Throughout Centennial Park Place, the names of the streets were thoughtfully selected in recognition of Springfield's first family of settlers and it is our pleasure to honor the Kelley Family for their unparalleled gift to the dawn of Springfield and Curran Township. We hope the history of this extraordinary location and the inspiration behind the names will touch your heart as it has ours.
In the spring of 1817, a lone pioneer left Rutherford Co., N. C.
(Rutherford Trek). The hardships he encountered were not documented; but we do know that clad in buckskin
(Buckskin Trail), he then embarked on a journey that would change the face of a prairie. Born 13 March 1787, Elisha Kelley
(Elisha Trail) crossed through Indian territories and stopped in αMacoupin County. At hand he found plentiful fresh water, brilliant black earth beneath his feet and a rich source of food through the sight of his long Kildeer rifle. As far as he could see, the unbounded landscape was filled with trees of soft pink and white, wild crab apples crowned in rosy buds and a carpet of wild violets. Elisha gazed in awe as he had at last found the place to settle – a place where pioneer opportunity was limitless. What Elisha didn't know was that history would record that until that moment, no white man had walked the ground upon which he stood. As weeks stretched into months, Elisha found that being alone and the never ending silence was a burden that was unbearable; and in 1818, he returned to North Carolina where the solution lay in the bosom of his family.
The 31 year old bachelors
(Old Bachelor Trail) homecoming was warmly hailed by his parents and siblings and he wasted no time in unfolding the story of the remarkable place he had discovered. Convinced of the promise of opportunity, the family sold their land. With the task complete, they loaded their worldly possessions in wagons
(Covered Wagon Trail) and began the arduous journey toward the picturesque prairie.
After wintering in Macoupin County, Elisha's brother John, his wife Mary Whiteside
(Whiteside Place) and their five children; Jonathan
(Jonathan Place), Sarah, William, Mary and Elizabeth moved northward winding along a small clear stream that emptied into Spring Creek and settled in what we know today as Springfield. With the aide of crude tools, John began the strenuous task of building shelter. Through backbreaking work, the bountiful forest relinquished its precious material and the first log cabin was built on the hill above the creek. The cabin has historically been described as a two story and most likely had walls chinked with mud to keep out the wind. Today, a commemorative stone, marking its location, lies at the entrance of the Willard Ice Building on Jefferson Street.
Imbedded on the bronze tablet is the following inscription:
"John Kelley erected the first cabin in Springfield, on this site in March, 1819.
The first county commission, April 2, 1821, and the first court April 2, 1821 were held here.
Springfield Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution,
Dec. 3, 1927"
Soon afterward, Corporal Henry Kelley
(Corporal Place), the patriarch of the family, arrived with his wife Mary. Their daughter Sarah, son George Washington Kelley and son Elijah along with his wife Esther Cook also found their way to the banks of Spring Creek.
In due time, Henry's son William also arrived with his wife Dicie Ann, their six unmarried children and daughter Eleanor, her husband Joseph Reavis and their five children. William built his cabin on what we know today as Third Street and Calhoun Avenue. Finally, William's daughter Zilpha
(Zilpah Court) and her husband Andrew Elliott were among the settlers – building their cabin near what is now the entrance to Monument Avenue. This large family was now in place and in these three cabins – all the branches of the Kelley family were housed, but tragedy was on the horizon.
