Kelly Seed

Kelly Seed Co. was established in 1905 by W.G. Kelly, who operated a store in San Jose, Illinois and another on Washington Street in Peoria, Illinois. In 1936, Harold E. Church, fresh off the farm in Stark County and just out of business college, answered W.G.'s newspaper ad seeking a man with farming experience. He never missed a day of work in the 20 years he was employed by W.G., and in 1956 bought the business and inventory from him. Harold moved the business to a building down the road from the original store and he and his wife, Helen, continued Kelly Seed in the tradition in which it was begun. In the early 1960s, Caterpillar made plans to build its world headquarters in downtown Peoria. Not wanting to move the store again, he and Caterpillar came to an agreement to construct a new building on the corner of Washington and Hamilton Streets, where Kelly Seed continues to operate today. Since then, the business has been a family affair. In the early 1970s, Harold's son, Steve, and daughter, Nancee, joined the business. Harold's other daughter, Patricia, helped out during the busy spring season. Today, Nick and Matthew, a third generation, help run the business on a daily basis, giving the family a combined 235 years' experience working at Kelly Seed and Hardware.