“Major Crane was especially interested in American-Irish history because of its eloquent testimony in support of Irish virtue and ability. His own noble record will always be a bright page in the annals of the race in this country.
“Unbounded courage and compassion join’d,
Tempering each other in the victor’s mind,
Alternately proclaim him good and great,
And make the hero and the man complete.”
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.