonville in 1876, Edward J. Kelly was reared and educated in the vicinity of his birth. After graduating 
with credit from the grammar school of Watsonville he took a course of instruction in Santa Clara College, graduating 
therefrom in 1897. A predilection for the legal profession determined him to take a course in Columbia University in 
New York City, from which he graduated in 1902 with the degree of LL. B. The same year in which he graduated he 
was admitted to the bar in New York City and practiced his profession there for one year. Returning to California at 
the end of that time, he located in Watsonville but instead of following his profession at that time, he engaged in raising 
apples on one hundred and fifty acres of land in this vicinity, on the border of Kelly lake. He continued this business ex- 
clusively for six years, when, having in the meantime (1908) been admitted to the California bar. he opened an office for 
the practice of his profession in Watsonville and has since built up a satisfactory practice. He still maintains his or- 
chard, which increases in value and productiveness from year to year. Fraternally Mr. Kelly is identified with but one 
order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Santa Cruz, holding membership in Lodge No. 824.