Editing Kelleys Island, Ohio (section)

===Acquisition by the Kelleys===
In 1830, John Clemons and his brother began mining the island's limestone, and opened its first [[quarry]].<ref name="limestone">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100621204853/http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documents/publications/TB/TB-035%20The%20Steamer%20Adventure%20and%20the%20Kelleys%20Island%20Ohio%20Limestone%20Industry.pdf ''THE STEAMER ADVENTURE and the KELLEYS ISLAND, OHIO LIMESTONE INDUSTRY''], Ohio Sea Grant, Ohio States University.</ref> They built a dock on the north side in order to ship the rock to the American mainland.<ref name="rbh">The [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] Presidential Center article: "[http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/manunews/paper_trail_display.asp?nid=97&subj=manunews Paper Trail - No. 9 SEPTEMBER 2004 - QUARRYING ON KELLEYS ISLAND] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616103807/http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/manunews/paper_trail_display.asp?nid=97&subj=manunews |date=16 June 2011 }}".</ref> Shortly afterward, brothers Datus and Irad Kelley became aware of the island's potential worth, and slowly began purchasing its land in parcels.<ref name="rbh" />

Datus and Irad Kelley were born in [[Middlefield, Connecticut]], on April 24, 1788, and October 24, 1791, respectively.<ref name="irad">Kelleys Island Historical Society article: "[http://www.kelleysislandhistorical.org/island_people/irad_kelley.htm Irad Kelley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518083659/http://www.kelleysislandhistorical.org/island_people/irad_kelley.htm |date=2008-05-18 }}".</ref><ref name="datus">Kelleys Island Historical Society article: "[http://www.kelleysislandhistorical.org/island_people/datus_kelley.htm Datus Kelley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509142352/http://www.kelleysislandhistorical.org/island_people/datus_kelley.htm |date=2008-05-09 }}".</ref> Datus moved to [[Rocky River, Ohio]], in 1811, working as a [[Surveying|surveyor]] and sawmill owner.<ref name="datus" /> Irad moved to [[Cleveland, Ohio]], in 1812, eventually becoming a successful merchant, [[postmaster]], [[sailor]], and real-estate investor.<ref name="irad" /> Irad Kelley first became aware of the island after being forced to seek shelter there while transporting goods via [[sloop]] [[sailboat]] from [[Detroit]] to his shop in Cleveland.<ref name="touringohio" /><ref name="ohhistory">''Ohio: A History'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=360ZKtHJ-qoC&dq=irad+kelley+shelter&pg=PA79 page 79] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830112028/https://books.google.com/books?id=360ZKtHJ-qoC&dq=irad+kelley+shelter&pg=PA79 |date=August 30, 2023 }} at [[Google Books]].</ref> On August 20, 1833, the two began purchasing parcels of land on Cunningham Island at the rate of $1.50 per acre.<ref name="irad" /> They eventually owned the entire {{convert|3000|acre|km2|adj=on}} island, and in 1840 changed its name to Kelleys Island.<ref name="library">Lakewood, Ohio Public Library page: "[http://www.lkwdpl.org/history/7biographyK-L.htm Local History Files: 7: Biography K-L] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829192640/http://www.lkwdpl.org/history/7biographyK-L.htm |date=2008-08-29 }}".</ref><ref name="irad" /> By this time, the population had risen to 68 people.<ref name="lei" />
[[File:Kelleys Island Estes Schoolhouse.jpg|thumb|The Estes Schoolhouse on Kelleys Island]]

The brothers quickly began improving and expanding the island's docks to export limestone, fruit, and [[Juniperus virginiana|red cedar]] lumber.<ref name="lei" /> Soon, 16 limestone [[kiln]]s were producing [[lime (mineral)|lime]]. The village's various industries hired a number of immigrants (including young children), many of whom would work on the island during the summer and return to their homeland during the winter.<ref name="lei" /> Among the nationalities working on the island at that time were Irish, [[Polish people|Poles]], [[Slav]]s, [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]], [[Hungarians]], [[Bulgarians]], [[Italians]], and [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]].<ref name="lei" /> Datus Kelley encouraged [[sobriety]], and paid his employees bonuses for abstaining from "intoxifying [[liquor]]s".<ref name="lei" />

The quarries were the origin of the [[Kelley Island Lime & Transport Company]], which was once the largest producer of limestone and lime products in the world, operating between 1896 and the early 1960s. Numerous ruins of these operations and quarries now dot the island.

In 1842, Charles Carpenter (son-in-law of Datus Kelley) of [[Norwich, Connecticut]], began growing and harvesting [[grape]]s for [[wine]] on Kelleys Island. By the early 20th century, the island was annually producing 500,000 gallons of wine per year.<ref name="lei" />

The small village grew quickly, and soon a [[library]] and [[post office]] were erected. In 1901, the Estes [[School]]house was built at a cost of $15,000.<ref name="lei" />