My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

John W. Kelley is the son of Marvel and Sally Kelley, of Georgia, in which State he was born in the year of 1830. He is the youngest of eight children, and lost his father when only two years old. His mother was afterward married to Ed. Kitchens, and removed to Arkansas in 1857, locating in Newton County. They remained there several years and then settled in Texas, where they lived until the time of their decease. Mr. Kelley reached his manhood in the State of Alabama, having gone there when quite young. At twenty-three years of age he went to Dent County, Mo., and finding the locality satisfactory, remained there until 1854, when he returned to Alabama, and lived there three years. He then moved back to Dent County, Mo., and in 1863, when the first alarm of war was sounded, he joined Col. Mitchell’s regiment in the Confederate army, and served until the fall of 1864. They were disbanded when near the Indian Nation on account of the ravages of small-pox in that territory. He fell a victim to this dread disease, and remained in Ozark County, Ark., until his recovery. In the spring of 1865, he came to Lawrence County, Ark., and settled at a point near Powhatan, where he remained six years. From there he moved to his present home and commenced farming and improving the land. Mr. Kelley was first married to a young lady of Alabama, Miss Nancy Lawson, who died in 1866. By this marriage he had seven children (four of them dying since): Rebecca J., the wife of Thomas Hederick; Marvel Jackson, and MaryAnn, the wife of James C. Smith — living; and those who have died are: Sarah, who was the wife of William McLaughlin, leaving three children, and Nancy, William and Cassandra, the latter dying in childhood from the small-pox. Mr. Kelley was married the second time to Mrs. Mary Woodson, nee Lawson, a sister of his first wife. They had one child by this union, Andrew, who died August 22, 1887. This lady died in 1882, and Mr. Kelley’s third wife was Mrs. Cynthia Cravens, nee Johnson. He has had one child by this wife. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. They have three children by her first husband, whose names are Maggie Cravens, Thomas G. and Martha E. Their father died in March, 1882. Mr. Kelley’s son, Marvel Jackson, is married and teaching school near the home of his father.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 111 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Lawrence County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Lawrence County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Lawrence County, Arkansas family biographies here: Lawrence County, Arkansas Biographies

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.