Pioneer women faced overwhelming hardship. Their days were never ending rounds of carding wool for clothes, rendering animal fat into soap, candle making, hauling water from nearby streams, cooking, cleaning, searching for fuel and caring for often large numbers of children. Moreover, it was common for the women to help fell trees and assist their husbands with the plowing and planting. This was the life of John's wife, Mary Whiteside; and no doubt exhaustion and disease took their toll as she died within two years of their arrival. As yet, the small settlement did not have a proper cemetery so Mary was buried on the land. John was no doubt filled with grief but pioneer life did not afford a lot of time to mourn – he had no choice but to gather him self and continue on. Even though John was aided by family members, his responsibilities were now even more overwhelming as there was land to plow and harvest along with the home to maintain and children to care for; and as was customary for pioneers, a welcoming place to board for those who came to the door. Elijah Iles' diary describes his experience…
I first boarded with John Kelley, a North Carolinian and a widower. His household consisted of himself and two children, two younger brothers, George and Elisha, his aged father and mother, and myself. The board, to my notion, has never been excelled at any hotel I ever stopped at, either before or since. It consisted in part of the best milk and butter ever set before a man, corn bread (baked on a hoe and called hoe-cake, instead of on a board or in the ashes as in Kentucky, honey, venison, turkey, prairie chicken, quail, squirrel, fish, and occasionally for variety we had pig, together with all the varieties of vegetables raised in this climate. Deer were very plenty. They trailed through the town, up the town branch, halting in a grove where now stands the governor's mansion; and if we wanted fresh venison for breakfast the Kelley boys would go to the grove early and kill a deer"
Although surrounded by loving family, John knew his aged parents and other family members could not continue the added duties surrounding his home and children without sacrificing their own survival. John needed a wife and helpmate, so he returned to North Carolina and on Oct 23, 1821, married Margaret Waldrup. Shortly after their marriage, John and Margaret began the journey back to Illinois – back to his children, the land he had settled and the home he had built by hand.
As the population grew, the need for the establishment of a county also grew and on January 30, 1821, a legislative act creating the County of Sangamon was approved. At the home of John Kelley, on April 2, 1821, Zacharia Peter, William Drennan
(Drennan Court) and Rivers Cormack
(Rivers Cormack Drive) were elected.
βWhereas, the Act of the General Assembly, entitled An Act, establishing the county of Sangamo, required of the County Commissioners when elected and qualified into office, to fix a temporary seat of justice for said county: Therefore we the undersigned county commissioners for said county do certify that we after full examination of the Situation of the present population of Said county have fixed and designated a certain point in the prairie near John Kelley's field on the water of Spring Creek at a stake marked Z D as the temporary seat of Justice for said county and do further agree that the said county seat be called and known by the name of Springfield. Given under our hand this 10th day of April 1821.
Zachariah Peter
Wm Drennan."
And establishing the temporary seat of justice was next…
γ"…Article of agreement entered into the 10th day of April, 1821, between John Kelly (sic) of the county of Sangamo, and the undersigned, county commissioners of said county. The said Kelly (sic) agrees with said commissioners to build, for the use of the said county, a court house of the following description, to-wit: the logs to be twenty feet long, the house one story high, plank floor, a good cabin roof, a door and window cut out., the work to be completed by the first day of May, next, for which said commissioners promise, on the part of the county to pay the said Kelly (sic) ¹forty-two dollars and fifty cents. Witness our hands the day and date above.
John Kelly (sic), Zachariah Peter, Wm. Drennan."
With the county seat firmly secured, the courthouse built and the now familiar historic families having arrived, the new hamlet had grown substantially; and by δ
July 29, 1823, the amount of taxable property returned to the court was $129,112.50. That year was also pivotal for the Kelley family.
On February 23, 1823 our lone pioneer, Elisha, traded bachelorhood for marriage to Nancy Sims, a young woman, sixteen years his junior, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina
(Spartanburg Drive). Their union was blessed with six children - two of whom were: Martha
(Martha Desper Drive) and Elmirah
(Elmirah Court). Even though joy surrounded Elisha's marriage, tragedy would visit the family in the fall of 1823; when on October 20th, John Kelley, Springfield's first settler suddenly died. As there were still no established cemeteries, John was² buried on the land which he settled - near the grave of his first wife Mary.
John's death brought great turmoil to the family as they mourned the loss of a beloved son, husband and father. They also inherited the responsibility of caring for John's wife and children; and through a court proceeding, Corporal Henry Kelley (John's father) completed the first order of business when he was appointed legal guardian.
η"On motion ordered by the court that Henry Kelly (sic) be appointed Guardian of Sarah Kelly, Elizabeth Kelly, William Kelly, and Mary Kelly infant heirs of John Kelly deceased. All under the age of fourteen years and John Taylor, Thomas H. Price and William Lame are received as his security who entered in bond in the full sum of Two Thousand Dollars."
The family's second order of business was the land, as it had only been settled and John had died just nineteen days before land sales opened and the plan to own would have been accomplished.
