History of George H. KELLEY
(1891 - 1979)
LouAnn Kelley wrote the following:
Kelley, George H. (son of George V.)
Some of the proud pioneers of the plains were the Kelley Family. Their roots began in Belfast, Ireland. Some of these ancestors came to America in 1782 and settled in Ohio.
At the end of the Civil War, a youthful Captain George V. Kelley of the 104th Ohio Volunteer Regiment; the recipient of the Medal of Honor for bravery in the at Battle at Franklin, Tenn., returned to Massillon, Ohio. He married the 'girl back home', Fannie Bliss. She died shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Mary. Disillusioned, George headed west, via horseback, to homestead his quarter section (160 acres) on the Colorado Plains near Bennett.
Later in George's life, at 47 years of age, he met and married Louise Holloway in Denver on May 15, 1890. They set up housekeeping in a dugout at his Sheep Ranch. One son, George H. born Feb. 22, 1891 and two daughters, Emma and Gertrude, were born to this union. Louise died in 1902. The two daughters were sent east to be raised by an aunt. Captain and his son remained on the ranch and also worked part time as ranch hands on the Frank Kemp Ranch, owned by Sam Palmer. Captain George V. died on November 4, 1905. The funeral services were conducted by the G.A.R. and interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, Denver.
At 14 years old, George was left an orphan. The Sam Palmer family took him under their wing and kept him on as a ranch hand on the main ranch rather than send him out to one of their seven sheep camps. An uncle, Frank Armon Kelley, an Apothecary, a learned man, came to the area and tutored Mary Palmer until arrangements could be made for her to attend school. Later on, one of George's duties was to drive Mary to school in a horse and wagon, at Living Springs Country School, north of Strasburg. The same school where George received his education.
Frank Kelley died in 1912.
George H. met Carrie May Eddieblute in 1911. She was the daughter of Luther Eddieblute and Kate (Brigham) Eddieblute, born on Oct. 12, 1895 in Ripley, N.Y.. Their courtship culminated in a marriage on June 1, 1915. They were married by Rev. L.H. Eddieblute, Carrie May's father, at noon. After their marriage and the chivaree (which was customary in those days), they rode in a buggy to their homestead north of Strasburg. They spent the first few weeks of their marriage living in a tent until George could complete a nice frame house, which became their home until their offspring were old enough to attend school; at which time they moved to Byers. Of this union, one son and three daughters were born. The children all grew up in Byers and graduated from the local high school.
Mr. Kelley was self-employed for many years. Homesteader- rancher, a filling station owner, a bean buyer and elevator operator, a Star Route Mail Carrier. In 1954 he became a justice of the peace for the district. Later became Bailiff in the Arapahoe County Court in Aurora until his retirement. George H. was an Arapohoe County native from his birth to his demise. He was considered a historian of the area. He was active for over 50 years in the Byers Masonic Lodge and participated in Cornerstone Ceremonies for three area schools.
Their children;
Virginia married Layton Morris and
later in life married Cledith M. Zimmerman, D.D.S.,
George Van Stavoren Kelley Married LouAnn Richards,
Betty married James Frampton,
and the youngest daughter, Hazel Annette married George Bristol and
later married Edward Varden.
Mr. and Mrs. George H. Kelley had four children, twelve grandchildren and several great grandchildren, of which several are fourth generation Colorado Natives. George and Carrie May Celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at the Byers Presbyterian Church, the same one they were married in. Carrie May died March 16, 1976 and George H. died August 21, 1979. Both are buried at Fairmont Cemetery, Denver. Their son, George V. died October 25, 1975, preceded them in death.
Footnote: John H. Kelley, a great grandson of Captain G. V. Kelley, has the Medal of Honor and the weapon, a muzzle loader, used in the Civil War, in his possession.
Last updated January 10, 1998 by Web Genealogist Chris Stefanovich.