 |
| Russel T. Kelley |
... Russell T. Kelley, the son of Thomas and Regine Baker Kelley was born August 5th, 1826, at Middlebury, Genessee County, New YorkHis father was irish and his mother was Holland-Dutch. Russel was the oldest boy in the family, he had three brothers. Their names were William, Norman, and one whos name cannot be recalled. His siters names were Luzetta and Luana. He attended shool in Middlebury, NewYork, until he was 15 years old. He was especially interested in mathematics. English was a favorite subject also. Even though he did not have much schooling he used pretty good english. He left school and left home at the age of 15, do to a disagreement with his father. He thought he was given a punishment that was unjust and to severe. His mother spent most off the night with him to comfort and sooth his broken spirit. He left home the next day to find work, and he was on his own from then on. The record does not show where he went other than he went to another state to find work.
Later on, at the age of nineteen he went to the head of the Mississippi River and working in the timber, helping to put in a new mill. After the mill was built, they sawed the timber into lumber and made rafts, joining several rafts together, making what they called fleets, which were used to haul lumber down the Mississsippi. Russel must have enjoyed this work very much as reports show there were 200 men on the job and he was put in charge of the work. It seems he was always taken to be much older than he really was, possibly because of his size and his serious nature.
He seemed to have a natural aptitude for carpentry since that was a trade he followed. He built many houses and many boats. One boat was large enough to hold 500 head of sheep. When it was finished they turned it upside down and had a dance on the bottom of the boat. The next day they had a dance on board to celebrate the finished job. They ferried back and forth across the river all summer. This seems to be at Green River, Wyoming.
He enjoyed working with machinery and became a good blacksmith. Blacksmithing was rather an important business in those days, and there was lots of it to be done. He was ambitious, enjoyed work and worked hard. He had very good help all his life and felt the contributing factor to his health was that he did not use alcohol beverage or tobacco. Russel had large blue eyes, a heavy head of curly black hair, was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 to 200 lbs. He was stalwart, very proud and had a very aristocratic manner. He did not swear or use abusive language. He always tried to better his condition, he studied the law, not for the purpose of becoming a lawyer, but to have a better understanding of rights and priveleges and a knowledge of civic affairs. Neighbors and friends often asked his advice on points of law.
When the California gold rush was one, Russel, like so many others was on his way to California. When he passed through Utah he became interested in the Mormon religion. He went to California from the east with gold seekers in 1849. There is no record of whether he found much gold in Calif. But his interest in the way of life that he had noticed while stopping in Salt Lake City, Utah, on his way to California lead him back there. After several years of prospecting. He went back to Utah to investigate the religion more thoroughly. This was about 1855. He worked as a carpenter for Orson Hyde, a stalwart in the LDS church in the early days. And through the good example set by Bro. Hyde and his masterful teachings of the principles of the gospel, Russell Kelley became a convert to the church. Another report has it that Heber C. Kimball was the one that converted him. He settled in Prove. After deciding to remain in Utah, he married Harriet Moore in Oct. 1858 or 57. Harriet was born 17 April, 1840, Iowa Territory, Van Buren County. SHe was the daughter of Samuel and Eunice Sibley Eliss Moore. Russel was 31 and Harriet was 15 years old. They became parents of 11 children.
