WILLIAM D. KELLY, Secretary of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, and one of the representative and public-spirited citizens, has the honor of being a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Ferrysburg, Ottawa County, November, 26, 1865. His father was a native of New York, but his mother was born in the Emerald Isle. In the family of seven children he was the fourth in order of birth. His boyhood was passed in his native city, where he acquired a good education, being graduated from the High School. He afterward served as book-keeper at that place for nine months, and then came to Muskegon to accept a similar position with Dennis Smith & Co., one of the principal dry-goods and house-furnishing firms of Muskegon, in whose employ he remained for two years.

On the expiration of that period, Mr. Kelly became reporter for the Muskegon News, and subsequently became a member of the Simmons & Kinne Manufacturing Company, who did a planning-mill and lumber business. For four years Jr. Kelly devoted his energies to that enterprise, and then embarked in the wholesale lumber business, under the firm name of W. D. Kelly & Co. In 1889 he established himself in the real-estate business, handling city property and farming lands, also pine and timber lands. In the fall of 1892, in connection with others, he organized the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce, with Newcomb McGraft President, Thomas Hume Vice-President, William D. Kelly Secretary, and Andrew Wierengo Treasurer. It is a strong organization, made up of the business men of the city, and for the benefit of the fast-growing city of Muskegon.

Mr. Kelly was married on the 28^th of August, 1888, to Miss Zipha Wheeler, of Muskegon, daughter of James E. Wheeler. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Republican Club of this city, of which he was made Secretary. He served as Chairman of the Republican City Committee in 1892, and in 1890 was the Republican candidate for the Legislature. Receiving the nomination, he ran against a strong Democratic opponent, and although the district is Democratic, he was defeated only by a small majority. He often takes part in campaign work and is a good speaker. Socially, he is a member of the Maccabees. Besides his interest in Muskegon property, he is connected with his brother in the ownership of the Colfax Hotel, in Colfax, Iowa. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, sagacious and far-sighted, and his good management has made him eminently successful. The prosperity and growth of Muskegon owes not a little to his untiring efforts, and its welfare has been greatly advance through his labors.