A Pioneer Gone - William D Kelly - 2nd great grandfather

A local Nebraska obituary for my great-great grandfather, William D. Kelly, had been elusive to me until last evening. To date, all I had discovered was a death notice in the St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, a city where he had lived thirty years before his death.

Unfortunately, the digital image leaves much to be desired, but I have transcribed it to my best ability at this time. I also referred to the St. Paul obituary as some of the language was similar. The St. Paul article gave his date of death as February 3, 1896, which, according to the Lincoln Evening News, would have been the date of his funeral.

His railroad contracting work was referred to as being west of the Mississippi in the Lincoln article. The St. Paul article stated his work was west of the Mississippi and south of Missouri.

In genealogy, one always has to keep looking.

Below is my transcription, with a few words still escaping me.

A PIONEER GONE.

William D. Kelly Dies at His Home Near Greenwood.

William D. Kelly died this morning at his home near Greenwood at the age of sixty-two. The deceased was born in Ireland, and, coming to this country at an early age spent some of his life in the west. As a railroad contractor he was very successful and took part in the construction of some of the principal lines west of the Mississippi. Though a --- adventurous man he was devoted to his home. He was enterprising and progressive -- a typical -- Mr. Kelly’s health had been failing rapidly for several months and the end was not unexpected. He died fortified by the last rites of his church and surrounded by his children. His wife had gone before him several years since. Of his children, his daughters, Mrs. John Fitzgerald, Mrs. M. J. Langdon, Mrs. Ode Rector and his son Thomas live in this city. His sons, Daniel, Michael, John and William Jr live on their farms near Greenwood. The funeral will be from the pro-cathedral at 10:30 a.m. on Monday.

Source: Lincoln Evening News, Lincoln, Nebraska

31 Jan 1896, page 1

Minnie Welch Kelly's Autograph Book

Here is a quick view of my great grandmother's autograph book, which is a glimpse of her journey from Waterbury, Connecticut to Greenwood, Nebraska. It includes scans of each page and my transcription of the document. Minnie Welch Kelly's autograph book - Subscriber Home Pages

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History: Favorite Teacher

I'm not even real sure how the memory of my first teacher, Miss Bess Bowen, popped into my head this afternoon. She was my teacher in kindergarten, first and second grade in the 1950s in a small rural school. Three grades were in one room.

I credit Miss Bowen with my love of learning and being able to spell and write and do math. You've heard of the book, "All I Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten." In the case of Miss Bess Bowen, that was so true. She taught you, and she taught you well.

As a four year old starting in public school in the 1950s, I knew that Miss Bowen was a grandmotherly type, even though she had remained single all of her life. It was only by doing a little bit of online research that I learned that she was 72 years old when I first met her in kindergarten!

I admit to being a bit of a teacher's pet and recall her getting after my third/fourth grade teacher for not recognizing my intelligence and ability to the extent that Miss Bowen had! Ha! Well, that was how I felt at age eight. I had become very attached to Miss Bowen and it was hard for me to move on to a different (first year) teacher for third grade!

As I look over the census records showing Miss Bowen throughout her career, I recall such fond memories of her. The newspaper articles about her from the 1920s and 1930s tell of her work with her young pupils.

In 1916, she went home to Avoca, Iowa to spend the month of August with her parents and other family members. In 1922, she was awarded her teachers' certificate from the University of Nebraska.

In 1926, she and another delegate to the convention of the National Education Association left for Philadelphia before spending a week in Washington, D.C. and going on to New York City to take summer classes at Columbia University. By 1930, she was an officer in the state education association.

In 1937, her students gave some reviews concerning early pioneer life. The pony express, and the early school and home were compared with present day life. Oh! Wouldn't she enjoy sharing stories about our pioneer ancestors!

And in 1950, she served as a census enumerator! Why do I sense that her spirit is looking over my shoulder as I type this?!

Greenwood School, Greenwood, Nebraska - This school building housed grades K - 12 when Miss Bowen was my teacher. My Mom also attended this same school. My great-grandfather, Daniel Kelly, served on the school board (long before I was born!).






Miss Bowen kept in touch with me for many years after I was under her tutelage. She always wanted to know how my education was going. I remember reading in the newspaper that had she passed away - although I don't remember exactly when it was. To this day, when I look back over my education, I still feel that the foundation she provided during those first three years gave me what I needed to succeed in school and in life.


