Walking Tour 16: Kelly Hardware (1898)

The building you see today is the result of the replacement era in Winamac, when wood frame businesses were replaced with buildings made of brick.

John H. Kelly opened his own hardware store in 1879; this building became home to the business in 1898.

COUNTIES OF WHITE & PULASKI 1883

JOHN H. KELLY, County Clerk, and hardware dealer, was born at Glasgow March 4, 1847. His parents were both natives of “Bonnie Scotland,” and his father was a weaver by occupation. In 1848, the family crossed the Atlantic and located in Pittsburgh, Penn., but remained at this place only a short time ; then moved to Montgomery County, Ind., where Mr. Kelly engaged in merchandising. From there they removed to Jasper County, next to Starke County in 1858, and from there to Cass County, where Mrs. Kelly died in 1866. While a resident of Starke County, Mr. Kelly, in 1861, enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as private, served with fidelity all through the war and was discharged at its close. He was in a number of battles, was wounded severely in the thigh at Stone River, and is now living with his second wife in Cass County. John H. Kelly was with his parents until 1861, when he came to Winamac and began learning the tinner’s trade with B. F. Hathaway, remaining in his employ three years, but subsequently becoming a partner of H. P. Rowan in the hardware business. He started in life a poor boy and has battled his way to an honorable position with his brother merchants. For the past few years, he has conducted the business entirely alone, and his stock now invoices about $3,000 worth of first-class hardware goods, including agricultural implements, stoves, etc. He was married in 1873, to Miss Lucy J. Clark, who has borne him six children—William H., Mary (deceased), John N., Harry (deceased), Charles A. and Alice. Mr. Kelly is a Democrat in politics, has served in various local positions of trust, and the fall of 1882 was honored by his election to the office of Clerk of Courts of Pulaski County, in which capacity he is now serving.

PCD: Jan. 7, 1898

Quite a change in the location of business is booked to occur within the next few weeks if no hitch prevents. It includes removal of the J. D. Vurpillat stock to his own rooms in the opera house block now occupied by John Kelly; the removal of the latter to his own building at Main and Monticello now occupied by H. D. Hendleman, and of course the removal of the latter, though where he will go is not stated.

PCD: Mar. 11, 1898

H. Kelly is very materially improving his property at Main and Monticello streets. He is joining the two buildings so as to make double rooms, and putting in a good-looking front.

April 1, 1909 John H. Kelly, Hardware

Always in season, the John H. Kelly Hardware is selling spring necessities right on time. The Garland stoves and ranges and a full line of gasoline stoves, Oliver and Syracuse walking plows, Black Hawk Edge Drop corn planters, Petaluma incubators and brooders and garden tools in abundance are out in the front row of display place. Everything at prices that are right and you are welcome to inspect anything in the store at any time. Call around and see them for anything in the hardware line.

WR: Jan. 20, 1910

John H. Kelly Hardware. American Fence. Try that new Oliver Chilled Walking Plow.

PCD: July 18, 1940

Who Remembers Town’s Frame Buildings of Years Gone By?

Time Marches On

From time to time the wrecker’s ax has laid low many another structure that had an interesting history of business activity. In this list were the old Kelly store, replaced by the present modern structure, along with a frame hotel and other wooden buildings that stood where the Big Garage is now located.

The John H. Kelly Hardward is named for its founder, who was born in Scotland in 1847. He came to the U. S. with his parents when he was an infant. They settled in North Judson, and after his father died, his mother brought him to Winamac. Here, he became an apprentice to Mr. Hathaway, where he learned the tinner’s trade.

John bought a tinner’s shop with help from Mr. Rowan. It was not long until he bought Mr. Rowan’s share and was on his own at the corner of Main and Monticello Streets in Winamac.

Later, John ran for, and was elected, Pulaski County clerk, a position he held from 1882 until 1891. After that, he returned to the hardware business with his five sons. Two sons, Daniel and Robert, stayed in business with their father. In subsequent years, the John H. Kelly Hardware was operated by Daniel and Robert, then by Daniel and his son, John W., and finally by John W.

Today

Today, the building is home to Refined Boutique Consignment & Shopping.

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