Lindsey Kelley was born in May 1842 on the Austin Farm near Hanging Rock. His parents were William Dollarhide and Sarah Austin Kelley. He was a brother to Ironton Kelley. During his youth, his family moved to a brick house on North 2nd Street in Ironton, Ohio. This home was torn down for improvements to the Goldcamp Mill. Then, they moved to the Old Kelley Homestead, which became the Charles S. Gray Deaconess Hospital.
In 1862, Lindsey became the manager of Center Furnace. He was, also, one of the original born of directors of the Kelly Nail & Iron Company.
In 1877, Kelley was elected to the state senate. He served four years.
In 1879, he married Nannie Honshell. The couple was happily married for many years, but had only one son, Lindsey.
On March 11, 1903, Lindsey Kelley died at the age of sixty-one from pneumonia.
