Composer of the music score "Home on the Range".
Daniel E. Kelley was born on February 6, 1843 (though some records say 1845), at North Kingston, Rhode Island, the son of Sylvester Eddy Kelley (a carpenter) and Sarah (Corey) Kelley.
(Siblings of Daniel: Sylvester D. Kelley, William Henry Kelley, Walter Kelley, and Eugene Kelley.)
Kelley followed in his father's footsteps, and was a carpenter in Providence, R.I. through 1871 (as is evidenced by Providence directory listings from 1860-1871).
On Aug 23, 1863 he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry. After a year as a bugler in Company B (on August 31, 1864), he was transferred to regimental headquarters as Full Chief Bugler to the noncommissioned offers staff.
On Sept 1, 1865, he was promoted to Full Sergeant Major, and on November 29, he was mustered out at New Orleans, having served a little over 2 years.
Kelley moved to Kansas in 1872 when he was 29. He settled at Gaylord in Smith County, and two years later married Mary Eulalia "Lulu" Harlan (1854-?) (daughter of John Carter Harlan and Sarah Jane Doxey Harlan), by whom he had four children. (Children: Charles Raymond Kelley, 1874-1939; Frank Clifton Kelley, 1877-aft 1930; John M. Kelley 1877-? and Harvey P. Kelley 1883-1915.)
His occupation was that of carpenter, and he was responsible for building several structures in the community of Gaylord, including the local hotel.
He was also a member of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen), Lodge No. 45 (Gaylord, Smith, Kansas).
Kelley also held a couple of inventions/patents. The first was an automatic car coupler, which "relates to improvements in (railroad) car couplings, and has for its object to enable the ready and easy coupling and uncoupling of the cars without danger to the operator." (This patent was filed on August 26, 1882). His other patent (filed on April 6, 1886) was an invention of his (and Harvey D. Pratt, also of Gaylord), which made "certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Scales." (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909) While these patents were filed, if any success came of them, it is not known.
He also was a part-time violinist with Lulu's two brothers (Marcus and Clarence), who composed the "Harlan Orchestra."
Perhaps Kelley's best "claim to fame," was at the age of 30, when he composed the music to "Home on the Range," based on a poem written by his friend and fellow homesteader, Dr. Brewster M. Higley (1823-1911). Dr. Higley came to Smith County, Kansas in 1871, and was so inspired by the beauty of the country, he wrote a poem called "My Western Home." The poem was first published in The Smith County Pioneer (December 1873) under the title "Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam." He took his poem with him when he visited Kelley in Gaylord in 1873. Kelley later found himself humming a tune to Higley's poem, and he felt compelled to set it to music. Kelley and the Harlan brothers worked on it a little more, and "Home on the Range" was born.
The song spread like wildfire across the west in its popularity, sung by homesteaders, cowboys, and many others (although there were different versions of it, as it made its way west).
It was later arranged (in the early 20th century) by Texas composer David Wendell Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer (Guion did a different adaptation of the tune, but Kelley was the original composer).
It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947.
Kelly moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1889, and died there on October 23, 1905 at the age of 62.
Daniel E. Kelley was born on February 6, 1843 (though some records say 1845), at North Kingston, Rhode Island, the son of Sylvester Eddy Kelley (a carpenter) and Sarah (Corey) Kelley.
(Siblings of Daniel: Sylvester D. Kelley, William Henry Kelley, Walter Kelley, and Eugene Kelley.)
Kelley followed in his father's footsteps, and was a carpenter in Providence, R.I. through 1871 (as is evidenced by Providence directory listings from 1860-1871).
On Aug 23, 1863 he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry. After a year as a bugler in Company B (on August 31, 1864), he was transferred to regimental headquarters as Full Chief Bugler to the noncommissioned offers staff.
On Sept 1, 1865, he was promoted to Full Sergeant Major, and on November 29, he was mustered out at New Orleans, having served a little over 2 years.
Kelley moved to Kansas in 1872 when he was 29. He settled at Gaylord in Smith County, and two years later married Mary Eulalia "Lulu" Harlan (1854-?) (daughter of John Carter Harlan and Sarah Jane Doxey Harlan), by whom he had four children. (Children: Charles Raymond Kelley, 1874-1939; Frank Clifton Kelley, 1877-aft 1930; John M. Kelley 1877-? and Harvey P. Kelley 1883-1915.)
