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Biographies
Source:
- 1808 -
History
of
THE FIRELANDS,
comprising
HURON and ERIE COUNTIES,
OHIO
with
ILLUSTRATIONS and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
of
Some of the Prominent Men and Pioneers
W. W. Williams
- 1879 -
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SARA KELLEY,
daughter of Samuel and Mary Weller Dean, was born at
Westfield, Mass, Apr. 5, 1789; removed to Martinsburg, N.
Y., while quite young. At the age of twenty-two years
was married to DATUS KELLEY,
and removed directly to Rockport, Ohio, where she lived
twenty-five years, one of the foremost women in acts of
benevolence, and in giving cheer and assistance to the
despondent in the trials and privations of their new homes
in the wilderness. She would often take her baby in
her lap and ride, on horseback, six or eight miles to a
neighbor's to take care of the sick. Her example in
industry and economy had much to do in molding society, and
in its culture and advancement.
In 1836 the family moved to Cunningham's Island (now
Kelley's), where she again commenced a pioneer life, and was
the only nurse and doctor for many years. The number
of namesakes she has in various families on the island is a
testimonial of the high esteem in which she was regarded.
She died Mar. 21, 1864, having survived her golden wedding
three years.
Daniel Kelley, Jr. was a clothier, had some
interest in a grist-mill, and was in comfortable
circumstances for the times in which he lived; but finding
himself blessed with a large family of growing boys - six in
number, - to better their fortune he resolved to try life in
a new country, and in the winter of 1799, when Datus
was but one year old, he moved with his family to Lowville,
N. Y. Here Datus remained until he was
twenty-two years of age, when believing Lowville too frosty
a region for prosperous agriculture, he concluded, in his
turn, to migrate and seek a new and better country;
consequently we find that, in the spring of 1810, he took
his pack upon his back and started on foot for the West,
prospecting. He arrived in Cleveland, then a mere
village of three or four hundred souls and containing four
frame houses, on July 1, 1810. He did not, however,
find a place that entirely pleased him, and returned to
Lowville the same season. He seemed, however, not to
have been discouraged in seeking for a home in the West, for
we find him the next spring, again on foot, with his pack,
at Oswego, from whence he sailed to Lewiston, and from there
walked to Black Rock, and took a vessel for Cleveland, where
he arrived in May. This time he was as unsuccessful as
before in finding a place that suited his idea of a home,
but was so well pleased with the country in general that he
concluded to return home, take to himself a wife, and run
the risk of finding the desired location afterward; trusting
as all sensible swains should, in the greater wisdom of
woman to "guide to the right place." Aug. 21, 1811,
the family record states: Datus Kelley married
Sara Dean, of Martinsburg, N. Y. the following
year Mr. Kelley and bride, with a Miss Dean,
sister of Mrs. Kelley, sailed for Cleveland, in the
schooner "Zephyr." They anchored off the mouth of the
Cuyahoga, and were landed, together with their freight, in
small boats, and at once commenced housekeeping in a
warehouse until the right spot could be found to locate a
farm. This was found about eight miles west of
Cleveland, on the lake shore. Here he purchased one
hundred and sixty-four acres of land, at $3.18 per acre.
The place is now known as the "Gov. Wood farm."
The family immediately moved into a little cabin on the
adjoining farm until a house could be built, which took just
ten days. At this time there was no nearer settlement
on the east than Cleveland, and on the west than Black
River, twenty miles away. The Indians swarmed along
the shore in summer, but disappeared in winter.
When the great fright which followed Hull's
surrender swept along the shore of Lake Erie and depopulated
all the settlements, Mr. Kelley thought the Indians
too friendly to do much harm, and did not leave his home;
but once he pulled the latch-string in, and put a nail over
the latch for safety, but never repeated it; ever after his
latch-string hung outside, and friend or foe could walk in
or out at any time of day or night.
In 1813, Mr. Kelley was drafted, but hired
Chester Dean as a substitute, paying him his wages in
addition to his pay from the government. Times were
hard, - flour cost $20 per barrel, very poor cotton-cloth 75
cents per yard, and everything else in proportion.
