He was born in Cobourg, Canada West; his parents were natives of Scotland.
He was convinced that there was gold to be found in two deep potholes in Canyon Creek.
Kellie and his two partners eventually succeeded in diverting the creek, only to find the decaying leg of a mountain goat.
[3] In 1889, Kellie and twelve other miners upset with taxation on their mines persuaded John Robson, who was passing through by train, to stop over and listen to their complaints.
The outcome was that Kellie was elected to the assembly and was able to sit on the committee drafting a new Mineral and Placer Mining Act.