His occupation was that of carpenter, and he was responsible for building several structures in the community of Gaylord, including the local hotel.
He was also a member of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen), Lodge No. 45 (Gaylord, Smith, Kansas).
Kelley also held a couple of inventions/patents. The first was an automatic car coupler, which "relates to improvements in (railroad) car couplings, and has for its object to enable the ready and easy coupling and uncoupling of the cars without danger to the operator." (This patent was filed on August 26, 1882). His other patent (filed on April 6, 1886) was an invention of his (and Harvey D. Pratt, also of Gaylord), which made "certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Scales." (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909) While these patents were filed, if any success came of them, it is not known.
He also was a part-time violinist with Lulu's two brothers (Marcus and Clarence), who composed the "Harlan Orchestra."
Perhaps Kelley's best "claim to fame," was at the age of 30, when he composed the music to "Home on the Range," based on a poem written by his friend and fellow homesteader, Dr. Brewster M. Higley (1823-1911). Dr. Higley came to Smith County, Kansas in 1871, and was so inspired by the beauty of the country, he wrote a poem called "My Western Home." The poem was first published in The Smith County Pioneer (December 1873) under the title "Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam." He took his poem with him when he visited Kelley in Gaylord in 1873. Kelley later found himself humming a tune to Higley's poem, and he felt compelled to set it to music. Kelley and the Harlan brothers worked on it a little more, and "Home on the Range" was born.
The song spread like wildfire across the west in its popularity, sung by homesteaders, cowboys, and many others (although there were different versions of it, as it made its way west).
It was later arranged (in the early 20th century) by Texas composer David Wendell Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer (Guion did a different adaptation of the tune, but Kelley was the original composer).
It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947.
Kelly moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1889, and died there on October 23, 1905 at the age of 62.
Composer of the music score "Home on the Range".
Daniel E. Kelley was born on February 6, 1843 (though some records say 1845), at North Kingston, Rhode Island, the son of Sylvester Eddy Kelley (a carpenter) and Sarah (Corey) Kelley.
(Siblings of Daniel: Sylvester D. Kelley, William Henry Kelley, Walter Kelley, and Eugene Kelley.)
Kelley followed in his father's footsteps, and was a carpenter in Providence, R.I. through 1871 (as is evidenced by Providence directory listings from 1860-1871).
On Aug 23, 1863 he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry. After a year as a bugler in Company B (on August 31, 1864), he was transferred to regimental headquarters as Full Chief Bugler to the noncommissioned offers staff.
On Sept 1, 1865, he was promoted to Full Sergeant Major, and on November 29, he was mustered out at New Orleans, having served a little over 2 years.
Kelley moved to Kansas in 1872 when he was 29. He settled at Gaylord in Smith County, and two years later married Mary Eulalia "Lulu" Harlan (1854-?) (daughter of John Carter Harlan and Sarah Jane Doxey Harlan), by whom he had four children. (Children: Charles Raymond Kelley, 1874-1939; Frank Clifton Kelley, 1877-aft 1930; John M. Kelley 1877-? and Harvey P. Kelley 1883-1915.)
His occupation was that of carpenter, and he was responsible for building several structures in the community of Gaylord, including the local hotel.
He was also a member of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen), Lodge No. 45 (Gaylord, Smith, Kansas).
Kelley also held a couple of inventions/patents. The first was an automatic car coupler, which "relates to improvements in (railroad) car couplings, and has for its object to enable the ready and easy coupling and uncoupling of the cars without danger to the operator." (This patent was filed on August 26, 1882). His other patent (filed on April 6, 1886) was an invention of his (and Harvey D. Pratt, also of Gaylord), which made "certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Scales." (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909) While these patents were filed, if any success came of them, it is not known.
He also was a part-time violinist with Lulu's two brothers (Marcus and Clarence), who composed the "Harlan Orchestra."
