OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Daniel Kelley--Western Reserve [2]
***********************************************************************
OHGENWEB NOTICE:  All distribution rights to this electronic data are
reserved by the submitter.  Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted
material will require the permission of the copyright owner.
***********************************************************************
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
June 6, 1999
**********************************************
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
**********************************************

This is the second in the Series


    Sept 27 th, 1814, Jemima Kelley writes from Buffalo to her son,
Thomas Kelley, who was left in the east at school: 

" We arrived here yesterday after a rainy, muddy and fatiguing
journey----------There is a vessel here and if the wind will prmit, will
sail for Cleveland tomarrow."

October 19, Daniel Kelley writes to Thomas;---

    " You undoubtedly have received infomation of our arrival at
Buffalo, we were obliged to stay in that uncomfortable place on account
of head winds until Tueday afternoon the 4th inst.,when we all embarked
on board a schooner, and set off, with a gentle breeze, for Cleveland.
We sailed with a fair but smart breeze that night and the next day,
about sun-down, we were a little above Erie; it then grew a little
foggy, and very soon the wind chopt around and blew violently from the
N.W.  We had to stand off and in the night were very much tost about
with the wind and the sea.  We were very sick (except Irad).  In the
morning we found ourselves a little below Erie.  We made out to get in
to Erie about 9 o'clock A.M.  We were very glad to get our feet once
more on land.  We then hired a waggon and set out on Friday mornng for
this place, where we arrived on Tuesday.  We found our journey by land
tolerably pleasant, were much pleased with the country as we approached
Cleveland, and the place is quite as pleasant as we expected.  We expect
to begin keeping house within  two or three weeks.  The brick house will
not be built until the next season, owing to the failure of the mason's.
Your mother has her health pretty well for her.  She is now out to
Datus'.  I went out with her last Friday, and returned to go home the
Clarissa Strong.  I returned from the town of Stow yesterday.  I found
the country back as I expected from information.  I go out to Datus'
to-day, where we expect to make something of a visit before we go to
house keeping.  Your mother is much pleased with Datus' situation and
prospects of living.------  Alfred purchased the frame of a house
standing near where we expect to build, which he is now finishing for us
to live in, until ours ca be built.  it will be very comfortable for the
present."

Dec 29th, he writes again;

   " We have been keeping house by ourselves about 12 days, are pretty
comfortable as to house, room, etc.,---Irad returned from Buffalo
yesterday with some goods.---Their store and house is nearly finished.
They move into it this week."

And on Jan. 25, 1815, the mother, still anxious to have her family
together, once 
more writes to Thomas;

   " I almost feel as if I wanted to turn the wheels of time faster,to
hasten the period of your arrival.  I have seen my five children
together, which was great satisfaction, but the want of the other one
has rendered it very incomplete."

   In June 1815 Thomas reached Cleveland, and thus the father and mother
had once more the satisfaction of seeing their family all together.  But
their joy was short lived.  About the first of September, 1815, Jemima
Kelley was taken with a fever and soon delirious, in which she remained
until her death, which occurred Sept. 14th.  Four days before the mother
passed away, her son Daniel died.  His funeral was held across the
street at Capt. Burtis' (light-house) in order that his mother should
not know.  It, as well as the simple service at the burial of his wife
was conducted by Daniel Kelley, with the tears of a double grief
streaming down his cheeks.
     Although a farmers' daughter and lacking in the advantages of a
early education. Jemima Kelley became , by study and reading, in later
years, familiar with history and belles lettres to a remarkable degree.
She came from vigorous stock.  Her character seems to have been strong
and her virtue, intelligence, practical good sense and boundless charity
made her the most useful women in a new community.  Mrs. Bates has
preserved the following statement, made by Datus Kelley, concerning hs
mother's character;-------

   " She was not mirthful, though fond of joke, smiling at it, though
not laughing."     ( This must have been in her later years, for her
relatives in Connecticut reported that she would almost get into
convulsive laughter in her early life.) " Not hibitually desponding, but
full of care and anxiety, and at times giving way to a fit of weeping."
( The corrspondance shows that she was in ill health for several years
before her death, which would probably account for this state of mind.)
" Grave and mild, slow of thought, but weighing well and carefully
whatever was presented to her, and then have an answer ready, as the
result of reflection.  Daniel Kelley, on the other hand, was quick and
could answer or write or make a prayer as well as a moment's notice as
after long study.  His wife's judgement and council were much relied on
by him." ( The long hesitation which preceded Daniel Kelley's decision
to remove his family from Middletown to Lowville shows that he too was
disposed to act only after thorugh investigation and deliberation, and
love for his family and of Jemima's desire of reuniting the family,
removal to Cleveland was understandable.)

    Few mothers were ever more venerated and , if it had been her lot to
die among old neighbors at Lowville, who had known her so long, few
members of the community would have been more deeply mourned.
    After her death her husband and his sons Alfred, Irad and Thomas
made their home with Joseph Renolds until 1817, when Alfred married and
his father went to live with him.
    In a letter from Mary S. Welles Kelley to her parents, dated
Cleveland. Dec 16, 1817, she says; " We expect Judge Kelley will take up
residence wth us in a few days," and on Dec.29th of the same year, she
again writes;  " Judge Kelley has been a member of our family about
three weeks.  He is a very different man from what I always expected to
find him.  He possesses very tender feelings ---tears often steal down
his furrowed cheeks, upon hearing Sally and me sing the  
"Meeting of the Waters" or when speaking of his children.  He told me
the other day, when they were all assembled, that to see his children
settled so happily near him seemed to compenpense him for all the care
and anxiety they had ever caused him.  No old gentleman could make less
trouble than he does. He seems to be solicitous to purchase everything
that he hears me express a wish for---ever endeavoring to contribute all
in his power to make me contented and happy."                      
To be continued in the third series
***********************************************