Archibald Kelly & Descendants Biographies, 1895 History of Butler Co. PA p.1324-25
From History of Butler County, 1895 by Brown & Co., pg.1324-1325.
(Link back to Hannah Kelly page)
ARCHIBALD KELLY, a native of Ireland, was a grandson of James Kelly, who died at the siege of Derry, leaving one son, James. The latter married and reared four sons and one daughter. The sons were: Thomas; Archibald; John, and Samuel. Archibald was reared in his native land, there received a good education, and immigrated to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1785, where he taught school for several years. In 1796 he came to Butler county and located a claim in what is now Washington township, erected a cabin thereon, and then went back to Westmoreland county for provisions. Returning to Butler county, he found his claim had been taken possession of during his absence, and he selected another one, this time in Parker township, and then returned to Westmoreland for his wife and family. Some years previous he had married Margaret Dunseth, who had several children prior to their removal to this county. They made the journey on pack-horses through the trackless forest, being compelled to cut a pathway much of the distance. On arriving at his second cabin in Parker township, he found it occupied by John Jameson's family, who, after some forcible persuasion, vacated the property to the rightful owner. Mr. Kelly began at once the work of clearing and improving his farm, upon which he and wife resided the remainder of their lives. He was one of the first school teachers in this section of the State, and for many years wrote the deeds and articles of agreement for the early settlers. He was an elder in the United Presbyterian church, and died in April, 1839, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. His wife died some years before. They were the parents of the following children: James; Thomas; Hannah, who married John Jameson; Martha, who married Thomas Martin; John; Sarah, who married Daniel Cannon; David; Esther, who married Hugh Fleming; Margaret, who became the wife of Edward Fleming; Betsey, who remained unmarried; William, and Andrew, all of whom are dead.
THOMAS KELLY, son of Archibald and Margaret Kelly, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1789, and was nine years of age when his parents settled in Butler county. He was reared in Parker township, and attended the pioneer subscription school of the neighborhood. When eighteen years old he engaged in the distilling business, followed that vocation for thirty-seven years, and then settled on the homestead in Parker township, where he died on November 1, 1868. Mr. Kelly married Elizabeth Donnelly, and reared a family of seven children, viz.: Archibald, deceased; James; Margaret,deceased; Hannah, widow of John Thompson; Matilda, widow of John Scott; Jane, wife of Robert Storey, and Thomas. Mr. Kelly was a member of the United Presbyterian church, and an elder in that organization.
JAMES KELLY was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1815, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Donelly) Kelly, and a grandson of Archibald Kelly. He obtained a good education, and at the age of twenty-six commenced teaching during the winter season, while in the summer he followed farming. This he continued for eight years, and then purchased a farm in Concord township, upon which he resided until 1879, when he traded it for his present homestead in Clay township. Mr. Kelly was married December 28, 1848, to Isabel Turner, to which union have been born eleven children, as follows: Elizabeth M.; Matilda J.; Miriam C., and Thomas W., all of whom are dead; Hannah V., wife of Harvey Cumberland; Nancy A., deceased; James E., who married Sarah Carothers, and has two children, Clarence and Isabel; Emma F., deceased; Sarah M., wife of Charles Mershimer; John H., of Butler, and Charles A., a resident of Chartiers, Pennsylvania. The family are connected with the United Presbyterian church, and in politics, Mr. Kelly is a Republican.
DAVID KELLY, seventh child of Archibald and Margaret Kelly, was born in Parker township, Butler county, March 22, 1800, and grew to maturity upon his father's farm. In 1824 he married Jane Tweedy, a native of Westmoreland county, born March 30, 1805. For some years they kept a hotel at New Alexander, and at Bairdstown, but removed to Butler county in 1833, and located near Bruin. Here David Kelly died, September 21, 1874, and his wife, April 27, 1877. He was quite a prominent citizen of that township, served seventeen years as a justice of the peace and held a colonel's commission in the militia. David and Jane Kelly were the parents of thirteen children, named as follows: John; Archibald, and William, both deceased; Thomas D.; Elizabeth J., wife of David Mckelvey; David Porter; Margaret A., deceased wife of James Wilson; Isabella, deceased wife of Abraham Daubenspeck; Johanna, deceased wife of Samuel C. Turner; Evaline, deceased wife of James Fleeger; Alvina, wife of Andrew Bullman; Salina, deceased wife of John Sutton, and Adelia, deceased wife of Myron Brawley. The parents were members of the United Presbyterian church.
DAVID PORTER KELLY, youngest son of David and Jane Kelly, was born upon the farm where he now resides, in Parker township, March 12, 1836, and was reared and educated in that locality. On September 9, 1869, he married Margaret McGarvey, to which union two children have been born, viz.: Nancy Jane, deceased, and Salina M., wife of Frank Black, of Bruin. Mrs. Kelly died October 17, 1872. He was again married May 6, 1878, to Sarah M. Glenn, a daughter of John and Dorcas (McIlvaine) Glenn, born in Clay township, Butler county. She was educated at the Sunbury Academy and for many years was a teacher in the public schools. four children have been born to this union, viz.: Lucy Hays, deceased; Bessie Woods; Ethel Gray, and Bertha Earnestine. Mr. Kelly and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, at Fairview, in which he fills the office of elder. In politics, he is a Prohibitionist, and has held various township offices.
THOMAS W. KELLY, son of James and Rachel kelly, was born in Parker township, Butler county, September 17, 1833, and was reared upon the homestead farm. In 1852 he married Rosanna Forquer, a daughter of John Forquer, of Washington township, to which union were born twelve children, viz.: Washington J.; Florence A., who married R. L. Gibson; Margaret E., who married Samuel Clark; Sarah L., who married F. F. Howe; Elmer E.; Nancy J., deceased; Maud B.; Lewis M.; Minnie; Thomas L., deceased, and two that died in infancy. Mrs Kelly died on August 23, 1894. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics, a Republican. He resides upon the old homestead in Parker township.
