My Genealogy Hound

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT KELLEY, (deceased). For many years the honored gentleman whose name heads this sketch, resided on a fine farm in Shippensburg township, near Newville, where his death occurred Feb. 3, 1896. He was born in Cumberland county, Pa., on the farm near Big Spring, Nov. 26, 1822.

John Kelley, his father, was a native of Pittsburg, Pa. He married Drusilla Vanderbilt, who was born at Oakville, Cumberland Co., in 1829, and who died in her sixty-ninth year. They had the following children: James, Mary, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jackson, Margaret, Isabel, George, and two who died in infancy.

Cornelius Vanderbilt Kelley received his primary education in the district school, and, after preparing for college, entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, where he pursued his studies for some time. Later he began teaching, and taught the Newville school for a number of years, and for many years thereafter was a member of the school board. After his marriage he settled at Quarry Hill on a farm where he lived for a number of years. In 1879 he bought what is known as the Robert Sharpe farm, and, moving to it he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. This farm contains 120 acres of good land, and there are a good residence, barn and other buildings upon it. In politics, he always was a loyal Democrat, and served very acceptably as supervisor of Penn township; assessor of the same township, and held other lesser offices. For many years, he was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Newville.

In May, 1860, Mr. Kelley married Miss Agnes Brown, a daughter of John and Mary (Ritchey) Brown, and she was born in Quarry Hill, in the vicinity of Springfield, Penn township, Aug. 14, 1832. She was educated in the public schools of Newville, and graduated from the high school at that place. At Mr. Kelley’s death, his widow and several children survived him: Joseph Brown; Mary Grizzilla; Cornelius Lane; John Tilyer, a graduate of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, class of 1891; Martha Jane; Agnes B., a teacher and a graduate of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, class of 1894; Annie Ritchey, a teacher of music. Mrs. Kelley resides on the Kelley homestead, with her two daughters, while two of her sons live on adjoining farms.

Mrs. Kelley is one in the following family born to her parents: William A., of Penn township; Mrs. E. Jane Kelso, of Southampton township; Joseph, deceased; Margaret Ann, deceased; Delia C. B., deceased on Dec. 3, 1903, the wife of Henry C. Beattie, of Southampton township. Both the Brown and Kelley families are well known in this locality, and Mrs. Kelley is one of the most highly respected ladies and consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.