Samuel Kelley (1855-1929)

Samuel Kelley was a pioneer in the field of children's diseases. Kelley was born in Adamsville Ohio, near Zanesville. He became interested in medicine at the age of 16 when a homeopath convinced him to study with him. The same year his sister died of tuberculoses, Kelly was also in poor health. He moved to Texas and lived as a cowboy for 5 years.

Kelley returned to northern Ohio and enrolled in the Cleveland College of Physicians and surgeons, graduating in 1884. At the time the college was the Medical Department of Wooster University, then it became part of Ohio Wesleyan, and in 1910 merged with Cleveland Medical College to become a part of Western Reserve University. Kelley was interested in the unique aspects of children's health problems, including surgery. He was appointed Professor of Children's Diseases at Western Reserve University Medical Department in 1890.