OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Daniel Kelley--Western Reserve [3] *********************************************************************** 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 ********************************************** Third and last of series-- Under the charter incorporating the village of Cleveland, dated Dec.23,1814, the first election took place on the first Monday in June , 1815. There were twelve votes cast and Alfred Kelley wa unanimously chosen first " President", as the mayor wa then called. On March 19,1816, Alfred Kelley resigned his position and, by appointment, his father, Judge Daniel Kelley, became the second President of the village. At the annual election in June,1816, Daniel Kelley was elected president by the unanimous vote and was continued in that office through the years 1817,1818, and 1819. He was also post-master of Cleveland, in which office he was succeeded by his son, Irad. In 1816, among the incorporators of a company known as the Cleveland Pier Company, " formed for the purpose of erecting a pier at or near the village of Cleveland for the accomodation of vessels navigating Lake Erie," we find the names of Alfred Kelley, Datus Kelley, Daniel Kelley, and Irad Kelley. In her sketch of his life, Mrs. Bates relates many touchng incidents of the last days of her grandfather, whon it became at once her duty and delight to wait upon. She gives us a picture of a beautiful old age crowning a noble life. She says; " The earliest accounts I have of him are connected with his religious life and character and pursuits, and old age found him till in the service of the Master---- I have no memories reaching beyond those connected with this venerated grandfather, and no love, even for my own parents, exceeding that which filled my heart for him. I never saw his slight, feeble figure passing, without an emotion of sympathy and tenderness which was almost painful---- He was not tall and was rather slightly built. His thin silver hair was combed back and bound by a black ribbon, wound around the braid, which hung in his neck like a queue. His manners were gentle, grave and dignified.--- He was always called Judge Kelley when I knew him." About 1830 he revisited Lowville, where his granddaughter was then at school. She says;--- " This visit was a perfect era in my uneventful school life. My other grandparents and Aunts did everything to testify respect and kindness to him. i think he enjoyed it, though many sad memories must of mingled with his pleasure. I suppose great changes had occurred in the natural appearance of things, as well as society. He visited all the old localities. He pointed out to me the old stone or rock which had formed a part of the wall of their cabin; it had been broken up and had nearly disappeared. He remained only a few days. One of these was Sunday. I staid to see him partake of he Lord's Supper with his Baptist brethern, and well remember my indignation at seeing them take a vote on the matter before they would permit this eminent and well known servrnt of God to commune with them, he sitting meekly by meanwhile. But they were all 'close communion' and I supose they only observed their ' rules'---- " After his return to Cleveland , the intellignce reached us that he had suffered from paralysis, affecting him so much that he could not use his right arm.--- On our return to Cleveland in the fall of 1830 we were in he same house with him ( Uncle Irad's) for two or three months. He was just the same, only growing feebler and more helpless. He took an interest in all that was going on and was uniformly gentle and kind to all. He went out very little, but his friends called to see him and treated him with much respect. His life flowed along serenely and calmly, reading his Bible and listening to others reading, alluding cheerfully to his decaying powers and approaching end.---- Bright, sunny days when he felt well enough he would walk out in the yard, leaning on Martha (my aunt's young sister) and me--- He would say to the neighbors; ' Am I not blessed to have such nice staffs? ' Everything we did for him called forth such pleasure and gratitude. I never knew him petulent or complaining. He seemed in a heavenly frame of mind!" At three o'clock on the afternoon of Sunday, August 7,1831, this good man passed away at the home of his son,Irad. in Cleveland. Both Daniel Kelley and his wife are buried in the Erie street cemetary at Cleveland. Their graves were originally in a yard nearer the Square, but were later removed to Erie Street. The children of Daniel and Jemima (Stow) Kelley were all , except Daniel, the youngest, born in Middlefield, near Middletown, Conn., and were as follows; Datus, bn; Apr.24.1788; D, Jan 24,1866 Alfred, bn; Nov. 7,1789; D, Dec. 2, 1859 Irad, bn; Oct. 24, 1791; D, Jan 21, 1875 Joseph Reynolds, bn; Mar 29, 1794; D; Aug 23,1823 Thomas Moore, bn; Mar 17, 1797; D. June 12, 1878 Daniel, bn; Oct 21,1802; D, Sept.10,1815 ***********************************************