THE CHARLES MARION KELLY FAMILY

In the fall of 1870 C. M. (Marion) Kelly came to Atchison County, Kansas from New Corydon, Indiana with a covered wagon train.  He spent the winter with his half brother, Dr. L. D. Hall, who had come to Archison County in 1869.  (Dr. Hall later homesteaded in Norway Township.)  Others who traveled in this wagon train, were Sherb Lewis, Dave Walters, Rose Ainsworth, Jap Loofbourrow (a dentist), Leander Skeels, and John Loofbourrow.

In the spring of 1871 Charles Marion Kelly, who was nineteen years old, came on out to Republic County, Kansas, and bought a homestead relinquishment 2½ miles and ¾ mile north of Norway, Kansas, on the east side of the road.  His father, William J. and mother, Emily, and two brothers, Austin and Harrison, followed later by wagon.  William J. Kelly homesteaded 3½ miles east and ¾ mile north from Norway, Kansas.

In 1872, Mary R. Skeels with her sister, Lutie, and a brother, Perry, came to Republic County from Ohio, and Mary R. homesteaded a place 2½ miles east and ¾ mile south on the east side of the road from Norway, Kansas.

On June 5, 1873 Marion Kelley and Mary R. Skeels were united in marriage.  They lived on Mary's homestead for many years where most of their children were born.  Mary had built a dugout and sod house with a board floor which was unusual, as most dugouts and sod houses had earth floors.  To this union were born six children: Lurena, Ernest, Marvin, Wilbur, Orrin, and Herman Albertis (Bert).  Ernest died at the age of two years and Marvin died in June 1900, at the age of 22 years.

Of the above children, Wilbur is the only one who purchased land in Norway Township.  He married Mary L. Tate of Norway township on December 25,1901.  To this union were born three children, Gen, Vila, and Elda.  Glen lives on the home place, in the northeast corner of the township.  Elda married Harry Buer and lives in Norway, Kansas.  Vila married A. C. Fall and resides in Jewell County.

Bert Kelly married Theodora Pacek January 3, 1908.  Theodora's parents, Jan A. Pacek and Anna C. Cipra were married in Czechoslovakia, Europe, on February 9, 1869, and came to America in 1882.  They resided in Minnesota until November 1905, when they came to Horace, Kansas, in Wallace County.  That winter Bert Kelley was employed by the Clem Wilson Real Estate Company.  Bert and Theodora had six children; Mildred, Faye, Irvin, Clarice, Orris, and Molly.  Mildred is the only one of the children to reside in Norway Township.  She married Roy M. Moore on June 20, 1943.  Roy and Mildred, with their two children, Michael and Miriam, live on the home place of Roy's parents, E. V. and Alfa Moore, 1½ miles west and ¼ mile north of Norway, Kansas.

By Roy M. Moore