ζ"Edwardsville, Ill
October 21, 1823
D. P. Cook Esq.
Dear Sir
I called at your house and found you not at home. I should have been very proud to have saw you before you went on to Washington, but as I shall be at St. Louis until the 30th. Inst it will be out of my power.
Mr. John Kelly (sic), the man who owned the adjoining qrt. to Springfield is dead, arrangements will be made to purchase his improvement, one of the administrators asked me if I would give 200$ for the Improvement. I think by that, it can be had for 150, or 200$. John Taylors farm is located, therefore there will be but 3 qrts to purchase. I want you if you see any speculators speaking of going on to purchase, to hold out an idea the Town will be moved in consequence of the location.
We have petitioned the Governor to remove the location made near town, what affect this will have I do not know. Your improvement goes now in the name of Enos'. We shall be glad to hear from you, any arrangements, advice etx (sic) you make leave with your family. I will call as I return from St. Louis you may possibly not be gone before I returne. (sic)
Yours Respectfully,
Elijah Iles
Secrcy (sic) should be observed."
On November 8, 1823, the land not yet owned by the Kelley's was purchased by another. With this action, Henry Kelley, his sons and the heirs of John Kelley turned their eyes approximately 2 miles north of Curran Township.
- Abstract of Title
- η8 Nov 1823
- "United States Government to Henry Kelley – East Half of Section 9, Township 15 North, Range 6 West, 3rd. Principal Meridian,, Containing 320 Acres."
14 Dec 1823
- Patentee: Henry Kelley, Present Owners: W 1/2 SW 10 T 15 R 6 -Elisha Kelley 30 acres; George Kelley 50 acres.
Once again, this pioneer family began the daunting task of starting over. They built their homes out of hand-hewn timbers secured by peg and notch given that nails were not yet commercially made. The virgin soil would produce plentiful crops but first trees and rocks had to be cleared before the plow could set the furrows. Not all the trees were felled as significant financial value rested in their sap and a Maple Sugar Camp was soon up and running. As the family prospered on their new land, Springfield was also seeing great changes and prosperity. Moreover, Kelley's were at the forefront.
On October 27, 1824, John's widow, Margaret Waldrup Kelley married Zachariah Peter and returned to Springfield to live. That same year, William Kelley's son-in-law, Andrew Elliott, a veteran of the War of 1812, Winnebago, Black Hawk War and Mormon War of 1845, stepped forward and provided one of his finest contributions…..
In accordance with a law passed on December 23, 1824, four men appointed to locate the new (permanent) seat of justice θ
appeared in Springfield about the middle of March. Being conscientious men, they were determined to inspect all the sites in spite of the mud and water left by the spring thaws. With not a little guile. Andrew Elliott, the North Carolinian who kept the Buckhorn Tavern, volunteered to guide them. Elliott had lived in the neighborhood for six years and was a fine woodsman, but try as he might he was unable to get the (appointees) to Sangamo Town without passing through eight or ten sloughs, not to mention overflowed and marshy prairies. The (men) agreed that it was an excellent site, but most difficult to access. The latter opinion was more than confirmed by their return trip over a different route, worse if possible. They reached Springfield entirely exhausted, thankful that their lives had been spared, and determined to take no chances by visiting the other prospective sites. For Andrew Elliott – and Springfield-it was a good day's work."
The family north of Curran Township remained and continued to improve their homes and purchase land.
- 14 Dec 1824
- "United States Government to Henry Kelley - West Half of Northwest Quarter of Section 10, Township 15 North, Range 6, West, 3rd. Principal Meridian, Containing 80 acres"
- "United States Government to George Kelley - Southeast Quarter of Northwest Quarter of Section 10, Township 15 North. Range 6 West, 3rd. Principal Meridian, containing 40 acres"
On June 13, 1832, ninety year old Corporal Henry Kelley, a soldier in the Revolutionary War
(Patriot Place) passed away. Once again, an established cemetery was not to be found so one quarter acre of their land near the Kelley Branch of Spring Creek became the resting place of this patriarch. In the fullness of time, other family members and neighbors were also laid to rest in this precious little cemetery. Their names and contribution to country and community resonate throughout our history.
