Person:David Kelly (22)

Research notes

• 1852 - admitted to the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
• From 1854 to 1858 - served as a missionary to China
• After May of 1865 - Rev. David Kelly went back to his church as a minister
• 1858 - returned home to receive an appointment as pastor of the Methodist Church in Franklin, Tennessee
• From 1860 to early 1861 - assigned to be one of two preachers in Huntsville, Alabama, part of the Tennessee Conference
• spring of 1861 - accepted a Major’s commission in Col. Nathan B. Forrest’s Tennessee Cavalry Battalion or "Forrest's Regiment" (aka, the 26th Tennessee Cavalry Battalion)
•  ???? - promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and given command of “Forrest’s Old Regiment”

Speaking of Forrest, Major David C. Kelley wrote, ‘This command found that it was his single will, impervious to argument, appeal, or threat, which was ever to be the governing impulse in their movements. Everything necessary to supply their wants, to make them comfortable, he was quick to do, save to change his plans, to which everything had to bend. New men naturally grumbled, but when the work was done all were reconciled by the pride felt in the achievement.’

• 1864 - report describing a rear-guard action by two of his depleted cavalry regiments

‘August 23, 1864, we moved with the brigade after the retreating Yankees. Attacked them at Abbeville. My command was mounted; the Fifth MISSISSIPPI dismounted. We held the position against three regiments of infantry until they had not only flanked us on both sides, but almost closed in our rear. When the order reached me to retire, my flag (the staff and material of which are riddled with shot) was in forty paces of the flag of the advancing infantry. We lost in this engagement First Lieutenant J. T. Crews, Company E, killed, an officer of highest worth and coolest bravery; and five wounded. Brevet Second Lieutenant Nichols, Company F, is specially worthy of notice for gallantry in the last skirmish. Respectfully submitted. D. C. KELLEY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.’

• 1865 - pastor of the Methodist Church in Lebanon
• 1874 - Presiding Elder (District Superintendent) of the Nashville District; and in
• 1886 - Treasurer of the Methodist General Board of Missions. In
• 1890 - nominated for Governor of Tennessee while serving a pastorate in Gallatin, but did not win the election
• 1893 - delegate from Tennessee to the Methodist General Conference

Rev. David C Kelly in collage of missionaries

1. ↑ Montgomery, David B. A Genealogical History of: The Montgomerys and Their Descendants. (Owensville, Indiana: J. P. Cox, 1903)
   346.

   ... [John Kelly and Margaret Louisa Montgomery] had only one child - David Campbell Kelly, A.M., M.D., D.D., LL.D., of Nashville, Tenn. He was missionary to China in 1852-53-54-55 ; is an able minister in the Methodist church. He was a colonel in the Confederate cavalry under General Nathan Bidord Forrest. He married ___. ...