Later on in his life, he married two other wives. One of these was Deseret Hudson, the divorced wife of Henry Hudson who taught school in the early days in Central, Utah. Russell Kelley became the father of 24 children. Brother Kelley was wonderfully blessed by the Lord with the power of healing. He was called far and near to relieve the sick of their ailments through administration of the priesthood. He died on the 17th of March, 1915. He being nearly 90 years of age. He had a firm testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. He came to Sevier County in 1875. Soon after the permanent settlements where made at Richfield and Monroe. He was one of the earliest settlers in Annabella. It is said that Brother Kelley ferried people across the Sevier river in the spring when the river was high. Brother Kelley later built and owned a toll bridge across the river about 200 ft. northeast of where the present bridge stands down by the Ruel Morrison Farm. This bridge was built in such a way that the poles being laid crosswise formed bumpy ridges so people called it a corduroy bridge. Everyone who crossed this bridge paid a small fee. This was before 1885 when the first bridge was built with county funds. The Kelley home was situated on the north side of the river near the toll bridge. It was a log cabin with a lean attached to it. Later on he built a rock house which stood where the home of Paris L. Fillmore now stands. The Kelley's lived there after they sold there farm land to Mr. Frank Wright and his wife Nelley. When the old Farnsworth Hall in Richfield was being remodeled in the academy Hall for church and school purposes, Russell Kelley built the belfry and hung the bell. He served on the Sevier Stake High Council for one year and 8 months around 1900. Annabella was in Sevier county at this time. Having lost the record for his baptism into the church, and wishing to have a date for the records of the church, he was rebaptized and the date is unknown.
Later on, at the age of nineteen he went to the head of the Mississippi River and working in the timber, helping to put in a new mill. After the mill was built, they sawed the timber into lumber and made rafts, joining several rafts together, making what they called fleets, which were used to haul lumber down the Mississsippi. Russel must have enjoyed this work very much as reports show there were 200 men on the job and he was put in charge of the work. It seems he was always taken to be much older than he really was, possibly because of his size and his serious nature.
He seemed to have a natural aptitude for carpentry since that was a trade he followed. He built many houses and many boats. One boat was large enough to hold 500 head of sheep. When it was finished they turned it upside down and had a dance on the bottom of the boat. The next day they had a dance on board to celebrate the finished job. They ferried back and forth across the river all summer. This seems to be at Green River, Wyoming.
He enjoyed working with machinery and became a good blacksmith. Blacksmithing was rather an important business in those days, and there was lots of it to be done. He was ambitious, enjoyed work and worked hard. He had very good help all his life and felt the contributing factor to his health was that he did not use alcohol beverage or tobacco. Russel had large blue eyes, a heavy head of curly black hair, was 6 feet tall and weighed 185 to 200 lbs. He was stalwart, very proud and had a very aristocratic manner. He did not swear or use abusive language. He always tried to better his condition, he studied the law, not for the purpose of becoming a lawyer, but to have a better understanding of rights and priveleges and a knowledge of civic affairs. Neighbors and friends often asked his advice on points of law.
When the California gold rush was one, Russel, like so many others was on his way to California. When he passed through Utah he became interested in the Mormon religion. He went to California from the east with gold seekers in 1849. There is no record of whether he found much gold in Calif. But his interest in the way of life that he had noticed while stopping in Salt Lake City, Utah, on his way to California lead him back there. After several years of prospecting. He went back to Utah to investigate the religion more thoroughly. This was about 1855. He worked as a carpenter for Orson Hyde, a stalwart in the LDS church in the early days. And through the good example set by Bro. Hyde and his masterful teachings of the principles of the gospel, Russell Kelley became a convert to the church. Another report has it that Heber C. Kimball was the one that converted him. He settled in Prove. After deciding to remain in Utah, he married Harriet Moore in Oct. 1858 or 57. Harriet was born 17 April, 1840, Iowa Territory, Van Buren County. SHe was the daughter of Samuel and Eunice Sibley Eliss Moore. Russel was 31 and Harriet was 15 years old. They became parents of 11 children.
