James Searchfield Kelly (or O'Kelly) was the only child of Thomas and Sarah Kelly. He was born in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, and later they moved to Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. Both of his parents were killed in a house fire sometime around 1843. His paternal uncle, Walter Kelly, (according to family lore) insisting that he go to become a priest. So young James ran away and served on a steamboat that ran up and down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. He landed at one port called Point Pleasant, (later) West Viginia where he met Mary Mahala Stewart. Her family was living on a plantation there, and they soon married. As their family grew, he served for the Union army during the Civil War. Two sons died before reaching adulthood: Thomas and James. The others gradually moved westward to Iowa, and James and Mary Mahala followed. Their daughter Mary Matilda died young in 1892 in Iowa before they arrived.
James Searchfield Kelly (or O'Kelly) was the only child of Thomas and Sarah Kelly. He was born in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, and later they moved to Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. Both of his parents were killed in a house fire sometime around 1843. His paternal uncle, Walter Kelly, (according to family lore) insisting that he go to become a priest. So young James ran away and served on a steamboat that ran up and down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. He landed at one port called Point Pleasant, (later) West Viginia where he met Mary Mahala Stewart. Her family was living on a plantation there, and they soon married. As their family grew, he served for the Union army during the Civil War. Two sons died before reaching adulthood: Thomas and James. The others gradually moved westward to Iowa, and James and Mary Mahala followed. Their daughter Mary Matilda died young in 1892 in Iowa before they arrived.
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