| Page content last modified: | March 30, 2009, updated the 1900 census transcription, added early Riggs family census transcriptions.
February 18, 2008, revised text, added biography. February 16, 2008, added Frank Kelly's middle name and date of birth. September 3, 2006, revised text, corrected page number of 1850 census. |
| JOETTA FAMILIES NEWS MEMORABILIA |
AMANDA M. RIGGS ca. 1852-19__
  Stephen A. Kelly, son of  John Kelly and Margaret Boyd, was born Hancock County, Illinois, in the area which would be named Hancock Township 1850. Stephen remained at the family home into adulthood and took over the property and farming after the death of his father.
He married Amanda M. Riggs on October 5, 1875, in Hancock County. Amanda was born about 1852 in Marshall County, Virginia, to In 1889 the family left Illinois and moved to Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, where Stephen embarked on a successful career with a railway company. Stephen died in Centerville on May 16, 1908. Amanda died after January 1, 1920. We expect to find them buried in the Centerville area. The children of Stephen A. Kelly and Amanda M. Riggs were probably all born on the Kelly homeplace in Hancock Township:
Okle Campbell Browning |
Volume 2, pp. 114-115 S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1913
At the time of his death Stephen A. Kelly was connected with the coach and car department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Centerville. He was always a resident of the middle west and possessed the enterprising spirit which has been the dominant feature in the development and upbuilding of the upper Mississippi valley. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, August 30, 1843, and is a son of John and Margaret (Boyd) Kelly, who were natives of Ireland and of Pennsylvania respectively. On crossing the Atlantic to the new world, attracted by the broader business opportunities which he believed might be secured on this side of the Atlantic, the father made his way to the interior of the country, settling in Hancock county, Illinois, in the '30s. There he entered land from the government and at once began to turn the sod and prepare the tract for cultivation. Throughout his remaining days he carried on farm work there, his life's labors being ended in death in 1862, when fifty-five years of age. The youthful days of Stephen A. Kelly were passed in Illinois and his education was acquired in the district schools. He lived upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors incident to its development and cultivation. After his parents died he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the property and continued the cultivation of the fields until November, 1889, when he sold his interests in Illinois and came to Centerville, Iowa. Here he entered the employ of what is now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, in connection with the car and coach department, and thus continued throughout his remaining days or for a period of twenty years. His long continuance with the company well indicates his effecient workmanship and his fidelity to the interests of those whom he represented. He died in May, 1908, after a short illness, leaving behind him many warm friends. In was in October, 1875, that Mr. Kelly was united in marriage to Miss Amanda M. Riggs, a daughter of William and Amelia Riggs, who were natives of West Virginia. Her father was a farmer by occupation and upon his removal to Illinois in 1855 purchased a tract of land in Hancock county, which he cultivated and improved until he was called to his final rest, passing away in January, 1883. His wife survived him until November, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly became the parents of three children: Chloe, who is the wife of Dr. W. B. Miller, of Centerville; Jennie M., who is the wife of John B. McNeal, superintendent of the Egypt Coal Company of Mystic, Iowa; and Frank L., who is employed as an engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Mrs. Kelly holds membership with the Methodist church but her husband was a member of the Catholic church. In politics he was a democrat but did not seek nor desire office, for other duties and interests always claimed his time and attention. He did not seek to figure prominently in any public connection but those who knew him recognized his genuine worth and entertained for him warm regard. |
enumerated October 22, 1850, dwelling #893
John Kelly, 40, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, born Ireland, could not read and write
enumerated July 24, 1860, dwelling #3292 John Cillery, 50, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 600, |
enumerated July 26, 1860, dwelling #3407 William Riggs, 50, male, farmer, value of real estate 4000, value of personal estate 1000, born VA
[Brice is missing from this listing - unless "Sarah" was really Brice.] |
page 154, enumerated June 14, 1870, dwelling #49 Kelley, Stephen, 25, male, white, farmer, born IL, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 years or more
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enumerated June 14, 1870, dwelling #24 Riggs, William, 63, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 1000, value of personal estate 800, born VA, could not read or write, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
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enumerated June 9, 1880, dwelling #61 [immediately following Amanda's parents]
Kelly, Stephen A, white, male, 36, married, farmer, born IL, father born Ireland, mother born PA
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enumerated June 8, 1900, dwelling #160 Keller ?, S A, head, white, male, Aug 1843, 56, married for 24 years, born IL, father born Ireland, mother born PA, carpenter, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, rented his home Manda, wife, white, female, Jan 1853, 46, married for 24 years; mother of 3 children, all living; born WV, father born PA, mother born VA, could read, write and speak English Chloe, daughter, white, female, May 1878, 22, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born WV, bookkeeper, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English Janie [or Jenie], daughter, white, female, July 1879, 20, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, [occupation illegible], months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English Frank, son, male, white, Oct 1884, 15, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, at school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English
enumerated April 25, 1910, dwelling #366, 1000 Drake Ave Kelly, Amanda, head, female, white, 58, widow; mother of 3 children, all living; born WV, father born PA, mother born VA, spoke English, could read and write Frank L, son, male, white, 25, single, born IL, father born IL, mother born WV, spoke English, engineer, locomotive, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write McNeal, Jennie, daughter, female, white, 30, married (1st) for 2 years; mother of 2 children, 1 living; born IL, father born IL, mother born WV, spoke English, could read and write John B, son-in-law, male, white, 35, married (1st) for 2 years, born IA, father born OH, mother born Virginia, spoke English, book keeper, coal office, employee, whether out of work on April 15, 1910 - no, number of weeks out of work during 1909 - 0, could read and write Frank K, grandson, male, white, 3/12, single, born IA, father born IA, mother born IL
enumerated January 19, 1920, dwelling #41, 713 East State St. Miller, Doctor, head, owned his home free of mortgage, male, white, 40, married, could read and write, born IA, both parents born VA, spoke English, medical, doctor Chlo, wife, female, white, 41, married, could read and write, born IL, father born IL, mother born VA, spoke English Kelley, Amanda, mother-in-law, female, white, 67, widow, could read and write, born VA, both parents born VA, spoke English |
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