Do you have fond memories of a teacher from your past? If so, please leave a comment below.

note: references are from articles that appeared in the Lincoln Star, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1916 - 1950.


52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History is a series of writing prompts sponsored by Geneabloggers and created by Amy Coffin of the We Tree genealogy blog. This blog post was first published on LongLostRelatives.net on June 11, 2010.

Sorting Saturday: Better Than a Day at the Library

Over the summer, I've been going through my personal archives, i.e., boxes of long forgotten Stuff. Yes, so much Stuff that it's worthy of a capital S. I've been quite shocked at the genealogical treasure trove that has been sitting right under my nose for nearly 25 years.

While I've spent the last four or five years scouring Ancestry.com, NewspaperArchive.com, GenealogyBank.com, Archives.com, NARA, and FamilySearch.org - I'd lost sight of just how much information I had gathered back in 1988, pre-internet. This is just one box of goodies that I salvaged from my much too humid basement. These had been stored in a cardboard box and I put everything in this plastic container on a temporary basis. I am STILL waiting for the acid free storage boxes that I ordered back in March that are still on back order.

For now, I've been letting things air out a bit and at least most of the musty smell has gone away.

To say that I was giddy as I briefly took a look at what is here would be an understatement. Sitting before me are original newspaper clippings saved by my grandmother, an entire issue of the February 16, 1927 edition of the Greenwood Gazette (Greenwood, Nebraska), which probably includes a reference to the birth of my mother on February 8 of that year, posters for auctions of my great-grandfather's stock, flyers for auctions when my grandfather was an auctioneer, obituaries for my father's grandparents, and correspondence between myself and two other distant cousins who were researching collateral lines. How smart of me to have kept a carbon-copy (remember carbon copies?) of my side of the correspondence.

Kelly Family Crest
Mom's Family
This hung in the wall of our home for many years.

I don't even know where to begin with everything. I recall at least a couple bloggers who wrote recent posts about cataloging and tracking your personal collection, so I will have to read those for some advice. Until I'm actually ready to begin sorting, filing and cataloging, I plan to do some scanning. And see what lost pieces of information that I can add to my tree on Ancestry.

I'm also guessing that I've probably got enough material here for at least another 500 blog posts! Please, could someone clone me?

Searching for Sina - Sina's Little Book of Pictures - Part 7

It's been a very busy summer, and now it's time to return to sharing more of the photographs from my grandmother Sina Bellinger Kelly's little book of pictures of friends and family.

On this page are two more images of Sina's friend, Garnet Lee, and two other friends, Debra Hoham and Mona Armstrong.

I've located Mona Armstrong in the 1900 census for Greenwood, Nebraska. She was listed as the 12 year old daughter of Joe and Floretta Armstrong.


So far, nothing has turned up on Debra Hoham, but I will keep looking since I want to find out whatever I can about Sina's circle of friends.

I absolutely adore the photo of the ladies in their hats! I do believe that Sina and her friends enjoyed posing for the camera!

Remembering Betty Jane Stradley Sullivan - Mom's best friend

Pat Kelly (Petersen) and Betty Stradley (Sullivan)
Greenwood, Nebraska High School
1941

Today I learned of the death of Betty Jane (Stradley) Sullivan - my Mom's friend since the time they were about seven or eight years old. Betty died on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Betty would have been about 84 or 85.

Of course, I only knew Betty as a grown-up when I was a child. She had five children, the oldest, Susan, about a year younger than me. I wonder where Betty came up with that name?

Betty was funny, quick to laugh and enjoyed life. She was a hard worker. She waited tables for years. She worked at the American Legion Club in Lincoln, Nebraska and no matter who I went there with, we always asked to be seated in Betty's section. I know she was still working as recently as three to four years ago, as my Dad and I met up with her at another local restaurant.

Born Betty Jane Stradley, her family was also among the early families of Greenwood, Nebraska. She was the youngest daughter of Earl and Minnie Stradley and had an older brother, Telford, and a sister, Wilma. After World War II, Betty, Wilma and Mom - and their soon-to-be-husbands all hung out together.

Mom always said how Betty was basically the class clown. She told the story about their history lesson about the Flag and one of the questions asked by the teacher was "What flies over the school house?" and Betty said, "Pigeons!" That was so Betty.

