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

Sunday's Obituary - Dr Paul Kelly

Paul Harold Kelly
Leslie Florentine Kelly
on a camping trip
photo courtesy Wil Cooper

Dr. Paul H. Kelly

Dr. Paul H. Kelly, well known as a surgeon in Saint Paul for the past thirty-six years, died suddenly at the age of sixty-three at St. Joseph's Hospital on January 9, 1948.

The youngest of eight children, Dr. Kelly was born on October 5, 1884, the son of the late Daniel W. Kelly and Mary Collins Kelly. By a strange coincidence his death took place in the same hospital in which he was born.

He attended the Saint Paul grade schools, Cretin and Central High schools and Hamline University for a year. He received his degree as pharmaceutical chemist in 1904 and his M.D. in 1911, both from the University of Minnesota. During the later years of his medical training, he lived at St. Joseph's Hospital in the capacity of an extern. During this time, he also acted when called upon as relief for the police surgeon at night.

After graduation in 1911, Dr. Kelly interned at Ancker Hospital, then known as the City and County Hospital in Saint Paul, was city physician from 1912 to 1914, and a member of the surgical staff of Ancker Hospital from 1912 to 1928. He was also a member of the staffs of St. Joseph's, Miller, St. Lukes, Midway and St. John's Hospital. He was a member of the advisory board of St. Joseph's Hospital from 1934 to 1939 and chief of staff in 1939.

Dr. Kelly was a member of the Ramsey County Medical Society, the Minnesota State and American Medical Associations, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Association of Railroad Surgeons. In recent years, he was local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul and the Chicago, Great Western railways.

Dr. Kelly was one of the first surgeons in Saint Paul to specialize in industrial surgery, and as a result of his experience, his advice and counsel were frequently sought. He published several articles in Minnesota Medicine: one in 1922 entitled "Strangulated Hernia - Report of Cases"; his part in a Symposium on Emergency Surgery held at the 1933 meeting of the Minnesota State Medical Association, and in 1934 an article entitled "Industrial Accidents - A Report of 2,000 Cases."

Dr. Kelly was a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa medical fraternity and a life member of the Saint Paul Athletic Club. Hunting was his favorite hobby. He possessed a fine tenor voice and enjoyed classical music in all its forms.

Dr. Kelly was married in 1914 to Leslie F. Terry of Saint Paul. She preceded him in death in February, 1945. Surviving him are four children: Paul Richard of Modesto, California; Howard William of Balboa Island, California; Dr. William Daniel, captain in the Army Medical Corps now in Japan; and Elizabeth Louise (Mrs. Jack C. Cooper) of Milwaukie, Oregon. He is also survived by his brother, Dr. John V. Kelly, and sister, Miss Margaret E. Kelly, both of Saint Paul.

Source: Minnesota Medicine, Volume 31, published by the Minnesota Medical Association in 1948. Pp 312-313.
Relationship to me: first cousin, three times removed; Paul's father, Daniel W. Kelly, was a brother of my great-great grandfather, William D. Kelly. The brothers came from Johnstown, Kilkenny, Ireland.

Success Story! Dr William D Kelly Obituary

Never underestimate the power of the Internet and the generosity of fellow genealogists.

On January 10, 2010, I posted a request for an obituary of Dr. William D. Kelly of St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to posting on this blog, I also posted a query on a message board on Ancestry.com. Thanks to the Minnesota death index search of the Minnesota State Historical Society I had narrowed down my search to two William Kellys in Ramsey county. One died in 1940 and the other died in 1943.

Not long ago, I received a special surprise in my email. A generous volunteer sent me not only a copy of the obituary from the newspaper, but also a copy of William's death certificate. Thanks to both, I now know that he is buried in Calvary Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Before I received this information, I continued my search for Dr. Kelly's obituary. A Google books search resulted in a reference in the journal of the Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Medicine. Unfortunately, it was only a limited preview and the entire obituary was not available online. I found the website for the Minnesota Medical Association and sent an email to the contact listed. He referred my request to the editor of the publication, who immediately responded with a scanned copy of the page from the journal. It had helped that the Google book search indicated exactly the volume and page number I was looking for so I could provide that with my request. As Dr. Kelly's brother was also a physician in St. Paul, I obtained a copy of his obituary from Minnesota Medicine in the same manner. Kudos to the Minnesota Medical Association for their willingness to help and their prompt response on both occasions!