- Corporal Henry Kelley – 2nd. North Carolina Regiment – Revolutionary War
- Pvt. B. H. Robinson – Co "F", 99th IL Infantry - Civil War (son-in-law of Jonathan Kelley)³
- Pvt. Peter Woods, Co "I" NH Infantry – Civil War
- Margaret (Dixon) Archer (wife of Madison Archer)
- Nancy (Sims) Kelley (wife of Elisha Kelley)
- Isaac L. Ewell (son-in-law of Elisha Kelley) and Isaac's adolescent son Horace G.
- John Kelley's son Jonathan, his wife Sarah (Cook) Kelley and infant daughter Malissa
- John Kelley's daughter Sarah (Kelley) Rigg (wife of Ewell Rigg)
- William F. Rigg (infant son of Sarah and Ewell Rigg)
- Sarah A. Cox (wife of N. B. Cox).
Postscript
After Corporal Henry Kelley died, his wife Mary, two sons (William and George) and their families moved to Polk Co., Missouri.
The William Kelley family remained in Polk Co. until 1836 when they moved to Jasper County near Carthage. They remained in their original homestead, located near Sam Butcher's Precious Moments Chapel until 1844 when they died only five days apart. William and Dicie Ann are buried in Fullerton Cemetery.
George Washington Kelley (a blacksmith by trade), his children, wife (Elizabeth Orendorff, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Phillips) Orendorff) and mother were the first to settle at Dry Fork in Jefferson Township (Rondo - 12 miles north of Bolivar, Polk Co.). There, in 1852, they lost all but their lives in a Cyclone. Although they never fully recovered their losses, they resided there until their deaths and are buried on private land in a small secluded seven grave cemetery.
On ιMay 6, 1871, Jonathan Kelley, son of John Kelley and grandson of Corporal Henry Kelley, deeded land to Curran Township school Trustees. Upon this land, Kelley Point School #102
(Kelley Point Drive) was built. It was located in Section 9, T15N R6W, one-half mile east of the intersection of HW 6.75W and HW 2S on the south side of the road. The school remained active until 1948 when it was closed. Today, there are many Springfield residents who not only remember the school, but were students in this small school whose name paid tribute to this pioneering family. Jonathan and his wife, Sarah Cook are buried in the Kelley Family Cemetery.
In 1886, descendents from Rondo, Polk Co., Missouri returned to Springfield to attend the Orendorff family reunion. True to their heritage, they came the entire distance of 450 miles in a wagon drawn by a mule team, and were fourteen and one-half days on the road.
2005
Today, descendents of this heroic family can be found in Springfield
(Spindell Drive),
(Richardson Drive), Edinburg
(Greenwalt Drive) and throughout the United States Their ancestors dared to dream and from that vision rose a vibrant and exquisite State Capitol and the home of a beloved 16th President.
Although you will bring a new surname to the land, Ryan Development, Inc., the Kelley family descendants and this author hope that you will cherish the breathtaking charm that encompasses Centennial Park Place
(Centennial Drive) and that you will proudly join us in preserving the legacy
(Legacy Lane)…for where you live and walk was once the home of a pioneer family to whom we owe so very much.
Katie Spindell
©Copyright 2005
¹On June 5, 1821, John Kelley was paid $42.50 for building the courthouse and $5.00 for "extra work".
²In 1864, through Andrew Elliott's efforts, John along with eleven unknowns were reinterred at Oak Ridge Cemetery. In
1967, Dr. Floyd Barringer petitioned the Oak Ridge Cemetery Board of Managers to purchase and place a marker at
John's grave. They agreed and today, a sign directs us to the location.
³In 1927, the Daughter's of the American Revolution placed a marker honoring Corporal Henry Kelley as an American Patriot
αThe Sangamon County, p31, by Helen Van Cleave Blankmeyer, 1935, reprinted 1965, Sangamon County Historical Society
βSangamon County Record
γIbid
δIbid
ζSangamon Valley Collection, Lincoln Public Library, Springfield, IL
ηSangamon County Abstract of Title
θHistory of The Early Settlers of Sangamon, p33, by John Carroll Power, 1876 Reprint 1970 by Phillips Brother, Inc., Springfield, IL
ιSangamon County Deed Book 47, p431, Deed #14010