Mom and her siblings had a pony named Ted and she said that Ted was usually the mode of transportation, with all three of them - Wilma, Betty and Mom - on Ted's back - getting around in Greenwood.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home is handling arrangements.


Betty - you were one of a kind - and one of my last links to my Mom. I hope the two of you are having a beer and some laughs together tonight.

Obituary

Betty Jane (Stradley) Sullivan, passed away June 1, 2011 at the Journey House/Tabitha, Lincoln. She was born to Earl and Minnie Stradley in Greenwood. Retired hostess/waitress in food service. Member of St. Joseph's Parrish. Long time Denton resident, last 18 years resided in Lincoln.

Survivors: daughters, Susan B. Medley, Flower Mound, Texas; Nancy M. Pool, Lincoln, Jane R. Sullivan, Irvine, Calif.; son, Robert B. Sullivan, Loveland, Colo.; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; special friend, Rich Cannon, Winona, Minn. Preceded in death by husband, Jerry E. (Butch) Sullivan and son, Brent M. Sullivan.

Rosary, 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2011, Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St, Lincoln. Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 7900 Trendwood Dr., Lincoln. Visitation: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home. Memorials to: American Cancer Society, MADD, Journey House at Tabitha, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Condolences may be left at www.bmlfh.com

Sunday's Obituary: William and Sina Kelly

As I've been sorting through my personal archives in recent days, I'm surprised by items I had either forgotten about or didn't realize that I had. Among them were the funeral books for both of my Kelly grandparents, which included the newspaper clippings of their funeral notices. No dates or sources are written on either. I'm speculating that Sina's is from the Ashland, Nebraska Gazette and I'm quite certain that Bill's is from the Lincoln, Nebraska Journal.

Funeral Is Conducted
For Mrs. Kelly, 66

Funeral services were conducted Monday morning at the Marcy Chapel for Mrs. Sina Harriett Kelly, 66, who died Thursday, Nov. 3, at her home in Greenwood.

Mrs. Warren Robinson and Mrs. Barbara Laune sang "Lead Kindgly Light" and "The Old Rugged Cross," accompanied by Mrs. Howard Anderson, organist. The Rev. Clarence Stirn officiated. Pallbearers were Walter Marolf, Maynard Griffith, Harold Pilfold, Evan Armstrong, Charles Dyer, and Elmer Leadabrand. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.

Mrs. Kelly was born at Fremont April 3, 1889.

KELLY - William LeRoy, Sr. 77, Greenwood, died Tuesday, Retired mayor and city electrician in Greenwood. Survivors: son, W. L, Kelly, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.; daughters, Mrs. William Dulin, Springfield, Mo., Mrs. Kenneth L. Peterson (sic), Lincoln, M. J. Kelly, Eugene, Ore.
Services: 10 a.m. Friday, Marcy Chapel, Ashland. Burial Greenwood Memorial.

Notes:
Sina Belllinger Kelly died November 3, 1955. William Kelly died December 31, 1968. My parents and I were getting ready to attend the funeral of Henrietta Beale ("Aunt Etty") when word arrived of my grandfather's death. Dad was to be a pallbearer at Etty's funeral, but we immediately went to Greenwood instead. Mom lost her two closet living older relatives within days of one another.

William and Sina Kelly
Greenwood Memorial Cemetery
Greenwood, Nebraska

Bill and Sina Kelly
as I remember them

Searching for Sina - Timeline of Her Life

Those of you who follow LongLostRelatives.net may be aware that learning more about my maternal grandmother, Sina Bellinger Kelly, is my primary research goal for 2011. My first step was to create a timeline of events in her life, based upon what I already know.

