Biography of Douglas  Kelley, pages 903/904. History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



A review of the life to the honored subject of this memoir 
must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To 
enter fully into the interesting details of the career of 
the late Douglas Kelley, touching the struggles of his 
early manhood and the successes of his later years, would 
far transcend the limits of this article.  He filled a 
large place in the ranks of the active, energetic, and 
public-spirited citizens of his day and generation, and the 
memories which attach to his name and character form no 
inconsiderable chapter in the history of his native county, 
here he did his work and achieved his success.  Douglas 
Kelley was born in section 35, Smithfield township, DeKalb 
county, Indiana, on November 12, 1862, and his untimely 
death occurred on June 24, 1899, at the early age of 
thirty-six years, his death being caused by being struck by 
a limb dislodged by a falling tree, his death ensuing in a 
few hours after the accident. Douglas Kelly was the son of 
James D. and Amy Kelley. James D. Kelley was an early 
settler in Smithfield township, having come here on 
horseback for Findlay, Ohio, in and early day. He and his 
brother, Freeman Kelley, had walked to California, where 
they engaged in gold mining, with the proceeds of which 
they were enabled to buy farms in the southeast part of 
Smithfield township. He and his brother had married sisters 
at Findlay and brought their wives to this county on 
horseback, Douglas Kelley was reared on his father’s farm 
and received his education in the common schools and in the 
high school at Waterloo. At the age of nineteen years he 
was, because of the death of his father, compelled to take 
upon himself the support of his widowed mother and three 
sisters, and faithfully and courageously did he fulfill his 
trust.  His mother was born in Hancock, county, Ohio, her 
marriage to Mr. Kelley occurring in 1855. Her husband died 
on January 15, 1862, and from that time on she devoted her 
efforts to the rearing of her large family, all of whom she 
saw grow to honorable and respected manhood and womanhood. 
She survived her husband many years, her death occurring on 
August 25, 1900.  On March 13, 1892, Douglas Kelley married 
to Isabella Walker, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli 
Walker, and to this union were  born three children, 
namely: Marvin, who died at the age of seven months; Walker 
J., who was born in 1893, and who now lives with his 
mother, and Amy M., who was born on September 2, 1897, and 
died on November 2, 1900, at the age of three years. 
Douglas Kelley spent practically his entire life on the old 
family homestead east of Waterloo and was numbered among 
the earnest, progressive, industrious and successful  
agriculturists of his community. He was a man of vigorous 
physique and active in his methods and because of his 
public spirit and progressive attitude in all matters 
affecting the community, he had won and retained to a 
marked degree the confidence and respect of all who knew 
him, and his death was considered a distinct loss to the 
community which had been honored by his citizenship.  

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com