Kelly

(from Beers)

Alexander Kelly (1811–1898) was born in County Monaghan, Ireland. He was one of the early settlers of Warwick Twp. He came to Canada in 1837, coming by way of New York, on a sailing vessel which took three months to cross the Atlantic. When he landed, his cash consisted of two shillings and six pence. He made his way to Long Point, and worked there for a few years at a furnace business. In 1844 he purchased Lot 21, Con. 6 SER in Warwick Twp., where he farmed until shortly before his death.

In 1847 he married Mary Mitchell (1825–1863) of Warwick, originally from Ireland. The Kellys had a family of four sons and two daughters: William and Daniel of Brooke Twp.; Robert J. of Enniskillen; Alexander of Sarnia; Mary (m. Absolam Lucas) of Brooke; and Nancy (m. John Bambridge) of Watford.

Alexander Kelly owned the first horse in the area, and it was in great demand on funeral occasions, it having conveyed twenty-one bodies to their last resting place.

Wolves were very numerous in the early days and farmers had to lock up their sheep at night. On one occasion Mr. Kelly had a lamb killed in broad daylight by wolves. The first time he saw a rattlesnake he did not know what it was, because he came from a country where snakes were unknown.

He built a saw mill on Brown’s Creek, which ran through his farm. The log house he built was the largest in the neighbourhood, and as there were no churches in the district in those days, Rev. M. Mockridge frequently held services at his home. He had the first stove used in Warwick, having made it himself while employed at Long Point.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Kelly Family

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