According to cemetery records, Leo Kelley was interred on January 6, 1887. Willie Kelley was interred on January 15, 1887. The Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society’s online database indicates that both boys were born in 1887, so they were most likely twins who died shortly after birth.
Buried next to the three boys is Ella M. Kelley, born in 1859 and died March 30, 1890 at the age of 30. Ella is most likely the boys' mother.
It’s obvious that Sadie is not Hugh P.’s mother because Sadie is listed as having had 2 children, 2 of which are living. Sadie was born in 1875, which would have made her only 13 when Hugh P. was born – not impossible, but also not likely! Finally, under "Nativity," Hugh P.'s mother's place of birth is listed as Iowa. Sadie is listed as having been born in California. So this is more evidence that Ella M. Kelley is indeed Hugh P.’s deceased mother.
1900 U.S. Census (Click to enlarge)
Hugh S. Kelley is found in the 1910 U.S. Census at the age of 50 living with wife "Sarah," age 35, and daughters Charlotte E., age 13, and Mildred A., age 11.Sadie is found in the 1920 U.S. census listed as the 43 year old, widowed, head of household, living with daughter Charlotte, her husband George Radke, and their 1 year old son Hugh R. Also in the household are daughter Mildred, now 21 years old, and sister-in-law Charlotte Quinn.
[Note: Hugh R. is listed as "son," which would technically make him Sadie's son, since she is the head of household. However, George is listed as "son-in-law" and Charlotte is listed as "wife." Charlotte is obviously not the wife of Sadie, so it's more likely that the enumerator made an error, and Hugh R. is Charlotte’s son, not Sadie's.].
Hugh Sylvester "Keley" is buried in the Santa Maria Cemetery. He was interred on December 2, 1917. Sadie (Bradley) Kelley is also found in the Santa Maria Cemetery. She was born on July 12, 1875, and died on February 14, 1958 at the age of 82. I do not have photos of either grave... yet.
Copyright © by Elizabeth O'Neal
____________________SOURCES:
All headstones pictured in this article were photographed by Elizabeth O'Neal, November 11, 2008. Privately held by Elizabeth O’Neal, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Santa Barbara Co., California. 2009.
California Department of Health Services. "California Death Index, 1940-1997." Database. Rootsweb.com, http://www.rootsweb.com/: 2009.
California. Santa Barbara County. 1900 U.S. census, population schedule. Digital images. Heritage Quest. http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/: 2009. From National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 110.
California. Santa Barbara County. 1910 U.S. census, population schedule. Digital images. Heritage Quest. http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/: 2009. From National Archives microfilm publication T624, roll 105.
California. Santa Barbara County. 1920 U.S. census, population schedule. Digital images. Heritage Quest. http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/: 2009. From National Archives microfilm publication T625, roll 146.
"Santa Maria Cemetery, 1872-2001." Database. Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society. http://santabarbaragenealogy.org/Santa_Maria_Cemetery/Santa_Maria_Web_8Feb04/: 2009.
So sad!
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth! Mildred was my Grandmother, and you are right, Ella was the mother of Hugh P. and the twins. Mildred loved her half-brother very much and I think his death was the greatest tragedy of her childhood. She mourned him until the day she died, in 1987. Hugh Sylvester was a well-liked member of the community, and his obituary made the front page of the newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article!
Hi Elizabeth! Mildred was my Grandmother, and you are right, Ella was the mother of Hugh P. and the twins. Mildred loved her half-brother very much and I think his death was the greatest tragedy of her childhood. She mourned him until the day she died, in 1987. Hugh Sylvester was a well-liked member of the community, and his obituary made the front page of the newspaper.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article!