Primary Name: Kelly, Milo

Filed as: milo_kelly

Also known as: Milo Kelly

Occupation / Association: Miner; Coal Operator; Legislator; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6

Born: January 5, 1866, Wausau, Wisconsin

Died: September 9, 1943, Seattle, Washington

Parents:

Spouse:

Children:

Associated places: Wausau, Wisconsin; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Nogales, Arizona; Wilkeson, Washington; Juneau, Alaska; Copper River District, Alaska; Cook Inlet, Alaska; Willow Creek Mining District, Alaska; Matanuska Coal Fields, Alaska; Seattle, Washington

Keywords: Milo Kelly, Kelly Milo, Alaska coal operator, Matanuska coal fields development, Willow Creek mining district pioneer, Alaska territorial legislator, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6

Biography

Milo Kelly was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6 of the Pioneers of Alaska.

Kelly was born in Wausau, Wisconsin, on January 5, 1866, where his father was engaged in the lumber business. He received a common school education in his native town and later took an advanced course in Milwaukee.

In 1884, Kelly went to Nogales, Arizona, where he spent three years working at a smelter. In 1887, he moved to Washington and organized the Wilkeson Coal & Coke Company, operating the mine until 1895.

In 1896, he came to Alaska and settled near Juneau. For nine years, he prospected and operated mines and later went to the Copper River District, where he spent six years prospecting and developing copper properties.

In 1910, Kelly moved to Cook Inlet and became one of the first operators in the Willow Creek mining district.

Kelly was a coal operator with many years’ experience and, from the beginning, took an active interest in developing the Matanuska coal fields. He was among the first men to bring the Alaska coal fields to the attention of the United States Congress.

While living in Washington, he was elected from Pierce County to the third State Legislature. Later, he was elected from the Third Division to Alaska’s first territorial legislature and authored several important laws adopted into the statutes.

Milo Kelly died in Seattle, Washington, on September 9, 1943.

Sources

The Pathfinder, December 1919; Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Volume 3, p. 176, Ed Ferrell (May 1, 2009); Alaska Digital Archives, James Joseph Connors Photograph Collection PCA 457

Milo Kelly Kelly Milo M Kelly Alaska coal operator Milo Kelley

Tags: Milo Kelly, Kelly Milo, Alaska territorial legislators, Matanuska coal fields, Willow Creek mining district pioneers, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6, Alaska miners