Perhaps Kelley's best "claim to fame," was at the age of 30, when he composed the music to "Home on the Range," based on a poem written by his friend and fellow homesteader, Dr. Brewster M. Higley (1823-1911). Dr. Higley came to Smith County, Kansas in 1871, and was so inspired by the beauty of the country, he wrote a poem called "My Western Home." The poem was first published in The Smith County Pioneer (December 1873) under the title "Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam." He took his poem with him when he visited Kelley in Gaylord in 1873. Kelley later found himself humming a tune to Higley's poem, and he felt compelled to set it to music. Kelley and the Harlan brothers worked on it a little more, and "Home on the Range" was born.
The song spread like wildfire across the west in its popularity, sung by homesteaders, cowboys, and many others (although there were different versions of it, as it made its way west).
It was later arranged (in the early 20th century) by Texas composer David Wendell Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer (Guion did a different adaptation of the tune, but Kelley was the original composer).
It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947.
Kelly moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1889, and died there on October 23, 1905 at the age of 62.
Daniel E. Kelley was born on February 6, 1843 (though some records say 1845), at North Kingston, Rhode Island, the son of Sylvester Eddy Kelley (a carpenter) and Sarah (Corey) Kelley.
(Siblings of Daniel: Sylvester D. Kelley, William Henry Kelley, Walter Kelley, and Eugene Kelley.)
Kelley followed in his father's footsteps, and was a carpenter in Providence, R.I. through 1871 (as is evidenced by Providence directory listings from 1860-1871).
On Aug 23, 1863 he enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Rhode Island Cavalry. After a year as a bugler in Company B (on August 31, 1864), he was transferred to regimental headquarters as Full Chief Bugler to the noncommissioned offers staff.
On Sept 1, 1865, he was promoted to Full Sergeant Major, and on November 29, he was mustered out at New Orleans, having served a little over 2 years.
Kelley moved to Kansas in 1872 when he was 29. He settled at Gaylord in Smith County, and two years later married Mary Eulalia "Lulu" Harlan (1854-?) (daughter of John Carter Harlan and Sarah Jane Doxey Harlan), by whom he had four children. (Children: Charles Raymond Kelley, 1874-1939; Frank Clifton Kelley, 1877-aft 1930; John M. Kelley 1877-? and Harvey P. Kelley 1883-1915.)
His occupation was that of carpenter, and he was responsible for building several structures in the community of Gaylord, including the local hotel.
He was also a member of the AOUW (Ancient Order of United Workmen), Lodge No. 45 (Gaylord, Smith, Kansas).
Kelley also held a couple of inventions/patents. The first was an automatic car coupler, which "relates to improvements in (railroad) car couplings, and has for its object to enable the ready and easy coupling and uncoupling of the cars without danger to the operator." (This patent was filed on August 26, 1882). His other patent (filed on April 6, 1886) was an invention of his (and Harvey D. Pratt, also of Gaylord), which made "certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grain-Scales." (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909) While these patents were filed, if any success came of them, it is not known.
He also was a part-time violinist with Lulu's two brothers (Marcus and Clarence), who composed the "Harlan Orchestra."
Perhaps Kelley's best "claim to fame," was at the age of 30, when he composed the music to "Home on the Range," based on a poem written by his friend and fellow homesteader, Dr. Brewster M. Higley (1823-1911). Dr. Higley came to Smith County, Kansas in 1871, and was so inspired by the beauty of the country, he wrote a poem called "My Western Home." The poem was first published in The Smith County Pioneer (December 1873) under the title "Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam." He took his poem with him when he visited Kelley in Gaylord in 1873. Kelley later found himself humming a tune to Higley's poem, and he felt compelled to set it to music. Kelley and the Harlan brothers worked on it a little more, and "Home on the Range" was born.
The song spread like wildfire across the west in its popularity, sung by homesteaders, cowboys, and many others (although there were different versions of it, as it made its way west).
It was later arranged (in the early 20th century) by Texas composer David Wendell Guion (1892-1981) who is often credited as the composer (Guion did a different adaptation of the tune, but Kelley was the original composer).
It was officially adopted as the state song of Kansas on June 30, 1947.
Kelly moved to Waterloo, Iowa, in 1889, and died there on October 23, 1905 at the age of 62.
