Memorial of Hon. Hugh Kelly.
In the death of Hugh Kelly, President of the corporation of Hugh Kelly & Co., 79 Wall Street, New York City, the downtown business community of New York lost a man of sound judgment of men and affairs, and a true friend.
Mr. Kelly was born in Chicago, September 24th, 1858, and when a year old came to New York, where he lived thereafter. He was graduated from the College of the City of New York with high honors and was later honored with the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctors of Laws by Fordham University. In 1871 he entered the West Indian trade and in 1884 established the house of Hugh Kelly & Co., which is well-known throughout the cane sugar world. He was very successful in designing and constructing several of the largest and most modern sugar cane factories in Cuba, Porto Rico and Santo Domingo, and was one of the best known merchants in that industry.
He was president of several sugar companies in the West Indies, but found time also to devote himself to maritime and municipal affairs, and was in the directorate of the United Fruit Company, The Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, the Nipe Bay Company, and other industrial enterprises. He was also a Trustee of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum, Calvary Cemetery, the Sevilla Home for Children, and the Central Islip State Hospital.
Mr. Kelly served the city as a member of the Board of Education from 1895 to 1898, and was Treasurer of its Finance Committee.
He was Vice-President of the Maritime Exchange in 1894 and 1895, President in 1896 and 1897, and for seven years was on its directorate.
Mr. Kelly was made president of The Oriental Bank in an effort to save it shortly before it failed last Winter. He was a director in the bank at the time of the financial depression, and when the bank was threatened Mr. Kelly took up the task, two or three days after his return from Europe, of realizing on the bank’s assets and meeting the claims against it. He was going along very well when fresh bank failures caused a run on the Oriental, which led to its suspension. Attorney-General Jackson had receivers appointed but they were soon removed by the Court. Full payment to every depositor was eventually made through an arrangement with the Metropolitan Trust Company, which took over the Oriental Bank’s assets. Mr. Kelly in his desire to keep the bank on its feet when he accepted the presidency refused to accept a cent of remuneration, his sole desire being to keep the bank going. The strain under which he labored at that time, and the many false rumors which those antagonistic to the bank had issued, preyed upon him greatly, and an acute nervous ailment forced him to give up work three weeks before his death, which occurred October 30th, 1908, at 3 a. m.
The funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on November 2d. Archbishop Farley celebrated solemn requiem mass. Some of the other church dignitaries who assisted in the service were Mgr. Lavelle, Mgr. Hayes, Father McCluskey and Father McQuade.
The pall bearers were Joseph Rigney, Michael E. Bannin, Thomas E. Murray, Col. John McAnerney, Richard S. Treacy, James H. Post, President of the National Sugar Refining Company, Joseph W. Foster, Frank Schaffer, Vice-President of Hugh Kelly & Co., Thomas Mulry, President Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank and Myles Tierney, President of the Hudson Trust Company. The interment was in Calvary Cemetery.
Mr. Kelly is survived by his widow, three sons and four daughters.
Personally, Mr. Kelly was a quiet, hearty, genial man, easily approachable and warm-hearted, seeming to have time for every demand upon him in spite of his numerous responsibilities, and a host of friends esteemed him most highly for his ability, integrity and sound judgment. In the business life of New York in which he moved, he will be deeply missed.
The following memorial to the late James Jeffrey Roche, Esq., was also unanimously adopted, and it was voted to send a copy thereof to his family:
Mr. Joseph Smith of the Boston Traveler, one of the founders of the Society, and at the invitation of its officers, presented the following memorial to the late Hon. James Jeffrey Roche, LL. D., which was ordered spread upon the records and a copy thereof sent to the family of Dr. Roche:
JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE, LL. D (Deceased).
Patriot, Editor, Diplomat and Poet. One of the Founders of our Society.