Wilbur Tetrick French Kelley Family
from Joan Lutz: joanl@earthlink.net
Wilbur about 1890
Wilbur about age 18
TIMELINE FOR WILBUR TETRICK FRENCH KELLEY

1882 Ella born on the Farrens farm
1883 Wilbur born on the Kelly farm over the hill, east of Clarinda, on way to New Market
1885 Wilbur lived in East River Township
1900 Wilbur was living with his parents on the Kelly farm outside Clarinda
1909 Wilbur Kelley and Ella Farrens married near Clarinda
1910 Wilbur and Ella lived with his mother, Mary Ann Tetrick Kelly on the Kelly farm outside Clarinda
1911 Son Kenneth born on the Kelly Farm
1913 Daughter Maxine born on the Kelly Farm
1918 The family moved into town on Nishna Street
1920 Wilbur, Ella, Kenneth and Maxine lived on Nishna Street
1921 Marian Hope Kelly was born
1925 The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa
1926 Wilbur started the Kelly Construction Co.
1930 Founded Harco Company for road construction
Family lived in Des Moines, Iowa
1942 Wilbur returned to Clarinda and bought the old Farrens Farm
1950 - about Ella went to live at the nursing home
1953 - Wilbur and Ella divorced
1954 Wilbur married friend Dona Bentley
1961 Died in Clarinda, Iowa, buried at Hawleyville Cem.

Wilbur was born and readed on the Kelly family farm in Page Co., Iowa near Clarinda. He was married in 1909 to Ella Idella Farrens who had also grown up near Clarinda on her father's farm.

Iowa State Census 1885 Record
about Wilbur Kelley
Name: Wilbur Kelley
Age: 1 Gender: M Birth County: Page Township Number: 68 Range: 36 Section: 3 Location: SE SW
Marital Status: S Line Number: 28 Dwelling Number: 8 Family Number: 9 Page Number: 194
State: IA County: Page Township name: East River
Family History Film: 1020170 Volume: 242

In 1900 James M Kelly (66) lived in Page Co., Iowa with his wife Maryann (63) and son Wilbur T (17). Wilbur and James were farmers, James born in Indiana and Wilbur born in Iowa. Maryann stated she was born Indiana. James stated that his father was born in KY and his mother in PA. Maryann stated that her father was born in Ky and her mother in Tenn.

!SOURCE: 1900 Census, Page Co., Iowa, ED 85, sheet 5, line 48.

1910 Federal Census, Iowa, Page Co., East River township, District 91
Kelly, Wilbur age 26 farmer married for 1 year
Ella wife age 28 no children born
Mary A mother age 73 widow born in Indiana, father in KY, mother in TN 10 children/6 living

In 1918 he moved his family into Clarinda. He was engaged in several different businesses there including a funeral parlor, furniture store and a grocery.
Kelley, Marian Hope daughter of Wilbur, nee 14 May; m Ella Farrens. Clarinda H 26 May 1921



In 1920 Wilbur Kelley (36), his wife Ella (37), son Kenneth (9) and daughter Maxine (6) were living on Nishna Street, Nodaway township, Clarinda, Page Co., Iowa. Wilbur was a produce buyer.

!SOURCE: 1920 Census, Page Co., Iowa, ED 114, sheet 12, #336.

In 1925 the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he first managed the operation of a coal mine. In 1926 he formed the Kelly Construction Co and began a business as a contracotr building gravel and black top roads throughout iowa. He also formed the Harco Construction Co., in the early 1930s, for highway construction.

In 1930, Iowa, Polk County, Des Moines
Wilbur Kelley age 46 contractor on highway work
Ella J 45
Maxine E16
Kenneth B
Marion H 8

In 1942 he returned to Clarinda and therafter engaged in farming having bought the William Hamilton Farrens farm after the death of William, Ella's father.
As young adults Wilbur and his brother Charles changed the spelling of their name to Kelley.

(submitted by Marion Kelley Rhodabarger 10/15/01)

Wilbur and his brother Charles changed the spelling of their name to "Kelley" which they thought was the Protestant spelling.

Joan Lutz
joanl@earthlink.net
Fountain Valley, CA
Home: 714 962-1523
Cell: 714 928-6610