An interesting obituary
Copied from MOUNT STERLING TRIBUNE, Mt. Sterling, OH, May 10, 1923. This is the father spoken of in the ANNA REBECCA KELLOUGH article elsewhere in this site.
In Memoriam
John William Kellough was born July 5, 1839, and died April 30, 1923, aged 83 years, 9 months and 25 days. He was the only son of John and Rebecca Pummill Kellough. He came of hardy, sturdy, pioneer stock of Scotch-Irish people; of that heroic nature which has ever been the vanguard of advancing civilization, of community improvement and of intellectual development. His ancestors on both his father's and mother's sides, fought in the Revolutionary War and in the War of 1812, and did a full share in the early history of the country, especially in the opening and settling of the states of Kentucky and Ohio.
His father and mother, before his birth, true to the instincts of the pioneer, had looked westward toward the then new and unsettled country of Indiana as the place to build their home, so they had moved and settled on the banks of the Wabash river, near what is now Crawfordsville, Indiana. But the ties of this young family were soon broken by the death of Mr. Kellough's father, just about the time of his birth, and the young widow, with a two year old girl and her baby son, John W., were obligated to return to her father's home in Ohio, near Bainbridge in Ross county. There it was that Mr. Kellough grew to manhood, and there is was that he developed the striking and powerful physique and energy that carried him through the long years of his active life and preserved his good and sturdy health even to the moment of his death.
Forced as he was by the necessities and circumstances of his young age, to make his own way in the world, he saw, while still a youth the advantages and possibilities of a good education, so he therefore struggled ambitiously to advance his learning as much as possible. At 16 years of age, he began to teach public schools. He completed courses of study at Salem Academy and Lebanon University. He never gave up his search for knowledge, he never fully quenched his thirst for learning, for all through the years that followed, down to the hour of his departure, he read and studied over a wide field and range of views to such an extent that few men were better or more widely informed on many varied subjects. . .
When the Civil War broke out, he volunteered with the 100 day men, and later served in the 149th O. V. I. . . .
He found enjoyment in the work on the farm and keenly appreciated the fresh, on-coming spring time, the developing of crops and all the beauties of nature. It was in carrying on the activities connected with his farm work that he met his death in the unfortunate and tragic accident that closed his eventful career. Mr. Kellough was possessed of many outstanding qualities—undoubtedly he was one of the most public spirited men that ever lived. This section of our country was young, 50 years ago, unsettled, heavily timbered, no roads, no schools, no churches, lacking in many of the present day advantages. He helped to clear the lands of timber, to build schools and churches, roads and highways, the rural delivery, the telephone, and materially aided all that means advancement and improvement.
His character was as pure gold—of the highest integrity, absolute honesty, intellectually brilliant, --he leaves a heritage to his family and friends, rich in the memory of a long, useful, Christian life of service. . .
