James H. Kelley
| James H. "Dog" Kelley | |
|---|---|
Kelly c. 1880
|
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| Mayor of Dodge City, Kansas | |
|
In office 1877–1881 |
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| Preceded by | P. L. Beatty |
| Succeeded by | Alonzo B. Webster |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1833 Place of birth missing |
| Died | September 8, 1912 (aged 79) Kansas Soldiers' Home at Fort Dodge, Kansas |
| Cause of death | Tuberculosis |
| Resting place | Ford Dodge Cemetery in Ford County |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Missing |
| Children | Irene (last name unknown) |
| Occupation |
United States Army scout |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Army scout |
United States Army scout
James H. Kelley, also known as Dog Kelley (c . 1833 - September 8, 1912), was an American frontiersman and businessman who as the mayor of Dodge City, Kansas, briefly supervised the law-enforcement careers of such officers as the Earp and Masterson brothers: Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Bat, Ed, and James Masterson.
Kelley's place of birth is unknown. After fighting in the Confederate Army, Kelley joined the 7th Cavalry Regiment as a scout under Lieutenant colonel and former General George Armstrong Custer. In 1872, the Seventh was stationed at the former Fort Dodge, Kansas. Because Kelley enjoyed hunting and greyhounds and had cared ably for Custer's own dogs, Custer gave him a parting gift from the Army: a dozen greyhounds. Once in Dodge City, often called simply "Dodge" but not to be confused with "Fort Dodge" some five miles to the southeast, Kelley raced his dogs in the open gambling culture of the frontier. Kelley also had a tame bear that he named "Paddy", which for a time became the town pet in Dodge City. As the animal grew larger and more rowdy, cowboys often tormented Paddy, and the creature was exterminated in 1883 and served as the main dish at the community Christmas dinner.
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