My Genealogy Hound

JOHN KELLEY, a highly respected citizen of Mifflin township, Cumberland county, and formerly of Newville, Pa., was born Dec. 30, 1837, near Green Springs, Newton township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania.

Little is known of the family beyond his father, but it is probable that his grandfather was of Scotch-Irish descent. William Kelley, his father, came to Cumberland county in boyhood and lived in Newton township, near Green Springs. Later he removed to Newville, and there learned the painting trade. There he married Jane Stewart, who was born in 1804 in Scotland, and after his marriage he located in Newton, then Hopewell, township, along the Conedoguinet creek, and followed distilling for fifteen years. Later he removed to Newville, where he met with an accident on a trip to Johnstown, which caused the breaking of his leg and ultimately his death, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a worthy member of Bethel Church. His burial took place in Johnstown, and his widow died Jan. 1, 1846, in Newville, where she was interred. Their children were: Alexander married Susan Linn, of Huntsdale, where he died and is buried; Mary A. married Abraham Reeder, and was accidentally burned to death April 17, 1902, and was buried in the Zion cemetery; Emmeline married William Sanderson, and died and is buried at Stoughstown; William married Caroline Cox, and both died and are buried in Harrisburg; Sarah Jane died unmarried at Mansfield, Ohio; Samuel married Sarah Duffey and died in West Pennsboro township, and was buried in Prospect cemetery; Margaret married George Yocum, and died and is buried at Newville; John is the subject of this sketch; Joseph left Cumberland county at the age of seventeen years and later was killed in Arizona, where he was in the mining and cattle business; and Elizabeth died at the age of two years.

John Kelley attended the schools at Newville until he was about seventeen, and then learned the shoemaking trade, which he followed there until he enlisted for service in the Civil war. Mr. Kelley is an active Republican and he has held several local offices, among them having been judge of elections. He is a member of the Reformed Church at Zion.

On Jan. 31, 1860, Mr. Kelley married Elizabeth Carl, who was born May 15, 1838, daughter of George and Margaret Carl, of Philadelphia. In 1882 Mr. Kelley settled in Mifflin township, buying a snug little place of four acres on which he has built a fine home. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are: (1) Annie, who married Solomon Gotshal, resides in Mifflin township. (2) John Alexander, born Dec. 13, 1862, died March 14, 1864. (3) James Tracy married Elizabeth Gabel, and after a residence at Peoria, Ill., located at Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., Pa. (4) Joseph Alfred, born May 10, 1869, died Feb. 12, 1871. (5) Ida married William Smith and they reside near Shippensburg. (6) Nora B. married John C. Coover, and they live at Peoria, Ill. (7) Bertha Jane, born March 24, 1875, died March 3, 1876. (8) Albert F., who married Mary Hamacker, is a farmer in York county. (9) Clarence C., unmarried, is a farmer in Illinois. (10) Vernon Heberlig is a resident of Peoria, Illinois.

Mr. Kelley served as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting Sept. 15, 1862 in Company F, 17th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years or during the war. The regiment formed part of the 2d Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry, and took part in some of the operations of the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Kelley was discharged on June 26, 1865. His health is in a shattered condition, but his memory is as bright and retentive as ever, and often recalls to his mind many of the sad and sickening scenes and incidents that he witnessed during his army life. But nevertheless he rejoices to know that he lived at a time when he was permitted to help uphold civil and religious liberty, and to help continue free government on the face of the earth.