Kelley, Charles Henry (1854-1939)

KELLEY, KELLY, NOTT, TAYLOR, CONGDON, NICHOLSON

Posted By: Christine Gorball (email)
Date: 5/26/2012 at 12:57:29

Charles H. Kelley
December 8, 1854 - November 13, 1939

Funeral services for Charles H. Kelley were held Friday afternoon, November 17, [1939], at the First Methodist church at two o'clock, preceded by short services at the Olson funeral home at 1:30.

Rev. C.H. Seward, pastor of the church, conducted the services. A quartet, composed of Emory J. Oleson, Elmer Brooker, Mrs. C. G. Webb and Mrs. Ben Conner, sang "Jesus, Lover of My Soul", "Nearer, My God, To Thee" and "Abide With Me", accompanied by Mrs. L.D. Prewitt. The pall bearers were Reat Thompson, John Shimer, Wynne Thompson and Alfred Brones. Burial was made in the Madison Township cemetery.

Charles H. Kelley, son of Henry L.B. and Phoebe Nott-Kelley, was born December 8, 1854, in the vicinity of Concord, New Hampshire, and died Monday, November 13, 1939, at the home of his son-in-law, Will J. Taylor, northwest of Forest City, at the age of 84 years, 11 months, and 5 days.

His father was a native of New Hampshire and his mother of Vermont. When Charles was 12 years of age, the Kelley family moved to Iowa and settled in Bremer county. Here the boy grew to manhood and became a teacher in the public schools of the county. At a county institute held in Waverly in August 1874, Mr. Kelley met another Bremer county school teacher, Miss Lois Congdon, to whom he was married on Christmas day in 1877.

Mr. and Mrs. Kelley observed their sixtieth wedding anniversary two years ago on December 25th. To this union three children were born: Ruth E. (Mrs. Will J. Taylor, who died July 26, 1916); Edward L.; and Phillip H. Kelley. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley also took into their home two orphaned children, whom they adopted: Harold E. and Ethel Kelley.

Mr. and Mrs. Kelley began housekeeping on a farm, which he had bought before their marriage, located 8 miles northeast of Waverly. Here they remained with their family until the year 1900 when they moved to a farm three miles south of Forest City. This continued to be their home until sixteen years later when they moved to Backus, Minnesota. In 1929 they left Minnesota and went west, spending some time in Oregon and Washington. For a number of years Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been making their home at the Will Taylor farm.

Mr. Kelley united with the church when he was seventeen years old and all through his life was a faithful Christian and active worker in the church, teaching Sunday school classes, serving as superintendent of the Sunday school and as chore leader. While in Minnesota he served for most of the time as a director on the school board. In civil and religious matter, Mr. Kelley made a fine contribution throughout his active life, and in his declining years was a quiet and ripening type of Christian saint.

Mr. Kelley had been in his usual health until his recent brief illness which terminated in his death on Monday of last week. Those who survive his passing are his aged widow, 82 years old; two sons, Edward L., of Saginaw, Michigan, and Phillip H., of Oregon; his adopted son, Harold E. Kelley, of Waterloo, Iowa; his son-in-law, W.J. Taylor, of Forest City; one brother, Howard L. Kelley, of Waverly, Iowa; one sister, Mrs. Mabel Nicholson, of Lynd, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and a large number of friends who have known the Kelley's through the years. One brother, Robert, and a sister, Mrs. Agnes Nicholson, preceded him in death a number of years ago.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral services were: Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Kelley, of Saginaw, Michigan; Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Kelley, of Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Kelley, of Waverly; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bricelain, Mr. and Mrs. Hinthorn, of Albert Lea; Mrs. Russell Mills, of Moline, Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Burman, of Lake Mills; Mrs. and Mrs C.C. Powers, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Powers, and children of Crystal Lake.

Source: Unknown Newspaper Clipping

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