3 April 1889	Sina’s birth Location: Greenwood, Nebraska or Fremont, Nebraska
13 June 1900 1900 Census	Living in Greenwood, Nebraska Living on Elm Street Household: John Bellinger, age 46, farmer Emma Bellinger, age 37, farmer Harry Bellinger, age 19, farmer Sina Bellinger, age 11, student Clifford Bellinger, age 9, student
1904	Death of grandmother, Ann Jane McVoy Landon Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 15
21 Nov 1906	Brother Harry Bellinger married Alvena Johansen Loup City, Nebraska Sina, age 18
21 April 1910 1910 Census	Living in Lincoln, Nebraska 1311 N. 26th Street Household: John Bellinger, Carpenter, House Emma Bellinger Sina Bellinger, 21, Bookkeeper, grocery store Clifford Bellinger, 19, shipping clerk, wholesale grocery
8 Oct 1913	Marriage to William L. Kelly Lancaster County marriage records Book 38, Page 275 Sina, age 24
6 Aug 1914	Birth of Maxine Dorothy Kelly Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 25
15 Sep 1915	Death of Maxine Dorothy Kelly Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 26
31 Dec 1915 or 1 Jan 1916	Death of mother, Emma Harriet Landon Bellinger Lincoln, Nebraska Sina, age 26
26 Jan 1916	Birth of Margaret Janice Kelly Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 26
4 Aug 1918	Birth of Helen Marcella Kelly Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 29
1 Sept 1919	Brother Clifford Bellinger married Sophia Koch Sina, age 30
16 Aug 1921	Birth of William Leroy Kelly, Jr. Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 32
8 Feb 1927	Birth of Patricia Landon Kelly Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 37
6 Feb 1932	Death of brother, Harry Miller Bellinger Omaha, Nebraska Sina, age 43
29 Apr 1936	Death (suicide) of brother, Clifford Bellinger Omaha, Nebraska Sina, age 47
10 Aug 1936	Death of father, John William Bellinger Greenwood, Nebraska Sina, age 47
Nov 1955	Sina’s death Greenwood, Nebraska Age 66 Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, Nebraska

What I learned from this exercise

By creating a timeline, not only about Sina's personal history, such as census records, I've added the life events from other family members to put some additional context to Sina's life.

In 1900, the family of John and Emma Bellinger were living on Elm Street in Greenwood, Nebraska. This census record confirmed that the family was living in the house that I featured in my post, It's a Dog's Life, in November, 2010. This gave me additional information that three generations of women in my family lived in the same house as young girls: me, my mother and my grandmother. For me, this is a fascinating piece of family history - each of us was about the same age when we lived there!

Sina was about 15 years old when her grandmother Landon died and about 18 when her older brother, Harry, got married. Harry was married in Loup City, Nebraska, so that provides me with a lead to locate a newspaper article about his wedding. Loup City is about 160 miles from Greenwood. Was Sina at the wedding?

In 1910, the Bellingers were living in Lincoln, Nebraska. Sina's father, John Bellinger, was working as a carpenter. Sina was working as a bookkeeper at a grocery store and her younger brother, Clifford, was a shipping clerk at a grocery store. The same grocery store? Quite likely. This gives me something else to follow-up on. The Bellingers were no longer living in the house on Elm Street in Greenwood. Did they retain ownership of the home during the time they lived in Lincoln? Land and real estate records must be discovered. By doing a search on the Lincoln-Lancaster county government web site, I discovered a photograph of the house where the Bellingers lived in 1910. It's only a few miles away, so a drive-by is now on my To Do list.

In October 1913, Sina married William L. (Bill) Kelly and I have the source of their marriage record thanks to the database maintained online by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society. I believe that the microfilmed records are available at the Nebraska State Historical Society archives, so obtaining a copy is added to my To Do list. While there, I can also search the microfilm records from both the Greenwood and Lincoln newspapers for an article about their wedding.

Bill and Sina's first child, Maxine Dorothy, was born in August 1914. Little Maxine, my aunt, lived only 13 months and I shared a photograph of this happy little baby and her tombstone on my other blog, Nothing But Tombstones, back in October.

What I learned from the timeline is that Sina's mother, Emma Landon Bellinger, died just three months after the death of Sina's first and only child at the time.  I cannot even begin to imagine the grief that Sina must have experienced through the losses. Sina was pregnant with her second child during this time.

Less than a month after the death of Sina's mother, her next child, Margaret, was born, followed by Helen, two years later.

Sina's brother, Clifford, was married in September 1919. I've discovered that the record of Clifford's marriage is on microfilm at the W. Dale Clark library in Omaha. Sina was about 30 years old when her younger brother married. I plan to look through the microfilms of the Omaha and Greenwood newspapers for an article on his wedding. I have a photograph of Clifford and his bride, Sophia Koch.

The 1920 census shows Sina and Bill Kelly living in Greenwood, Nebraska with their two oldest daughters, Margaret and Helen. Their next two children were born in the following decade.

The 1930 census shows the Kellys and all four children (all of whom lived to adulthood) living in Greenwood and they were enumerated right after Bill's parents, Dan and Minnie Kelly. Both Kelly families were farming at this time.