And, of course, my thanks to the gracious volunteer who took the time to lookup the newspaper obituary and the copy of the death certificate.

Thanks to people like this, our work as family historians is a little easier.

Wedding Wednesday: Eunice Derieg and John Kelly

I've come across quite a few old newspaper articles about wedding ceremonies, so I thought I would begin a new feature on the LongLostRelatives.net blog called Wedding Wednesday.

The marriage of Miss Eunice Derrige (sic - correct spelling is Derieg) and Mr. John Kelly was celebrated yesterday morning at 8:30 at St. Theresa's pro-cathedral. The ceremony was followed by an elaborate wedding breakfast at the home of the groom's sister, Mrs. Ode Rector. The tables were decorated with white roses and chrysanthemums. Covers were laid for twenty-two. The bride wore a handsome white satin gown and a white picture hat with drooping plumes. Mrs. Rector was assisted by Mrs. Langdon of Omaha, Mrs. John Fitzgerald and Mrs. James Manahan.

Lincoln Evening News
Lincoln, Nebraska
November 20, 1900


I selected this wedding article because this is one of my brick wall families. Eunice Derieg and John Kelly were married in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1900. The 1910 census shows the family had moved to Caddo county, Oklahoma. Several other members of the Derieg family that came from Nebraska also show up in this vicinity. The 1920 census shows the Kellys living in Colorado. By 1930, Eunice Derieg Kelly is back in Oklahoma, a widow, and the couple's two sons are living with their mother and farming. I've not been able to track the family since the 1930 census, nor have I located any documentation of John's death.

John Kelly was a brother of my great-grandfather, Daniel Kelly, and a son of William D. Kelly and Mary Casey. He was born in Nebraska about 1865.

The other people referenced in the wedding article are Mrs. Ode Rector, the former Nelly Kelly; Mrs. Langdon is Margaret Kelly Langdon, wife of Michael Langdon; and Mrs. John Fitzgerald is Mary Kelly Fitzgerald. All three women were sisters of John Kelly. Mrs. James Manahan is Mary "Minnie" Zieta Kelly Manahan, a first cousin. Minnie Kelly Manahan's parents were Daniel Kelly and Mary Collins of St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Her husband was attorney James Manahan, who became a congressman from Minnesota.

As always, if you are connected to the Derieg or Kelly families, I'd love to connect with you.

Google Books - an amazing resource

There's no doubt that anyone who has been doing any online genealogy research has at one time or another  done a search on Google Books. If not, this is a rich resource that no family history researcher can ignore.

First, access the site at http://books.google.com/ From here, it works just like searching Google. Once you locate a resource you want to "bookmark" - you just add the book to your online library. You can also identify bookshelves by topic so you can locate your books faster.

Some of the books that are indexed on the site have no preview or limited preview due to copyright restrictions. However, there are links to assist users in locating the book for sale or in a library.

Here are just a few of the gems that have assisted my research:


Ancestry magazine - back issues are available to read online


Men of Minnesota - I found biographies and photos of a related Kelly family here


History of Ramsey County and St Paul, Minnesota - since several of my Kelly family lived in St Paul for a while, this was a great view of the city and Ramsey county


History of Waterbury, Connecticut - my Welch family lived here, so I wanted to learn more about this community.


A Lost Lady by Willa Cather - Who would think that a novel would aid in family history research? Well, the notes to this scholarly edition of the book has a reference to my great-great grandfather, although not by name. He is referred to as the father-in-law of John Fitzgerald and it tells me that he hauled freight from Omaha to Denver. This is certainly a resource that I doubt I would have found if not for Google books.


Illustrated History of the State of Nebraska - By far, my best "hit" so far - this gives a fairly detailed biography the great-great grandfather referenced in A Lost Lady - William D. Kelly. This is the book where I first learned the name of his father and that the family came from Kilkenny, Ireland.

