Thomas Kelley-1798

Russel (Thomas) KELLEY
B: 1798
Schenectady, Schenectady, New York
D: 7 Jul 1852
Plainfield, Waushara, Wisconsin


            Russel Thomas Kelley was born 1795 or 1798 at Schenectady, New York, parents were Julius(Judah) Kelley,  and Sarah, surname unknown at this time.  Thomas Kelley, married Sina Regine (Rezine) Baker, date and place unkown at this time.  She was the daughter of Elnathan Baker, a native of Mass., who served as captain in the Revolutionary War, in the colonial army.  Her mother's name is thought to me Rezine(Regine) Butler,  though this has not been proved,. She was born in Connecticut.  The paternal ancestry of Thomas Kelley has been tracked back to Thomas O'Kelley of Waterford, Ireland.  The O'Kelley's of Ireland were orignally catholics.  Thomas O'Kelley migrated to England where he dropped the O from Kelley.  He married an english girl and joined the church of England.  The Kelley's of our line in America were Free Will Baptists.  Thomas Kelley and his family moved from Schenectady, New York to Genessee County, New York.  Sometime in the early 1820's, there children were born.  Thomas Kelly was a doctor.  In 1840 the family moved to Elgin, Illinois.  He stopped his medical profession, bought a logging mill and engaged in lumbering.  Thomas Kelley had a brother who was in Clover, Wisconsin.  He was also in the logging business.  His name was Peter.  He had a his logging business in Waushara, Wisconsin.  He died in the early spring at clover, Wisc. of smallpox.  On the death of his brother, Thomas Kelley moved his family to Waushara.  Having been appointed administrator of his brother's estate.  Thomas's eldest son Russel Thomas purchased the mill but later sold it to his brother, William Norman. 
   On JUly 7th, 1852, Thomas Kelley died suddenly of  heart disease.  His wife survived him, living until 1872.  They both died in Plainfield, Waushara County, Wisc.  and both are burried there.  Thomas Kelley's health was much impaired during the last years of his life.  He died at the age of 57.  He was a quiet, unassuming man.  He was highly esteemed by those who knew him, and he and his wife were devoted members of the free will Baptist Church in Plainfield.  The family numbered 13 children, but only 4 lived to adulthood.  These were Thomas Russel, William Norman, Benjamin Franklin(who was a minister in Minnesota), and Luanna(wife of Morris Robinson) of Neenah, Wisc. 

The following is a note on Thomas Kelley, (source unknown):

Dr. Thomas Kelley lived on a farm feeling it was better to raise his children on a place where there was work to occupy them.  As a Dr., there was much traveling in all kinds of weather on poor or practically no roads at all.  He made his calls all the same and it was the same as in most types of business,  after he made the calls he did not get paid.  One incident told of a aman coming to his door at night inquiring if there was a doctor Kelley who lived there.  He had a very sick boy in his arms.  He left the boy with Dr. Kelley saying I can do no more for him,  if you can cure him perhaps the boy at some time will be able to pay you back.  This boy stayed with Dr. Kelley for a year and a half, when he was cured, he was sent back to his home. 

~History from Sharon Kelley

One of Thomas's son became a lawyer.