Centre County PAGenWeb -- Centre Lines

The KELLY Family

This column is part of a feature series which focuses on a different Centre County family each week. Five new columns will be released each month unless some technical difficulty enters the picture.

This column's focus is on KELLY. An effort has been made to identify all persons carrying that name in the 1890 U.S. Census, using the Centre County business directory which was formed from a preliminary review of that census before the larger set of 1890 U.S. Census records was destroyed by fire. (Sadly, the postal directory does not typically provide the ages of females, but it's the best record we've got).

Two books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deal with the Kelly family. They are: Raymond Martin Bell's Eight Central Pennsylvania Families of the Tyrone Region: Buck, Crocker, Gates, Kelly, Laird, McFarland, Weston, Woodring and Raymond Martin Bell's The Story of James Kelly, Franklin County and His Sons William Kelly, Centre County, Samuel Kelly, Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

There are 18 different first-name entries for Kelly in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

And, now, your ancestors' KELLY neighbors in 1890:

(All spelled "Kelly," unless otherwise noted.)

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

James Kelley, 50, gardener--22 West Logan Bridget Jane Kelley--213 West High Jennie Kelley--Bush's Addition Julia Kelley--406 North Allegheny Maggie Kelley--32 North Allegheny Michael Kelley, 59, gardener--149 W. Beaver Mary D. Mary E. Rose G. Abbie Morris J. 14 Sallie J. Kelley William 17 David J. 15

In BENNER Township:

Adam C. Kelley, 29, farmer--Bellefonte Jennie Adam C. Jr. 7 mos. Jeremiah Kelley, 58, farmer--Fillmore Susan A. Samuel D. 20 George W. 17 Edgar N. 14 John 22 John C. Kelley, 23, laborer--Bellefonte

In BOGGS Township:

John J., 43, farmer--Roland Elizabeth A. Camilla Owen K. 4 Nancy A. Owen, 78--Roland Michael 16 Mary

In POTTER Township:

Margaret Kelley--Potters Mills

In RUSH Township:

Arthur Kelley, 26, miner--Sandy Ridge John, 29, miner--Philipsburg Margaret H. Annie Herbert 3 Michael 1

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Henry P., 33, operator--Snow Shoe Mary T. John 29 Logan 6 Thomas 4 Paul 1 Mary--Snow Shoe Margaret John A. 24 Joseph 20 Michael 18 Elizabeth Thomas 15 Mary L. Kelley--Snow Shoe Stella B. Michael, 29, operator--Snow Shoe Sarah May James F. 2 William P. 3 mos. Peter, 68, miner--Snow Shoe Patrick 17 Sarah Kelley--Snow Shoe Catharine Malissa

In SPRING Township:

Emma S. Kelley--Bellefonte James Kelley, 53, laborer--Axeman Mary John 17 William 13 Mary E. Harry H. 6 Anna Patrick J. Kelley, 46, laborer--Bellefonte Alice Sarah Kelley--Bellefonte William Kelley, 43, laborer--Bellefonte Emma M. William 14 Mary M. Carrie C. Daniel 6 Eleanor Annie J.

In UNION Township:

William J. Kwelley, 16--Fleming

In WALKER Township:

Dora M. Kelley--Zion

In WORTH Township:

George W. Kelley, 60, farmer--Port Matilda Lydia Benjamin 30 John 20 Eva Robert 13