The decade of the 1930s brought the death of Sina's older brother, Harry Bellinger, in 1932 and the suicide of her younger brother, Clifford, in 1936. His death was well documented in the newspapers. He shot himself in the tavern he owned in Omaha, following an argument with his wife.

Four months after Clifford's death, Sina's father, John William Bellinger, died.

Even though the timeline does not show a lot of the events of the 1930s and 1940s, during this time frame Sina and Bill raised their four children, lived through the Depression and saw their only son go off to World War II. All four of their children were married and three were divorced before the mid 1940s. Two of the children remarried. Four grandchildren were born. We are all living.

When I started on my Search for Sina, I stated that I didn't know much about my grandmother. But once I began working on the timeline, I discovered that I knew a lot more about her life than I ever realized before. My To Do list is growing and I'm certain there is even more for me to learn about Sina.

Track my progress in my Search for Sina

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History - Week 2: Winter

Week 2 Challenge: Winter. What was winter like where and when you grew up? Describe not only the climate, but how the season influenced your activities, food choices, etc.

If there are two words that are synonymous with Nebraska winter, they are Cold and Snow. 

Most Pathetic Snowman Ever
January 1955
Greenwood, Nebraska

My most vibrant memories of "growing up" are the years we lived in my Mom's hometown, Greenwood, Nebraska, between 1955 and 1960 when I attended elementary school. After the death of my grandmother, we moved in with my Grandpa Kelly. I remember it was an old house, drafty, and my parents would hang blankets across the doorways to maintain heat in the main rooms of the house. We had a cob burning stove in the kitchen. I think there was probably an oil burning heater in the house as well.

I have no recollection of the sensation of being cold. I don't think one notices that sort of thing when you are that young. You are more focused on playing in the snow, making and throwing snowballs, making snowmen and snow angels.

It was in this time period that a lot of snow was dumped on Nebraska. I don't remember how much, but there was enough that my Dad built a snow fort in our front yard. To me, the snow and ice structure seemed as tall as any fortress ever built; I know it was much taller than I was. It was great fun throwing snow balls from behind the fort, then hiding behind it to avoid being hit with snowballs from the enemy invaders!

It was that same winter that Dad built me an igloo. That was definitely an ingenious and educational idea. He started by packing a huge mound of snow and pouring water over it to turn the snow to ice. Once the big mound was built, Dad shoveled out the interior so I could crawl in and have my personal space in my own igloo. I'd never heard of anyone having their own igloo before, so this was pretty impressive to me! I pulled an old blanket into the igloo to sit on. I probably took a doll and a couple other toys into the igloo with me. It didn't take long for me to realize that this was a very cold playhouse, so I didn't spend a whole lot of time in my custom built igloo. Both the igloo and the fort were the last chunks of snow to melt during the thaw.

My Mom always made sure that I was dressed warmly. In the cold Nebraska winters, I usually wore a pair of slacks underneath my skirt when I went to school. I was bundled up in a heavy coat, a stocking cap and a scarf. You know what? I still bundle myself up in the winter and I'm appalled by people who do not wear a hat outdoors in sub-zero weather. Ladies - nobody cares if you have Hat Hair on a cold day!

I clearly recall one winter day when I was in second or third grade and it was time for recess. I pulled on my trousers, put on my snow boots, put on my hat and gloves as I had been taught to do. My friends were already out the door and playing on the swings and other playground equipment. By the time I was dressed and headed out the door . . . recess was over and everyone else was coming back inside! It took me another ten minutes to get out of my outdoor gear. I do remember one of the older girls helping me, because those buttons weren't all that easy to manipulate. Missing recess is pretty traumatic for a little kid!

The snowstorms that I lived through were nothing compared to the Nebraska Blizzard of 1949. My parents were living in Grand Island at the time and often told stories about being snowed in for days. There was no telephone service and snow was so deep that some drifts were as high as 50 feet. Trains could not get through until paths were dug out of the snow.

Chicago & Northwestern tracks near Harrison, NE
The blizzard closed every north-south rail line and all but one east-west line in Nebraska.
source: http://dnr.ne.gov/floodplain/docs/Blizzard_Investigation.html

View a short video about the blizzard of 1949 from NETNebraska.

About 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy: Amy Coffin of We Tree Genealogy has created a third year of blogging prompts for genealogy bloggers. The theme for 2011 is 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and History. 

