Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

3220 GEORGIA AND GEORGIANSin the law and concentrated all his efforts to that end/economized and workedfor his education, and has thus advanced himself to his present excellentstanding in the local bar.James Frederick Kelly was born in Bartow County, Georgia, April 1,1880, son of William M. and Minerva (Awtry) Kelly. His father was a nativeof South Carolina, and his mother, of German ancestry, was a native of Georgia. "William M. Kelly was a millwright by trade and also for many yearsa successful contractor and builder in Bartow County. For several yearsbefore his death he lived retired, and passed away at Rome, October 13, 1909,at the age of seventy-three. He had come to Rome in 1903. During his activecareer he constructed many buildings, mills, factories, etc., at Carterville, Can-'ton, Danville and other localities. During the war he was a drummer withthe Fortieth Georgia Regiment, serving with that campaign from the beginning to the end. Of the eight children in the family one is now deceased, theothers being as follows: Fanny, wife of E. M. Paris of Cave Springs, FloydCounty; Charles W., who is in the granite and marble business at Ballground,Cherokee County, Georgia; Susan, wife of J. D. Ryan of Floyd County;William T.. a farmer and merchant at Marietta; James P.; Lillie, a teacher inthe public schools of Rome; and Alma, also a resident of Rome.James Frederick Kelly attained his early education in the public schoolsof Bartow County, and in the class of 1903 was graduated A. B. from ReinhardtCollege at Waleska. He studied law under such preceptors as Col. F. W.Copelaud, Mr. Seaborn and Benjamin Wright of Rome. Admitted to the barin 1909, he at once began -practice, and in March, 1912, the city councilappointed him judge of the Police Court. He has the reputation of being askillful and forceful lawyer, and an excellent judge. An active democrat, hehas taken part in several campaigns and did some work on the stump in behalfof Hoke Smith,Mr. Kelly is affiliated with Cherokee Lodge No. 66, Ancient Free andAccepted Masons, and is a member of the Methodist Church. . October 30,1912, at Atlanta, he married Miss Julia Guy Thompson, who was born atRome, daughter of William A. and Cherokee (Thompson) Thompson, both ofwhom now live at Atlanta. They have one child, Helen Elizabeth Kelly, bornat Rome.B. R. OLLIFF. Among the educators of Eastern Georgia, in whose handshave been placed grave responsibilities and the welfare in an educational wayof the youth of the state, there is none in recent years who has accomplishedmore than B. R. Olliff, superintendent of schools of Bulloch County. A manof rare talents, enthusiasm and energy, he has labored zealously in this officesince 1911, and through his progressive spirit has advanced a long way towardthe accomplishment of his aim, "to make every school in Bulloch County asgood as the best school in Bulloch county.''Professor Olliff was born in Emanuel County, Georgia, August 15, 1880,and is a son of Benjamin and Missouri (Canady) Olliff, natives of Georgia.His father, a well known farmer of Emanuel and Bulloch counties, died inthe latter in 1907, at the age of fifty-seven years, while the mother also passedaway in that year, when aged fifty-five. They were the parents of tenchildren, of whom B. R. was the fifth in order of birth. As a boy he attendedthe public schools of the country districts of Emanuel and Bulloch counties,and later the graded schools at Statesboro. He next took a special course atthe University of Georgia, and with this preparation entered the educator'sprofession, in which he has been engaged since 1899. After displaying hisability in a number of sections, in 1911 Mr. Olliff was elected county superintendent of schools of Bulloch County, and through the gaining of excellentresults has held this office to the present time. Under his charge there areninety-three puMic institutions of learning, with an attendance of approxi-