OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Alfred Kelley [2]
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
June 7, 1999
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Historical Collections of Ohio
The Kelley Family Collections
Newspaper article, Plains Dealer
compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925
And Then They Went West
by Darlene E. Kelley  1998
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Part 2--- Wedding and journey (letter)

     On August 25th,1817,  Alfred Kelley married Mary Seymour Welles,
oldest daughter of Major Melancthon Woolsey and Abigail (Buel) Welles of
Lowville, New York.  In a letter from the young bride to her mother,
dated Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 29th,1817, we have a graphic picture of
their wedding journey from Lowville to Cleveland, which included a visit
to Niagara Falls.  As the description probably represents the luxury of
travel in the early days, it will help the reader to realize what must
have been the hardships of those less fortunate pioneers, who had to put
up with second class accomodations on their westward migration.  The
letter reads as follows;

     " I write to you, my dear mother, from Buffalo immediately after
our arrival.  Alfred endeavored to obtain a passage in some vessel to go
directly up the lake, but the wind was unfair and there was only one
vessel bound to Cleveland---which one was loaded very full of families
who were moving.  We thought best to wait a few days in hopes the wind
will change and expecting some vessel from Cleveland would come in.  In
the meantime we visited the Falls, left Ann at the public house in
Buffalo, where she was so well contented we could hardly persuade her to
leave there.  The Falls equaled my expectations, but did not surpass
them.  I had a pretty correct idea of them from paintings.  We were
there only one night, and were rejoiced to go back again to Buffalo.
The accommodations at the Falls are miserable in the extreme.  Only one
house so you have no choice--are obliged to stay when once there, or go
without eating.  I am surprised some one does not go there and put up a
more comfortable house.  If anyone is obliged to keep Tavern, that is,
in my opinion, one of the best stands in the country.  The man who
pretends to keep has made a great deal of money this past summer.  We
returned to Buffalo Sunday.  The wind changed during the night, so all
the vessels went out that were ready.  Monday we learnt that the Eagel,
a vessel belonging to Cleveland, expected to go up the Lake in six or
seven days.  Alfred thought if we waited so long to take a passage in
that one the wind  might again be unfavorable and, as his business
required his immediate return, we concluded to come by land.  Sarah and
myself, particularly me, felt very much disappointed and very low
spirited to thik of jolting over the road six days longer, but the event
has proved that Alfred knew much better than we did, what was proper to
do.  The vessel that left Buffalo before us has been driven back by the
winds and has not yet reached here.  We traveled over the most awful
roads you can possibly conceive of.  I had no idea that roads could be
so intolerable, if any one had tried to make them as bad as they could.
the first day we rode nineteen miles, stayed at a tavern, which was so
crowded with movers, who spread their beds so thick on the floor you
could not step without stepping on someone.  We, however, fared much
better than we did at the fashionable resort at the Falls. The next day
early we started again, rode some distance on the beach around the
points of rocks in the water, where the waves dashed over the backs of
the horses.  Should have rode about four miles on the beach and in the
lake, had the lake been calm, and by that means avoided the four mile
woods between Buffalo and Cataraugus, which road is terror to all who
move into this country.  Sarah and I walked four miles that day.  Alfred
drove the carriage and by crooking about avoided the main travelled road
and got safely through without even breaking  the carriage.  We saw
several wagons stuck in the mud, children crying, women
discouraged,etc.,etc.  We can only, however, say we have seen some of
the hardships of a new country, but have not experienced them.  The
counrty through which we travelled is very new, some excellant land,
very good looking farms, a great many fruit trees everywhere along the
road.  We reached here just a week from the day we left Buffalo.  The
day was very pleasant when we came into town.  Alfred's house is very
pleasantly situated.  I think it is pleasantest in town.  I was received
very affectionately by all the family, particularly the old gentleman."
( Daniel Kelley ).
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Con't in Part 3