Wordless Wednesday - Clifford and Sina Bellinger

Clifford Bellinger and Sina Bellinger (Kelly)
Children of John William Bellinger and Emma Harriet Landon
of Greenwood, Nebraska

Sina is my grandmother.

Tragedy Tuesday: Mike and Mollie Kelly killed in train crash

Two Killed at Greenwood - Burlington Train Hits Car on Grade Crossing - Mr. and Mrs. Kelly of Lincoln Meet Instant Death When Auto Stops on Track

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kelly of Lincoln were instantly killed Monday afternoon, near 3 o'clock when hit by Burlington train No. 2 eastbound at a crossing near Greenwood. The remains were brought to Lincoln late Monday afternoon.

Mr. Kelly was a brother of Mrs. O.E. Rector and of Mrs. John Fitzgerald. The accident happened east of Greenwood near the elevator. Mr. Kelly drove up on the eastbound track and stopped to let a freight train go by, never noticing the approaching fast passenger train. The car was demolished and the occupants were instantly killed.

Mr. and Mrs. Kelly left Lincoln Monday morning on business. Mr. Kelly is a retired farmer and the circumstances of the accident indicate that he was driving to their farm near Greenwood when the train struck them. Mr. Kelly was about sixty years old and Mrs. Kelly about fifty-five.

Word was received Monday evening that Mrs. John Fitzgerald, sister of Mr. Kelly, would arrive Tuesday from Evergreen Col. where she is now living. Edward, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, will arrive sometime Tuesday from Notre Dame university where he is a student.

The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are being held at Roberts' Parlors pending funeral arrangements.

Source: Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 5, 1920

Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Kelly Meet Death

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kelly met instant death Monday afternoon when struck by Burlington train No. 2 at the crossing near the stockyards. No one knows the exact cause of the accident, but many think the victims were watching a freight train coming from the east and failed to see the approaching fast passenger train. The car was demolished and Mr. and Mrs. Kelly almost instantly killed, the bodies being taken to Lincoln on No. 7.

Mr. and Mrs. Kelly lived on their farm near here until two years ago when they retired and went to Lincoln to live. They leave two children - Edward, who is attending Notre Dame College and Mrs. Mayme White, who resides in Texas.

The accident has cast a gloom over this community where Mr. and Mrs. Kelly made a host of friends during their long residence in this vicinity.

Source: Greenwood Gazette, Greenwood, Nebraska, October 7, 1920

Notes: Michael C Kelly was the brother of my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly. Mary "Mollie" Kelleher was the daughter of Patrick Kelleher and Nora Nestor Kelleher. Mollie's first husband was William D. Kelly, Jr., brother of Michael C. Kelly. Mollie and William had two children. Willie died as an infant in 1886. Mary Theresa was born in 1888 and died in 1964. She was known as "Mayme" Kelly White. Mike and Mollie's child together was Edward.

Mike and Mollie are buried in unmarked graves at Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska near the graves of Michael's parents and little Willie.

It's a Dog's Life - the Bellinger home

Jack Kelly
in front of the Bellinger house
Greenwood, Nebraska

I've been scanning a lot of old photos since getting my Flip-Pal mobile scanner a couple weeks ago. I had been looking through the boxes of old photographs in search of a full view of the Bellinger home in Greenwood, Nebraska and all I had been able to find only showed a limited view.

Then I came across this photo of my Grandpa Bill Kelly's last dog, Jack, sitting in front of the house. I would have taken this photo around 1966-67 while my grandfather was still living there.


From what I've been told, this was the home of John Bellinger, my great grandfather. The Kelly house was right across the street. John's daughter, Sina Bellinger, married my grandfather, Bill Kelly.

Bill and Sina Kelly lived in this house in the late 1940s. I've not verified how long or the years when they lived there.

Henrietta Beale and Sina Kelly
circa 1947

At left is a photo of Henrietta Loder Beale and my grandmother, Sina  Bellinger Kelly (they were cousins, but we always called Henrietta "Aunt Etty"). This photo was taken in the late 1940s and shows the west side of the house.

My Mom had told me that she had lived in this house with her parents, so I'm thinking that would have been in the early 1940s.

My Mom, Dad and I moved into the house with Grandpa Bill Kelly after Grandma Sina died in 1955. We lived there until 1960. Mom said that my bedroom had been her bedroom in the olden days.

