JAMES M. KELLEY, RETCHY

KELLEY RETCHY

Posted By: Mona Sarratt Knight (email)
Date: 7/19/2009 at 11:39:57

Source: The History of Appanoose County, Iowa, Containing A History of the County, its Cities, Towns, etc., A Biographical Directory of Citizens, War Records of its Volunteers in the late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Iowa, Map of Appanoose County, Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, etc.; illustrated; Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878.

JAMES M. KELLEY, far., Sec. 5; P.O. Seymour, Wayne Co.; born in Hawkins Co., E. Tenn., in 1820. At the age of 23, he married Miss Margaret Retchy; she was born in Jefferson Co., E. Tenn., in 1825; during the year 1847, they moved to Adams Co., Ill.; there engaged in farming until 1853; then went to Hancock Co.; remained two years and came to this county, where he owns 100 acres of land, valued at $30 per acre. Their children are Sarah C., Nancy I., William A., Mary E., Joanna, Lucinda M., Louisa, Amanda L. and John A. Democratic; members of the M.E. Church. Like many of the pioneers of Iowa, Mr. Kelley came here poor and, during the first few years of his pioneer life, had to skirmish for a living, depending almost solely upon the game of the prairies for a living for himself and family, alternately hutning and working (improving his farm); deer, turkey, and prairie chicken were the game, the flesh serving as food and the fur being turned to account in provding means to obtain clothing for the family; he made the first entry of land on the south side of the road on which he lives.