Martin Kelly

Vital Date(s):
November 20, 1840 (Ottawa, IL) - October 12, 1923 (headstone below is incorrect)
*New Martin Kelly's Family Tree (Courtesy of Jerry Finnigan)
Martin and Ellen's engagement certificate, 1861
1900 Census on Martin and his remaining family in Ottawa
A "Martin Kelly" from Ottawa in the Civil War p. 1 of 2
A "Martin Kelly" from Ottawa in the Civil War p. 2 of 2
Martin in Ottawa directory
Map of Ottawa
Martin's brother, John's 1915 obituary (John attended Lincoln-Douglas debate in Ottawa)
Martin's Obituary
Newspaper article on Martin's funeral
Possible military records of MartinKelly
 
 
Parents:
James (d. 1855) and Margaret (d. 1893) Kelly
Siblings:
John W. Kelly, Maria (John) Bailey, James Kelly, Catherine (Michael J.) Fire, Margaret DeForest
Spouse:
Ellen Meagher
Marriage Date:
1861
Children:
Margaret Isabel "Maggie" Halligan, George J. Kelly, Henry Michael Kelly, Catherine Hackett, Mary "Mae" Joseph Golden, Flora Agnes Finnigan
Education
Left high school at age 16
Occupation:
Farmer (purchased own farm at 21)
Martin and Ellen's Family Tree / Martin and Ellen's Family Bible / Possible Civil War Record for Martin

Martin Kelly, Henry's father, was born in Ottawa, Illinois shortly after his father James Kelly moved west from Buffalo after their arrival to America from Ireland in the 1830's.

In 1861, he married Ellen Meagher, below. (see marriage license to the right).

Ellen (Meagher) Kelly, Martin's wife.

Martin was a farmer who died at his daughter's home in Valparaiso Indiana in October, 1923--note the mistake on the headstone pictured above. (see obituary and the newspaper article to the right).

In 1894, the summer of the marriage of their daughter May to John Golden, they resided at 826 East Congress, in Ottawa.

The following is courtesy of Jerry Finnigan (FinniganJ@aol.com  ), great-grandson of Martin (Flora's grandson), January 18.2006

City Directory of Ottwaw for 1869-1870; Holland Bros
Ten Kelly's listed including Martin, miner, res SE cor Superior & N. Division. 

Past and Present of LaSalle Co, A History of LaSalle Co., U. Hoffman, S.J. Clarke Pub Co., Chicago, 1906. pg 11.
    Martin Kelly, a representative of agricultural interests in LaSalle County for many years and now living a retired life in Ottawa, represents one of the old and prominent families of this part of the state. His birth occurred in this city November 24, 1841, when it was little more than a village. The parents were James and Margaret (Redmond) Kelly, who came to the new world from Ireland in 1830, having heard favorable reports concerning the opportunities of the new world from those who had already braved the dangers incident to an ocean voyage at that time. Arriving in New York city, they travelled westward to Buffalo, where they resided for a few years and thence came to LaSalle County, Illinois, settling in Ottawa in 1837. James Kelly was a stone mason by trade and soon secured work in Ottawa and vicinity in putting up buildings, laying cellar walls and foundations for dwellings. stores, churches and other structures. He was a very industrious, honest man, who did his work conscientiously and well and therefore merited the success which came to him. Later he removed to a farm, upon which his death occurred in 1855, his wife long surviving him, passing away in 1893. In their family were six children who reached mature years, namely: John W., Martin, Maria, now the wife of John Bailey of Chicago; James, of Ottawa; Catherine, now the wife of Michael J. Fin, of Chicago; and Margaret, who is Mrs DeForest Smith, also of Chicago.
    Martin Kelly attended the public schools of his native city to the age of sixteen years, when his parents removed upon a farm and he accompanied them. He greatly enjoyed his life amid the fields upon the broad pairies of Illinois and to his father gave the benefit of his service, remaining at home until twenty one years of age, when he began farming on his own account, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Jasper county. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for may years, adding many modern improvements to his property, and through his capable management and enterprise winning success in his undertakings. He resided upon that farm continuously until his retirement from active life, when he took up his abode in Ottawa.
    Mr Kelly was married in 1861 to Miss Ellen Meagher, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Peters) Meagher. This union has been blessed with six children: Margaret, now the wife of Richard Halligan; George J., who is general manager of the large department store of Martin Brothers at Sioux City, Iowa; Henry M., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Mrs Catherine Hackett, now of Chicago; Mary, the wife of John Golden, a prominent attorney of Tolono, Illinois; and Flora, now the wife of David Finnigan, who resides in Streator. Mary, Henry and George were graduated from the Ottawa high school. Both Mr and Mrs Kelly now reside in Ottawa in a pleasant home. enjoying the fruits of their former toil. They are esteemed people of the community, having a large circle of warm friends.
(Tolono, Ill is S of Champaign/Urbana. Jasper Co., Ill is E of Effingham ans WSW of Terre Haute, Ind. A long way from LaSalle Co)

 

His brother, John, was in attendance at one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates held in Ottawa (see John's obituary to the right).

Martin may be the same "Martin Kelly" from Ottawa who served the Union Army during the Civil War (see article to the right).

Emmett Kelly, Henry Kelly, Martin Kelly and Harry Kelly in 1919 on the steps of Henry's Ottawa home, "Eastwood".

When Martin died, he was survived by "the following children: Mrs. R.M. Halligan of this city (Ottawa); Mrs. John F. Golden of Chicago; Mrs. D.J. Finnegan of Valparaiso, Ind; George Kelly of Aberdeen, S.D.; and Henry M. Kelly former Ottawa attorney, now of Detroit.

"He also leaves three sisters, Mrs. M. J. Finn, Mrs. DeForrest Smith, and Mrs. John Bailey of Chicago; also thirty-two grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He is the grandfather of State's Attorney Harry F. Kelly." (source: Martin's 1923 obituary to the right)

Martin's body lay in state at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Richard M. Halligan, 620 E. Superior Street. Pallbearers were Arthur, Richard and Leo Halligan, Richard and Bernard Finnegan and W. J. Johnson.

Ottawa, Illinois.