Later on in his life, he married two other wives. One of these was Deseret Hudson, the divorced wife of Henry Hudson who taught school in the early days in Central, Utah. Russell Kelley became the father of 24 children. Brother Kelley was wonderfully blessed by the Lord with the power of healing. He was called far and near to relieve the sick of their ailments through administration of the priesthood. He died on the 17th of March, 1915. He being nearly 90 years of age. He had a firm testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. He came to Sevier County in 1875. Soon after the permanent settlements where made at Richfield and Monroe. He was one of the earliest settlers in Annabella. It is said that Brother Kelley ferried people across the Sevier river in the spring when the river was high. Brother Kelley later built and owned a toll bridge across the river about 200 ft. northeast of where the present bridge stands down by the Ruel Morrison Farm. This bridge was built in such a way that the poles being laid crosswise formed bumpy ridges so people called it a corduroy bridge. Everyone who crossed this bridge paid a small fee. This was before 1885 when the first bridge was built with county funds. The Kelley home was situated on the north side of the river near the toll bridge. It was a log cabin with a lean attached to it. Later on he built a rock house which stood where the home of Paris L. Fillmore now stands. The Kelley's lived there after they sold there farm land to Mr. Frank Wright and his wife Nelley. When the old Farnsworth Hall in Richfield was being remodeled in the academy Hall for church and school purposes, Russell Kelley built the belfry and hung the bell. He served on the Sevier Stake High Council for one year and 8 months around 1900. Annabella was in Sevier county at this time. Having lost the record for his baptism into the church, and wishing to have a date for the records of the church, he was rebaptized and the date is unknown.
All together Russel had 25 children. Life was not all serene and smooth with a four-way household. The fourth wife deseret, took it upon herself to keep tab of any and all misconduct or disobedience of her orders. She managed to meet the father with a list of her greviences about the children. The father (russel) a building contractor came home about once a week. By that time he melted out all his punishments to each, then it was about time to go back to work.
He punished very hard. Which seemed strange since it was because of that he thought was harsh and unjust punishments that he left home at an early age.
When Russel lived in Provo he was city marshall for a number of years. after he moved to Payson where he was sheriff for fifteen years. Russel was often called to the Indians. He could speek their language and got along with them very well. The Indians called him " Peaup captain which ment very brave man. he helped as guard all throughout the Black Hawk war.. Also belonging to the minute men organization.
Dr. Russel Kelley,(Russels dad) died at the age of 48, of a heart attack. He came to the door for a drink of water and dropped dead.
Russel Kelley lived to be 88 years of age, He died in Holbrook, Idaho. While living with one of his daughter Lydia Kelley Marble.
Lydia writes, "I think he could have lived years longer, but he got pnuemonia,, otherwise he was well and strong. Not a bit childish. He walked very straight and could do quite a bit fo work if we would let him."
Th following article was taken from the Sevier County Centennial History
In 1875 a bridge was built over the sever river between RIchfield and Prattville, and in 1876 the Richfield irrigation canal company built a new bridge on the county road to Elsinore leading out of monroe. Russel was the contractor.
Road building in those days was payed for by pole tax and donation. The first county bridge between Annabella and RIchfield was built in 1885. It was one mile north of town. Before the bridge was built it was necessary for anyone who left or entered town to ford the river, or go around by the Prattville crossing.
During the highwater on the Sevier river, Russel Kelley farried people across the river about a hundred yards north east of where the present bridge spands the streams near the Tuell Morrison farm. THis bridge was carried away in 1807 by high water. The second brigde was built in 1807 and is now owned by Boyd Nardfelt.
****** Note from Russel's grand daughter:
I remember the bridge in Prattville, where my grandfather lived, it was arched in the center. I suppose for highwater or floods, to allow debris to go under the brisge instead of blocking the stream and allowing more damage to be done by the backup waters.
Children loved to play on this bridge. It looked very much like the brisge in the Japanese gardens.
Grandfathers house was a large two story, light tan, frame building. It was on the north side of the driveway with the barns and a large carpender shop on the south side. The grandchildren were allowed to play in the chop and found it very interesting.
Russel married his first wife in 1857, Harriet Sibley Moore.
He married his second wife in 1858, Mary Ellen Scriggins.
He Married his his third wife in 1868, Abigail Aurora Bingham.
He married the fourth wife in 1883, Deseret Mcbride Hudson.
Harriet had 11 children altogether; she had six after 1883.
Abigail had six children, the last one was born in 1883.
About this time she left her husband, and a short time after she married his oldest son, Russel Samuel Kelley, whose mother was Harriet Moore.
In this second marriage Abigail had three children; Dora, born in 1885; Edna, born in 1889 and Alphus, born in the 1890's.
This marriage seemed to have been a very happy one.
