OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Daniel Kelley--Western Reserve [1]
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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 6, 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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Daniel Kelley was born at Norwich, Connecticut, November 27, 1755.  He
was the son of Daniel Kelley and Abigail (Reynolds) Kelley of Norwich.
On June 28,1787, he married Jemima (Stow), daughter of Elihu and Jemima
(Paine) Stow of Middletown, Conn.  He spent the early part of his active
life in Middlefield, near Middletown, and it was there all his children
except the youngest was born. In 1797, Silas Stow, his brother-in-law,
was appointed agent of Nicholas Low of township # 11, afterward called
Lowville, in Oneida (now Lewis) County, New York, and the same year
lands were opened up for sale.  He was moved by the tide of the
emigration and by the connection of his brother-in-law, he left his home
in Middlefield in May 1798 for the wilds of New York. Life ws good to
him and his family and he prospered well there, with a good farm, and
political connections, he raised his sons well.
     In 1810 began the migration of his sons to the far west.  Joshua
Stow, the bother of Mrs. Kelley, was one of the original proprietors of
the Connecticut Western Reserve and a member of the surveying party of
Gen. Moses Cleaveland, which had founded the city of that name on the
shores of Lake Erie in 1796.  In some family correspondence we detect
the dissatisfaction of the parents, with the influence of Mr. Stow's
liberal religious opinions upon his nephews; and the strong personality
seems to have been chiefly instrumental in determining their choice of a
future home. Datus Kelley caught the western fever first,and in 1810
made the journey on foot to Cleveland, ohio, or "New Connecticut", as
the Western Reserve was then popularly called.  He returned to Lowville
that year, however, without having decided upon a location. In 1810 of
the same year, Alfred Kelley, his brother, removed to Cleveland. In
1811, he was followed by Datus; in 1812 by Irad and early 1814 by
Reynolds,  That this separation was a painful one is evidenced by the
letters which passed between parents and sons during those four years.
Much of this interesting correspondence has been preserved.  There is
something very pathetic in the situation of the father and mother, who
themselves only just passed through the toils and hardships of pioneer
life for the sake of their children, and were now called upon to part
with the ones for whom they had patiently borne it all.
      As early as 1811, however, there was evidently a plan in formation
to reunite the family on the far Western Reserve.  In a letter to Alfred
dated March 8, 1811, his mother writes;

     " It is a more severe trial to part with children and to hear of
their being sick and not be able to be with them, then one can imagine.
I do think it will add much to my happiness to be near my children.  I
feel some degree of attachment already to the place which is in
contemplation for us."
     And again, May 9,1812;

     " I have arrived at the period of having my family separated (and a
doleful time it is )---- I begin with the infant and trace every stage
of his life up to man's estate, and then think he is gone and I am not
even to see him perhaps but a few times more, if ever.  I sometimes
almost envey the days that are past, when all my children were with me,
yet then I had my cares, but they did not partake so much of the gloomy.
If I should give up all hope of ever living nearer my children than I
now do to some of them, I think I should be very unhappy."
     The letters from Cleveland are full of interest, but we must
content ourselves with one or two random extracts. Under date August 4,
1812, Alfred writes a budget of war news, but assures his parents
that;--- " We remain perfectly quiet here and apprehend no danger either
from British or Indians."      
     " Datus was here a short time ago with his wife and boy, whom he
calls Addison.  They came down in my sail boat, staid here two nights
and returned to Rocky River by the same conveyance.  We had very
pleasent voyages, except Datus and Sally were a little seasick
returning. You cannot conceive anything more pleasant than a trip now
and then to Rocky River in my frigate ( which is an excellant sailor)."
     The parents appear to have given each of their sons a thousand
dollars with which to seek their fortunes in the west.  Thus, Feb.
11.1814, Daniel Kelley writes to Alfred;  " By obtaining the money from
Middletown we paid up to Irad the balance of his $1000, and have made up
to Reynolds $860, leaving $140 due. They go into trade in company for
the present, etc."
     During the spring and summer of 1814 the funiture, stock and lands
at Lowville were gradually disposed of, preparatory to the removal of
Judge Daniel Kelley and his wife to Ohio and the long cherished reunion
of the family there.  April 15, 1814, Jemima Kelley writes to Alfred
giving a ground plan of the house to be erected for them in Cleveland,
and specifying very particularly its dimensions and design. (This house
was constructed by Alfred in 1815-18, but Jemima died before its
completion and it became the home of Alfred with whom his father,
Daniel, afterwards went to live,)
     July 24,1814, Daniel writes to Alfred;
" We expect to have our goods forwarded by land from here to Buffalow
and calculate to have them carried from there by water, if consistant.
We leave it to you. I understand Mr. Dean ( Datus' father-in-law) is
making his arrangements to go about the time of our going."
     It was the middle of September before they finally bade goodbye to
Lowville and started in wagons for their new home.  Irad, who was on his
way home from New York, where he had gone to purchase goods, accompanied
them upon a part of their journey.
                        This is part 1--
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