This is just a sampling of the dozens of books I've located with family history information. If you haven't done so already, search for your own family members on Google books.

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Casey Kelly

Mary Casey Kelly was my great great grandmother. She was born in Ireland and married William D Kelly shortly after both arrived in the United States. The marriage probably took place in either New York or New Jersey. They then moved west to Elgin, Illinois, where their two oldest children were born. From there, they went to St. Paul in Ramsey county, Minnesota. In 1864, they were on the western expedition led by Captain James Fisk. After an altercation with native Indians in the Dakotas, the train came east again. William did not want to return to St. Paul, so the family settled in Omaha, Nebraska; later to Council Bluffs, Iowa and eventually to Greenwood, Nebraska in Cass county and the adjoining Mill Precinct in Lancaster county, Nebraska.

Kelly tombstone, Calvary Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska

Finding Mary and William's tombstones was a turning point in my genealogical research. I discovered Mary's birth and death dates, her maiden name and confirmation that she was the wife of William.

Sadly, William does not have an inscription on the marker, however, his grave is marked by a stone reading "Papa" next to Mary's that reads "Mamma".

The more things change, the more they stay the same

In current times, many of us are concerned about the distractions while driving - cell phones, people reading and sending text messages. Our ancestors lives were not without issues in their day:

DANGER FROM RUNAWAYS

Two Narrow Escapes Recently – Horses Left Unhitched

The number of runaways occurring in St. Paul is arousing the attention of the officials of the city, and measures are being discussed to reach negligent drivers who leave their horses unhitched on the public thoroughfares. Almost daily a runaway occurs through carelessly leaving an animal standing without check-rain or hitching weight. That more serious results have not followed seems providential. Friday afternoon a horse and wagon belonging to Dayfield Bros., dashed down Third street, near Franklin, colliding with a buggy in which were Patrick Collins and his three little grandchildren, daughters of Daniel Kelly of the Valley house. The buggy was overturned and the occupants thrown to the pavement, all being more or less bruised and one of the little ones being badly hurt on the head and arm. Mr. Collins received an injury to his side which may yet result fatally, as he is over 70 years of age and the hurt is feared to be internal. The skin and flesh is lacerated and torn from his forehead and he is severely bruised.

St Paul Daily Globe
St Paul, MN
March 28, 1886

Seeking Obituary for Margaret M. E. Kelly St Paul, Minnesota - 1974

I would appreciate any assistance in locating an obituary for Margaret M. E. Kelly of St. Paul, Minnesota who died April 5, 1974. She was born in Minnesota (probably St. Paul) on June 8, 1880. She was the daughter of Daniel Kelly and Mary Collins. She never married. From the information I've gathered so far, she outlived all of her other siblings: William Daniel (W. D.) Kelly, Minnie Kelly Manahan, Daniel Kelly, Bridget Kelly, Ursula May "Bird" Kelly Daggett, Jennie Kelly, John Vincent Kelly and Paul Harold Kelly. She died in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Thank to to anyone who is able to help.

William D Kelly - my great-great grandfather

So often, family history information shows up when and where you least expect it. I've been continuing my research on the family of Daniel Kelly of St. Paul, Minnesota and while scouring the old issues of the St. Paul Daily Globe, I came across an obituary notice of my great-great grandfather, William D. Kelly, who was a brother of Daniel Kelly.

William had lived in St. Paul, MN from the late 1850s to the mid 1860s and had been in Nebraska for nearly 30 years when he died. And yet, here is his obituary from the St. Paul, Minnesota newspaper, more than 400 miles away.

This death notice also confirms another piece of information for me. I knew that William, his wife, Mary, and their children took off on one of the westward expeditions from St. Paul led by Captain James Fisk. Daughter Mary Kelly Fitzgerald was about 12 years old at the time and described their journey in detail in a 1938 newspaper interview. Based upon Mary's descriptions and the printed newspaper reports and journals from the time, I had concluded that the Kelly family was on the Fisk expedition of 1864. That date is confirmed in William's obituary. It is so nice when you are able to find corroborating information from different sources!

