Kelley, Anne 1833-1918

KELLEY, KELLY, MEE

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/17/2011 at 21:33:37

From: Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, May 14, 1918

WAS EARLY SETTLER MRS. KELLEY PASSES AWAY AFTER LONG ILLNESS

FAMILY HOMESTEADED IN GRANT

Deceased was a Native of Ireland and Came to America when a Girl and With Her Husband to Plymouth County in 1878

Mrs. James C. Kelley died at her home, 409 Fifth street, shortly after midnight on Sunday, after a long illness aged eighty-five years. Mrs. Kelley had been in falling health for some years, gradually growing weaker, due to the infirmities of old age. Mrs. Kelley was one of the pioneer women of Plymouth county, having lived here for forty-seven years.

Her maiden name was Anne Mee and she was born in County Galway, Ireland, on April 10, 1833. When a girl she came with her parents to this country. She was united in marriage with James C. Kelley, in Pennsylvania. They later moved to Michigan and lived at Negaunee, where they remained until 1871. In September of that year they came to Iowa and settled in Plymouth county. Here they homesteaded a tract of land in Grant township, established a home and there spent many years of their life. Mr. Kelley died in 1901, since which time Mrs. Kelley made her home with her son, Postmaster J. E. Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley were the parents of five children, four of whom are living and mourn the death of a devoted mother. They are P. F. Kelley, of Utica, N. Y., Mrs. W. L. McAuliff, of Porterville, Calif., Mrs. M. F. Keough, of Little Falls, Minn., and J. E. Kelley of this city.

Mrs. Kelley was greatly esteemed by a large circle of friends and was well known especially among the older people with whom she had formed warm ties of friendship and associations when the country was sparsely settled and neighbors were closely drawn together by a community of interest.

The funeral services will be held at St. James church, of which she was a devoted member, at 9:15 On Wednesday morning.