Mr. Kelley resided here twenty years, during which time
he converted his forest home into a beautiful and
well-regulated farm. During a part of this time he
assisted in making surveys of portions of the "Reserve."
In the year 1833, Datus Kelley, in connection
with his brother Irad, bought Cunningham's Island
(now Kelley's), in Lake Erie, with the view of bringing into
market the red cedar timber with which much of the island
was then covered. At this time there were only three
or four families (squatters) on the island, and only six
acres of cleared land. His trips from his home, in
Rockport, to the island were usually made on foot to the
point on the main land, where he took boats for the island.
In 1836, Mr. Kelley moved his family to his
island home, where he resided, first effort, by way of
public improvements, was in building docks for a steamboat
landing, which were commenced in 1833, and much enlarged in
1835.
He always maintained that education and habits of
industry and sobriety were essential means to success in
life, and much of the prosperity of island is due to his
precepts and example in these matters. Hence, as soon
as his ducks were made to answer the purpose, he turned his
attention to the erection of a school-house. This was
the first frame building on the island, and was erected at
the expense of the two brothers. The house is still
standing, north of George Kelley's. His
school-days were mostly spent in a new country; hence his
school-house education was somewhat neglected, but his
reading was so extensive that few had a more general
knowledge of history and geography, or of scientific and
religious subjects. As an evidence of the interest
Mr. Kelley felt in matters of public education, in its
unrestricted sense, he left behind him an enduring
testimonial. He erected at his own expense a
commodious and neatly finished and furnished stone chapel or
hall. This he gave into keeping of trustees, to be
used by the islanders for school purposes, and for all
worthy objects, both religious and secular.
As doer of the faith that was in him, Mr. Kelley
was an energetic, practical man, and generally worked out
his business plans successfully, insomuch that for many of
the last years of his life he was in easy circumstances.
In his moral convictions he was strictly honest and upright,
and had a great desire for the well-being of his fellow-men.
Datus Kelley died Jan. 24, 1866, aged seventy-seven
years and nine months.
Joseph Kelley married Lydia Lord, and was
among the first settlers of Norwich, Conn.
Daniel Kelley, Sr., son of Joseph, was
born in 1724, and married Abigail Reynolds, at
Norwich, Conn.
Daniel, Jr., son of Daniel, Sr., was born
at Norwich, Nov. 27, 1755, and married Jemima Stow.
He died at Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 7, 1831, at the age of
seventy-six years.
Datus Kelley, son of Daniel, Jr., was
born at Middletown, Conn., Apr. 24, 1788. He married
Sara Dean, Aug. 21, 1811, at Martinsburg, N. Y.
She was here, Apr. 5, 1789, at Westfield, Mass. They
had born to them Addison, June 11, 1812; he married
Ann Marilla Millard, Oct. 12, 1837; they had born to
them five children. Julius, born Feb. 3, 1814,
and married Mary A. Hitchcock, Mr. 29, 1836; have had
four children. Daniel, born Sept. 26, 1815, and
died Jan. 4, 1836. Samuel, born June 23, 1817,
and died Aug. 16, 1818. Emeline, born June 10,
1819; married George C. Huntington, Nov. 9, 1837; had
four children. Caroline, born Apr. 15, 1821; married
Charles Carpenter, Nov. 7, 1844; have had four children.
Betsey, born Dec. 18, 1823; married Wm. S. Webb,
Sept. 10, 1845; have had three children. Alfred S.,
born Dec. 23, 1826; married Hannah Farr, May 21,
1857; have one child. William D., born Sept. 7,
1828, married Lydia Remington, Aug. 7, 1854,
and (second) married Marcella Dean, Mar. 20, 1856;
have two children.
Source: 1808 History of The Firelands comprising
Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W. Williams, 1879
- Page facing 513 |
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CLINTON M.
KELLOGG Source: 1808 History of The Firelands
comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, Publ. by W. W.
Williams, 1879 - Page 361 |
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