Date of newspaper notice: February 21, 1896.

Daniel Kelly Candidate for County Commissioner

As I continue to focus on the Daniel Kelly family and descendants of St Paul, Minnesota, I have come across this newspaper clipping from the St. Paul Globe of September 14, 1902.

The article reads:

Daniel Kelly, candidate for renomination on the Democratic ticket for county commissioner, is one of St. Paul's respected citizens; came to St. Paul July 5, 1856, and shortly afterwards commenced contracting in company with his brothers in building roads, etc., and later in supplying the frontier forts and Indian agencies. This business was continued for some years and many times attended with great peril. He is in the real estate and insurance business, offices 418 Pioneer Press building. Mr. Kelly was secretary of old Hope No. 3 volunteer fire department for five years. He is a territorial and junior pioneer.

Mr. Kelly is now county commissioner, filling the unexpired term of the vanquished George B. Whitehorne. the honorable city council appointed Mr. Kelly last October. His efforts at all times are in behalf of the taxpayers and economy, with fairness in all matters. He is a man of great executive ability, diligent and active in all county manners, and with his knowledge in real estate values is of great importance.

Dr William D Kelly of St Paul Minnesota

Dr. William D. Kelly of St. Paul Minnesota

Dr. William D. (W.D.) Kelly was one of three brothers who were physicians in St. Paul, Minnesota in the time frame of 1890 - 1955. They were the sons of Daniel William Kelly in the previous post.

Dr. William Daniel Kelly (W. D. Kelly) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on August 1, 1864. He practiced medicine in St. Paul from about 1895 until at least 1938.


Dr. Kelly's listing in the St. Paul city directory
What doctor has office hours on Sunday these days?!?!

He was the son of Daniel W Kelly (hotel and saloon proprietor and later involved in real estate) and Mary Collins. He lived in several different residences on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.

From all of the census records I've reviewed, he never married. Siblings were Nellie Kelly, Mary-Minnie Zieta Kelly (wife of Congressman James Manahan), Daniel Kelly, Bridget Kelly, Ursula May "Bird" Kelly, Jane/Jenny Kelly, Dr. John V. Kelly, Dr. Paul H. Kelly, and Margaret Kelly.

Copy of obituary sought

I've discovered two death records in Ramsey County, Minnesota for a William D. Kelly - one is April 7, 1940 and the other is December 21, 1943. Hopefully those dates can be a guide to locating an obituary in one of the St. Paul newspapers. The "other" William D. Kelly who was a contemporary in the St. Paul vicinity was shown as a farmer in census records, so perhaps that can help differentiate from the W. D. Kelly I am researching.

Information on the location of the cemetery where he is buried would also be welcome. I would speculate it would likely be in a Catholic cemetery. I've accumulated quite a bit of information on this family that I would be glad to share with other researchers. Thank you to anyone who is able to assist with this request.

UPDATE: An obituary for Dr. Kelly has been discovered.

Many "New" Kelly Relatives . . .

As usual, I was spending my Sunday afternoon seeing if I could add some more branches to the family tree. I went back to work on some of the descendants of Daniel W. Kelly of St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the brother of my great-great grandfather, William D. Kelly, who also lived in St. Paul for a while. They were two of the sons of Kieran (or Keron) Kelly from Kilkenny, Ireland.

I was fortunate to find an obituary on one of Daniel's granddaughters, who died in 2007. It was an online obituary and I had to pay $2.99 for it. That turned out to be quite a bargain considering all of the Kelly kin I was able to add to my family tree. With direct descendants from Daniel, their spouses and in-laws, the total additions to the family tree already exceeds 50 "new" family members.

As these new discoveries brought the generations up to present day, I'm hopeful that I'll be in touch with some of the long lost relatives at some point. I want to respect their privacy, so I won't post their names or locations on this blog.

But - if you are a descendant of Daniel W. Kelly who was born in July 1837 in Ireland and his wife, Mary Collins, born about 1842 and died about 1894. I'd love to hear from you!

It's definitely a small world.