Rose (McNulty) Kelly 1835-1915

KELLY, MCNULTY

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 8/29/2010 at 10:48:22

The Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Iowa
28 Apr 1915
Page 1

Mrs. E. F. Kelly Died Last Sunday Evening

Was One of Our County's Highly Respected Pioneers

Mrs. E. F. Kelly passed away at her home in this city at 7:30 Sunday evening after an illness of some duration, mention of which has been made in previous issues of the Democrat. For some time it was evident that she could not recover. Her death was due chiefly to declining health on account of her advanced years. The funeral will be held today. Services will be conducted at St. Thomas church at ten o'clock. The burial will be in St. John's cemetery. The pall bearers chosen are W. H. Coonan, M. Conlon, J. S. Martin, Robert Laughlin, John Moncrief and Thos. Kirby.

Rose McNulty was born at Drummore, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, May 5, 1835. Hence she was rounding out her eightieth year. She came to the United States in 1848. She was married in New York City, April 30, 1859, to E. F. Kelly. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly came west in 1870 and located on a farm in Great Oak township. In the spring of 1877 they moved to Emmetsburg, subsequently making this their home. They were the parents of four sons and five daughters. Six are living. They are, Mrs. E. F. O'Toole and Mrs. S. H. Lynch of Aberdeen, South Dakota, Daniel Kelly of Emmetsburg, Miss Celia, who has lived at Aberdeen for some time, and Miss Jennie and John H. who are at present at home. John H. is Congressman Wood's private secretary and spends a great deal of his time at Washington, D. C. Another son, B. E. Kelly, who was widely known as an attorney, died a few years ago.

Mrs. Kelly was a lady who, like many others of her race, had limited opportunities in her early life but she had a clear, strong mind and she was practical, energetic, hopeful and zealous. There was perhaps no mother in our county who was more determined that her sons and daughters should secure a good education and become active and helpful members of society. Five of her daughters were for many years teachers in the schools of our city and other places in which ability and success as disciplinaries were prized. Her son, E. B. Kelly, served one term as county superintendent, later taking up the practice of law and attaining high rank in the profession. Had he lived he would doubtless have won judicial honors. The two other sons, Daniel and John H., also entered the legal profession. Both are widely known and their marked ability and sterling worth as lawyers are acknowledged by all who know them. Those who knew Mrs. Kelly intimately and who esteemed her for her ambition, her steadfastness of purpose and her most exemplary life fully realize that she deserved great credit for the distinction her worthy daughters attained in educational affairs and the achievements of her talented sons in the legal profession. She was devoutly faithful to her church and its teachings and no woman in our county stood firmer for a high standard of morals in our community. She was kind and loyal as a friend and was considerate, generous and obliging as a neighbor. In years to come she will be remembered as one of the best and most dutiful mothers in the early history of our city and county. The sympathy of all is extended to her aged husband and to her several sons and daughters in their sorrow.