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Melville Ambrose Kelly | ||
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Vital Date(s):
| December 7, 1899 - July 30, 1917 |
Melville's baptismal info from Ottawa church ledgerMelville's signature from estate reading of Ellen Kelly (father Henry's mother) May 4, 1917. Note: Henry signed as the notary public for this document.Melville's death headlineNewspaper article on death 1 of 2Newspaper article on death 2 of 2Funeral tomorrow articleFuneral report | |
Parents:
| Henry and Mollie Kelly | ||
Siblings:
| Harry, Marie, Emmett, Kathryn, Laura, Larry, Walter, Jerry | ||
Spouse:
| none | ||
Marriage Date:
| none | ||
Children:
| none | ||
Education
| Ottawa High School, 1917 | ||
Occupation:
| student | ||
The Kelly Family's "Stanley Steamer" 1912 (Melville close-up below)
(close-up) Melville and Marie
Melville Ambrose Kelly was born December 7, 1899. He died July 30, 1917 at his parents' home on Pearl Street in Ottawa, Illinois while working on his car. The house's garage was located below ground and, according to investigators, Melville sucumbed to the exhaust fumes which first made him unconscious.
On the steps of their Ottawa home "Eastwood." Clockwise from Marie: Emmett, Melville, cousin Raymond, Laura (based on the inscription in the album). Larger shot below
There has been many varied reports through the family of how Melville died, such as disease, but according to Laura Walsh she always described the death of her brother as "asphyxiation."
He was discovered by his sister Marie and brother Emmett lying on the garage floor with tools around him. His father Henry was away on business and took some time to be reached. His eldest brother Harry had just graduated from Notre Dame and was in officer's training camp in Indiana. Harry rushed home from his base to be with his mother and siblings.
The funeral was well-attended (and described in the articles to the right).
The only document we have with Melville's signature involves an affidavit he signed for his father asserting that he did post estate notices on the death of his grandmother, Ellen Meagher Kelly--Martin's widow. (See document to the right.)
Melville is the only Kelly buried in the family plot in Ottawa, Illinois. After moving to Detroit, Henry donated the plot to the church where it was used as a burial place for nuns.
