CLASS OF 1888
The Twenty-Five Year Report, just published, is unusually attractive in its outward habiliments and complete in its collection of data. At this time we draw on it only for material concerning a recently deceased member of the class:
John William Kelley died September 20 at the Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline, Mass., of pernicious anemia. He was born in Portsmouth, N. H., December 3, 1865, being a son of John and Ellen Kelley, and prepared for college at Portsmouth High School. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and the Sphinx, and was prominent in the athletic and social life of the College, .being member of the varsity football team for three years and its manager two years, organizer and manager of the glee club, and managing editor of The Dartmouth. After graduation he studied law at Portsmouth, intermitting his studies to serve as principal of the Whipple Grammar School for about four years. Since August, 1894, he had been in active practice in Portsmouth. We quote the following:
"He made an immediate success at the bar. Within six years he was elected solicltor for his county—the second largest in the state—but he resigned the office in his third term because his private practice had grown so large. Among his clients were some of the largest and most important interests in northern New England. For many years he was general counsel for the Boston and Maine Railroad, and he bore a leading part in the long and complicated controversy with the state of New Hampshire over the legality of the prevailing rates for fares and freights. As the chief assistant to General Solicitor Rich in this litigation, he rendered special service in untangling the interlaced meshes of law and politics in which the case abounded; and it is not too much to say that his work and influence contributed most largely to the satisfactory solution which was finally reached. Politics and the law are twins in New Hampshire life—Kelley recognized the relationship. For nearly fifteen years he was the acknowledged leader of the Republican party in Rockingham county, and was a controlling factor in state affiairs as well. During that time few men came to high place in New Hampshire without his assistance, and much of the important legislation of the period was formulated and forwarded through his efforts. He foresaw, earlier than most of his associates, the tendency of modern political thought, with much of which he was in thorough accord, and if his opinions had prevailed, the present unhappy situation of his party, in New Hampshire at least, would have been averted. For the past few years, however, he withdrew more and more from public life; and such leisure as his constantly increasing professional work permitted he devoted entirely to his family and friends. His home life was most happy. A charming wife and two children of great promise gave him constant delight; and his circle of intimates was one of real companionship. To these, and in scarcely slighter measure to all who knew him, his death means a loss which can never be wholly repaired. He was a rare soul—wise, true, strong, brave, patient."
Mr. Kelley was married to Romaine E. J. Sherwood, January 12, 1898. Their children are a son and a daughter.
Secretary, Rev. Wm. Byron Forbush, 1714 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.