Susan and Patricia Kelly Petersen

The third photo is me and Mom in the front yard of the house, circa 1957. This photo showed as much of the house as I could find until I came across the one of Jack the dog.

When we moved into the house was when indoor plumbing was first installed in the house. I remember the pantry being repurposed as a bathroom and a kitchen sink being put it. It sure beat pumping water and *ahem* using the outhouse! I keep thinking that I'm not that old to be able to remember a time without plumbing.

The house was torn down a few years ago. I always felt a little sad whenever I would drive along the highway and not see the house where I lived during my formative years. The house was run down after my grandfather died in 1968, so it's actually kind of surprising it remained standing as long as it did.

A couple years ago, a new house was built on the lot. Even though it isn't "our" house anymore, at least someone is still living on the land that I called home for five years.

Wordless Wednesday - the Greenwood Cornet Band

The Greenwood, Nebraska Cornet Band
Photographed in Ashland, Nebraska
May 30, 1883

Elections - You Win Some; You Lose Some

I hope everyone exercised their right and voted today. And I'm not just talking about Dancing With the Stars!

My family has always been politically active - whether as voters or candidates. Politics and elections were always discussed (and cussed) at our dining room table. No surprise that political science was one of my minors in college.

Mayor Bill Kelly
Greenwood, Nebraska

It was a crisp fall night in the mid 1950s. I was about six years old at the time. I was so excited because it was election day and we were going to the polls to vote. No one bothered to tell me that I wasn't old enough to vote until we got to the polling place and I thought I could exercise my right. What a disappointment when they told me I couldn't vote! I pitched some kind of fit and started shouting, "I'm a Democrat and I want to vote!" Apparently I had to be taken to the car to wait while my Mom finished her ballot. What a disappointment. When other kids looked forward to turning 21 so they could drink legally, I looked forward to registering to vote. And I've voted in every election since then.

Below is a clipping from the Lincoln (NE) Evening Journal of April 8, 1959, when my grandfather Bill Kelly was defeated in his run for the Greenwood (NE) village board. Well, he showed them! A few years later, he was elected Mayor of Greenwood, where he served during the town's centennial.

Sunday's Obituary - Ann Jane McVoy Landon

MRS. ANN JANE LANDON

The subject of this skietch was born in Columbia County, New York, July 11, 1817 and died at the home of her son, George Landon, west of Ashland, January 15, 1904, aged 86 years, 6 months and 4 days. She moved with her parents to Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and in 1837, at the age of 20 years, she was married to Daniel Landon.  There were born to them ten children, seven sons and three daughters, one son and her husband having preceded her to the better land.

She came with her family to Nebraska in 1870 and settled west of Ashland, where the remaining years of her life were spent.

The funeral took place from the home on Sunday, the 17th instant, at 11 o'clock, Elder C. A. Huyck of Ashland conducting the services. The interment was made in the Greenwood cemetery.

Source: Ashland Gazette, Ashland, NE, January 29, 1904

Daniel Landon
and Wife
Ann Landon
Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, Nebraska

Relationship to me: second great grandmother

School Days - Greenwood Nebraska 1929

Greenwood Public School
Greenwood, Nebraska

Greenwood School Students - 1929
Seventh and Eighth Grades
Teacher: Miss Oseth Kemp (married name: Stradley)

Back Row: Millard Anderson, Donald Weimer, Louis Stevenson, Wilson Lambert, Jennings Sorman, Austin Kyles, James Brown

Middle Row: Herman Fredrick, Phyllis Weideman, Fern Dalbow, Alene Weiderman, Bonita Mcleaur, Margaret Kelly, Lyle Anderson

Front Row: Miss Oseth Kemp, Billy Pailing, Garwood Anderson, Anna Nichols, Marjorie Newkirk, George Rouse, Wayne Armstrong

Those Places Thursday: the men of Greenwood Nebraska

This photograph shows a gathering of men of Greenwood, Nebraska. Second from the left, with the cane and pointing, is my great grandfather, Daniel Kelly. The man indicated as "E.L." is E. L. McDonald, who was a long time grocer in the village. I even remember "Mac's" grocery store when I was a youngster. The other fellow who is labeled (whose initials I can't decipher) is also pointing. So I wonder if Dan and this fellow are supposed to be pointing in the same direction - perhaps at Mac? There's no other identifying information on the photograph.

