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THE MUSIC TRADE
DEATH OF OLIVER S. KELLY.
End of a Long and Distinguished Career—Famous
As a Manufacturer and Philanthropist—Loved
by His Fellow Men and Mourned by an Entire
Community.
(Special to The Review.)
Springfield, 0., April 11, 1904.
The Hon. Oliver S. Kelly, founder of the firm
of the O. S. Kelly Co., and a pioneer citizen of
this city, died in his room this morning, in the
Arcade Hotel.
The death of Mr. Kelly removes one of the
city's most foremost citizens and manufacturers.
He was a man of great wealth, and had devoted
his life to furthering the industrial interests of
Springfield. He always had the welfare of his
native city at heart, and his death is a shock to
the entire community. His kindly, genial face
had been familiar on the streets of this city, and
UNIVERSAL
ARM
REVIEW
perhaps no one was better known to the citizens
generally, than was the late Oliver S. Kelly.
While he had maintained up to his last sick-
ness, a warm interest in his business, he had
thrown off the active management of the great
Kelly interests to his sons, Warren and E. S.
Kelly. He was still president of the 0. S. Kelly
Co., one of the largest manufacturing institutions
in the West. The Kelly Co. manufacture thresh-
ing machines, road rollers, and up to recently,
rubber tires.
The music trade, however, are interested more
particularly in the piano plate department of the
Kelly concern. Mr. Kelly was not only a pio-
neer manufacturer of the West, but he always
played a prominent part in the administration of
the city of Springfield, of which he was once a
mayor. He held a number of other important
positions in the county and city, and always
manifested the deepest interest in any public im-
provement. His death is looked upon as a per-
BORING MACHINE
FOR PIANO MANUFACTURERS.
35
sonal loss to every citizen of his favorite city.
His life reads like a romance.
Until 18 years old Mr. Kelly worked as a farm-
hand for $4 a month and his board. Then he
learned the carpenter's trade and worked for $1
a day. He got his start in life in California dur-
ing the gold fever in 1847. Returning here in
1856 he formed a partnership with W. N. White-
ley, and Jerome Fassler, who died recently in
Switzerland. He sold out when Whiteley con-
ceived the idea of erecting the East street shops.
From humble beginnings he worked steadily
up, building vast industries and all the while
giving with a lavish hand to his less fortunate
fellowman. His estate is estimated at from a mil-
lion and a half to two millions. He leaves two
sons, Warren and E. S. Kelly.
Notwithstanding his advanced years—he had
passed his seventy-eighth birthday—it was his
usual custom to go to the office of the Kelly Co.
every morning. He had the satisfaction of see-
ing his sons follow in his footsteps and assume
their burdens in the control of a great manufac-
turing industry. He has also had that pleasure
which is given to but few men, of seeing a third
generation actively engaged in one enterprise.
His grandson, Armin Kelly had assumed the man-
agement of an important department in the busi-
ness which lie founded. The busy life of Oliver
S. Kelly was crowded with great business opera-
tions and good deeds.
MAY MOVE FROM FORT LEE.
At the Fort Lee Taxpayers' meeting, on Satur-
day evening, John C. Abbott, president of Lhe
Abbott Piano Action Co., stated that owing to
the great cost of getting raw material delivered
at the plant and the failure of Assemblyman
Ayers's bill to become a law, by which the trol-
ley roads might have delivered freight at their
door, the company was seriously considering the
necessity of removing their factory from Fort
Lee, N. J., to some other place where cheaper
freight rates might be secured.
The plant employs about seventy-five hands.
H. B. SMITH MACHINE CO..
EVEHY
DESCRIPTION
WOOD WORKING MACHINERY.
FACTORY,
l k l U * . N. J.
THE GREAT PIANO POLISH
FOR ALL FINE FURNITURE
NBW YORK,
123 LJbtrty St.
Particulars and Prices on Application,
o
ESTABLISHED 1892.
PIANO LEGS AND PILASTERS
MAURER BROTHERS.
PANELS AND CARVINGS
515 West 42d Street (Rear).
fl-UTTLE-POIITEB
Put up in an
8-oz. can, with
beautiful g o l d
label. Retails for 25 cents. ZOL
is a money maker. Every music
store should display it in t i e win-
dow. Write for FREE Sample
can (dealers only), and sample of
strong illustrated circular. Made
only by LYON & HEALY, Chicago.
NEW YORK.
IT WON'T HURT THE DEALER
Any to See that
THE-MAPES
STRING
LYON «, HEALY, Chicago
C&rt Fill Your Orders for
EVERYTHING MUSICAL
is on his Pianos.
VENEERS
C. H. O. HOUGHTON
ESTABLISHED 1824 BY E.
96 FIFTH AVENUE
NEW YORK CITY
Phone, 6935 Gramercy
BOTHNER-SCHMIDT ACTION CO.
1941-1945 PARK AVE., COR. I3I S T ST.
NEW YOKE
Brand Rapids
Piano
Case
Co.,
Ltd
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
The most modern and
complete exclusive
case factory in the
world.
QUALITY AND PROMPT SHIPMENTS GUARANTEED
A. C. CHENEY PIANO ACTION CO.
Manufacturer* pf HIGH GRADE PIANOFORTE ACTIONS.
CASTLETON, NEW YORK