William Kelly made many kettles in this area for making sugar in the South. In 1851, Kelly discovered the process known as Bessemer for the manufacture of steel. An Englishman, Bessemer, obtained patents on the same process in England in 1855 and in the U.S. in 1856. Kelly filed a priority claim in 1857. The U.S. awarded the patent to Kelly and later refused renewal to Bessemer.