Abigail was a very pleasant and jolly person. at a family reunion in lava hot springs, in 1919, she told us she had a problem which she would like to have solved for the next reunion; She wanted the relation-ship figured out; her first husband was the father of her second husband, Her second husband was her own step-son; He was half brother to five of her children and father to some and so on. I've never been able to straighten it out.Deseret had one child, Maude, she married a boy from Annabella, his name was Hunt.(A brother from Royal Hunt.)
I knew Deseret, she had clear, smooth skin, very black hair and very dark eyes. She would have been very good looking except for the stern, set expression of her features. She gave the impressions of what she said was right and final.
Deseret and grandfather lived in Annabella for many years. I was married in 1909 and we moved back to Elsinore in 1910. Grandfather had no means of travel, other than walking, he would walk from Annabella to Central, and visit there a while , then on over to Elsinore to visit with us. Each town was about three miles apart, We didn't know when he was coming, but we always hired a horse and buggy to take him home.
We enjoyed his visits very much, he liked to talk with Nels.One day he said "young man while you are young jump-jump just as far as you can, if you fall down you can get up and try again, but, if you wait until you are old and fall down, you can't get up again."
In later years Deseret treated grandfather very badly; he had been living in Holbrook for a few years before he passed away.
He died in Holbrook at the age of 88, March 17, 1914.
Lydia rights" I think he could have lived years longer. He was well, strong, and straight, and not a bit childish and could do a bit of work if we could let him.
He died of pneumonia.
Children of Russel Thomas Kelley and Harriet Sibley Moore, married 1857.
 |
| Harriet S. Moore Kelley |
1. Russel Samuel born 24th of July 1858.
2. Harriet Emily born 19th of April 1860.
3.Cenitha Malisse born 22nd of May 1861.
4. Eunice Sibley born 7th of February 1863.
5. Razine born 24th of August 1865.
6. Milton Erastus born 5th of April 1867.
7. George Washington born 19th of June 1868.
8. Steven Bliss born 2nd of September 1870.
9. Lydia saphronia born 27th of August 1872.
10. Orson C. born 5th of may 1875.
11. Edwin L. 28th of November 1882.
Russel Thomas Kelley married his Second wife, Mary Ellen Scriggins in 1858. Their children:
1. Mary Ellen born 21st of July 1859. Married Russel Chandler
2. William Norman born 9th of December 1861. Married Zelphia Cook
3. Alice born 22nd of December 1863. Married Ealum S. Marble in 1842 she died died the 15 february 1911 in Walace, Idaho.
4. Luana Cecila born 1st of March 1865. MArried Oliver Bates .
5. Sarah Elizabeth born 26th of March 1868. Died in 1869.
6. Charles Alonzo born 28th of July 1871. Married Elzada Keele.
Russel Thomas Kelley married his third wife, Abigale aurora Bingham in 1868. (22 years younger than Russel.)Their children were:
1. Jeramiah August born December 24th 1869.
2. Sarah Melissa born December 19th 1871.
3. Royal Delbert born October 29th 1873.
4. Aaron Alphus born 1876.
5. Susan A. born September 5th 1883.
(Had three more children with Russel's oldest son.)
Russel Thomas married his 4th wife Deseret McBride Hudson in 1883. Deseret had been widowed. She had one child with Russel her name was Maude.
 |
| Russel and his wives, Harriet Moore, Mary Scriggins, Abigail Bingham and Deseret McBride. |
We know that Russel had 25 Children so 2 must ahve died in infancy because they were not listed.
****** NOTE: Abigale Russel's third wife left him soon after he married Deseret, the 4th wife. Abigale then married Russel's oldest son, Russel Samuel Kelley.( She was 10 years older than him.) She was also his step-mother. Russel Samuel's mother was Harriet more Kelley. The children of Russel Samuel Kelley and Abigale were:
4. Dora E. born 1885.
2. Edna born 1889.
3. Alphus R. 1882.
***** NOTE: The records where we found these story's say Abigale's name might have been Abagile.
No comments:
Post a Comment