Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/39

 JUDGES SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

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the legislature, judge of the supreme court ot appeals, to fill the unexpired term of Judge John W. Riely, deceased, succeeding Hon. A. A. Phlegar, a temporary appointee. In January, 1906, he was re-elected for the term .beginning February i, 1907. He is recognized as a most industrious and cap- able jurist. He married, in 1880, Ruth Drewry, daughter of Dr. H. M. Drewry, of Henry county, Virginia.

Kelly, Joseph L., born in Smyth county, Virginia, March 4, 1867, son of John A. Kelly and Martha Peck, his wife; his father was a lawyer, and for twenty-five years was judge of the sixteenth judicial circuit of Virginia. He began his educa- tion in the neighborhood schools, and com- pleted it at Emory and Henry College, from which he was graduated in 1886, with the B. A. degree. After reading law for a year under the preceptorship of his father, he entered the law school of the University

of Virginia, and was graduated B. L. in June, 1889. Later, Emory and Henry Col- lege conferred upon him the degree of Mas- ter of Arts. He began practice in 1S89, at Estillville (now Gate City), in partnership with Gen. Rufus A. Ayers. In 1892 he re- moved to Big Stone Gap, where he followed his profession until the fall of 1892, when he took up his residence in Bristol, where he has since remained. Since 1895 he has been a member of the law firm of Bullitt & Kelly, who have an extensive practice in south- west Virginia, maintaining two offices — one at Big Stone Gap, in charge of J. F. Bullitt, and the other at Bristol, under the man- agement of Mr. Kelly. In January, 1915, Mr. Kelly was elected to the bench of the supreme court of appeals. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, South. He married, July 29, 1896, Mary Eloise Hull, daughter of Capt. D. D. Hull, of Marion, Virginia, and they have four children.