KELLEY, Byron Cole 1861-1947

KELLEY, HARPER, SPROW, GROFF, COLLINS, KEHL

Posted By: Betty Hootman-Volunteer
Date: 3/3/2014 at 13:53:05

BYRON COLE KELLEY

Byron Cole Kelley passed away Thursday p.m., August 21, 1947 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Harper in Des Moines. He was born October 3, 1861 at Farmington, Iowa, the eldest son of Horace and Martha Kelley, pioneer residents to Lee County.

Byron Kelley grew to manhood and received his education in the rural school and Farmington High School. He continued to reside in that community as a dairy farmer until moving to Wayne County, Iowa, in March 1894. He was converted in early manhood and was active in Sunday School and Church activities.

He was married to Clara Sprow of Allerton, Iowa on Sept. 18, 1889. To them were born right children, of which four daughters and two sons grew to womanhood and manhood: Dr. Helene Groff, Mason City, Iowa, Velma Collins, Bloomfield, Ind., Ingrid Kelley and Eda Harper, Des Moines, Argyle Kelley, Allerton, and Dr. Myron Kelley, Oak Ridge, Tenn. Surviving besides his wife and children are: one sister, Mrs. Ada Kehl, Farmington; sixteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Saturday, August 23 at the Methodist Church conducted by the Rev. Reynold of Des Moines and Rev. Fay of Allerton.

Honorary pallbearers were: J. D. Bracewell, Grant Latimer, D. R. Bettis, James Keho, Claude Conklin and Dan Myers. Active pallbearers were: Olra Cobb, Oscar Cobb, Cecil Bryan, Edward Dugan, Bert Wolfe and Chas. Shelton.

Source: Scrapbook of Unknown Origin, page 77