Sunday's Obituary - Emma Harriet Landon Bellinger

Emma Harriet Landon Bellinger
1862 - 1915 or 1916

Mrs. John W. Bellinger

Harriett Emma Landon was born August 13, 1862 in Sharon, Wisconsin, and with her parents moved to Nebraska in 1870. She was united in marriage to John W. Bellinger November 12, 1879. To this union three children were born. - Harry Bellinger of Omaha, Mrs. Will Kelly of Greenwood, and Clifford Bellinger of Lincoln. she united with the Greenwood Methodist church in 1900, of which she has been a faithful member. She died December 31, 1915, at the age of 53 years, 4 months and 18 days. She leaves to mourn her loss, her husband, three children, two grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Loder of Waverly, and a host of friends. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wilton from the M.E. church Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and the body laid to rest in Greenwood cemetery.

Source: Ashland (Nebraska) Gazette, January 6, 1916

Greenwood Gazette
Greenwood, Nebraska
date unknown

John and Emma Bellinger
Greenwood Cemetery
Greenwood, Cass county, Nebraska

Genealogy is not an exact science. Information we discover often just provides clues that allow us to make inferences. We do the best with the clues we find.

Emma Harriet Landon Bellinger was my great grandmother. Or perhaps she was Harriet Emma Landon Bellinger. Sources differ on which of her names came first. She was known as Emma.

She died on December 31, 1915. Or maybe it was January 1, 1916.

She was 53 years old when she died. Or maybe she was 63.

She was born in Sharon, Wisconsin. Or maybe she was born in Belvidere, Illinois.

Her surviving daughter was Mrs. W. L. Kelly, not Mrs. W. O. Kelly as one of the death notices states.

On Becoming a History Detective - Part 1

William Jennings Bryan

As with many of my genealogy friends, I enjoy History Detectives on PBS. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as the hunt.

I have an heirloom plate that features Nebraska's William Jennings Bryan, who ran for President of the United States three times, 1896, 1900 and 1908. The plate has been in our family for at least 100 years.

I've decided to try my skills at becoming a History Detective to see what I can find out about this item and its role in my family history.

The story from family lore was that my Kelly ancestors were supporters of William Jennings Bryan and that this plate was presented to the Kellys by Bryan during a visit to their farm near Greenwood, Nebraska. At one time, I had in my possession two photographs of Bryan that were supposedly taken at the time of the visit to the Kelly farm. These were the typical sepia toned photographs that were printed on postcard stock so they could actually be used as a postcard and mailed.

I believe it was in junior high school when I carefully wrapped up the plate and the photographs and took them to school for show and tell when we were studying this era of American history. I may have written an essay on Bryan, but I don't remember. What I do know is that the two Bryan photographs are no longer with my family photographs. I always took responsibility for losing them, but I really have no idea how, when or why they disappeared. I can still visualize what one of the photographs looked like and I am quite certain I would recognize it if I saw it. I think that one of the photographs was Bryan with a horse, one that supposedly belonged to my great grandfather, Dan Kelly.

Doesn't this sound just like some of the family lore that is shared when the History Detectives come in to find out the real story?

Several years ago, I listed the plate on eBay with a very large reserve price on it, just to see if I could find out anything about the plate. Someone wrote to me and indicated the plate was quite common and the estimated value in the late 1990s was about $20 - $25. I took the plate off eBay and have held on to it ever since. One other time I found a photograph of a plate like this on the internet, but I haven't done any further research. About 12 years ago, I contacted someone at Fairview, the Bryan residence/museum here in Lincoln, Nebraska and was told they did not have this plate in their collection and they would welcome it as a donation. I wasn't ready to let go of it yet.

So, as a good History Detective, where do I begin?

1. Determine if the plate was associated with one of Bryan's presidential campaigns and, if so, the year.
2. Visit the Nebraska State Historical Society and go through the microfilms of the Greenwood Gazette newspapers of that era to see if I can find any news reports or social columns that mention Bryan visiting the Kelly farm. Also check their archives for Bryan photographs to see if there is one of him with any of my family members.
3. Visit Fairview and see if I can find out anything from the Bryan archives about the plate.

I'm not overly optimistic that I will be able to prove that Bryan personally gave the plate to my family, but I have a feeling that the search will be interesting.

Stay tuned.