Missoula County, MT

Submitted by:
Donald D. Gilder
dondgilder@trankelresearch.com

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


 
William Kelly - from 'History of Montana' by Joaquin Miller, 
1894.
 
   "William Kelly, a successful farmer of the Bitter Root 
valley, was born in Ireland, in 1837.  When only a lad of 
fifteen years he voluntarily left his native land for 
America, and his first work here was in a factory in 
Connecticut, for which he received fifty cents a day 
and boarded himself. Being an active and willing worker 
his wages were soon advanced to $2 per day.  In the 
latter years he crossed the plains to California, via 
the Isthmus, immediately began gold-mining in Yreka, 
from 1862 to 1868 mined with good success in Florence, 
Idaho, and in the latter year joined his brother Owen 
in Deer Lodge County, Montana.  They mined for a time 
at the head of Deer Creek, afterward went to Cedar 
Creek and then decided to purchase land in the rich 
Bitter Root valley.  The brothers located side by 
side, our subject securing 320 acres, on which 
he has ever since resided.  For the past three 
years his wheat has averaged forty bushels to the 
acre, his oats sixty bushels, and during the present 
year his potatoes yielded 300 bushels to the acre.  
Since their residence in Montana, the brothers have 
been extensively engaged in the stock business, 
and have met with the success that their enterprise 
and fidelity deserve.

    When the Nez Perces Indians threatened the lives 
and homes of the settlers of the Bitter Root valley,
 Mr. Kelly volunteered in the service, and served at 
the Lo Lo, under Captain King.  They succeeded in 
preventing a fearful masscre.

    Mr. Kelly has never married.  His mother made 
her home with him until her death, at the age of 
ninety years.  The Kelly Brothers are among the 
many brave sons of Ireland who have sought and 
found independence and a competency in a foreign land."
    
-------------------------------------------------
Donald D. Gilder
5306 Talisman Ct
Missoula MT  59803
(406) 251-2127
dondgilder@trankelresearch.com 
 
  
  





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