JAMES W. KELLEY, Companies "A" & "G"
NATIONAL ARCHIVES PENSION FILE #618.456
Transcribed by Linda Fluharty.
(partial)
JAMES W. KELLEY, Companies "A" & "G"
NATIONAL ARCHIVES PENSION FILE #618.456
Transcribed by Linda Fluharty.
(partial)
Declaration for Original Pension
State of West Virginia, County of Gilmer, ss.
On this 17th day of November, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty three personally appeared before me, Clerk of the Gilmer County Court, a court of record within and for the County and State aforesaid, JAMES W. KELLEY aged 56 years, a resident of the State of West Virginia County of GILMER, State of West Virginia, who, being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical JAMES W. KELLEY who was enrolled on the 5th day of April, 1865, in Company "G" of the 1st Regiment of West Virginia Cavelry commanded by Capt. Harrison H. Hagans and was honorably discharged at Wheeling, West Virginia on the Eighth day of July 1865 that his personal description is as follows: Age 38 years; height 5 feet 11 1/2(?) inches; complexion FAIR; hair ALBURN; eyes BLUE. That while a member of the organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at CHAPLE POINT in the State MARYLAND on or about the 15th day of APRIL, 1865, he contracted Chronic Diarrhea and Lung Disease. On or about the above stated time I was taken with a severe and pecular attact of Diarrhea from which I parcially recovered at the time but never wholey so it has been constantly returning by acute attacks which get worse as I grow older. At about the same time my lungs were attacted with vehement soreness and coughs from which I have not recovered.
That he was treated in hospitals as follows: under terrrible suffering I managed to stay with my command untill Discharged this is perhaps one cause for my present condition.
That since leaving the service this applicant has resided in UPSHUR and GILMER Countys West Virginia wheir he is well known and his fisical condition known by all and his occupation has been that of a FARMER. That prior to his entry into the service above named he was a man of good, sound, physical health, being when enrolled a FARMER - a man good health and muscular power. That he is now Threefourth disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor by reason of his injuries, above described, received in the service of the United States; and he therefore makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the Invalid Pension Roll of the United States.
He hereby appoints with, with full power of substitution and revocation, J. B. Cralle, D.C. his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim. That he has never received nor applied for a Pension. That his Post Office Address is DEKALB County of GILMER State of WEST VIRGINIA.
Claimant's Signature, James W. (his X mark) Kelley
Attest: John M. Holt & Floyd W. Beall
Note: Supporting affidavits were given by Elijah Hyre, Jacob Roach, Samuel Taylor, J. H. Sipe.
War Department
Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, Feby 26', 1884.
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions.
JAMES W. KELLEY, a Private of Company "A" 1st Regiment West Va. Cav. Volunteers (Capt. Hgans Co.) on the 1st day of April, 1865, at Grafton Va. for 1 year, and is reported: on muster roll for May and June 1865, present.
Mustered out as Private July 8/65 with Co. at Wheeling Va.
Name not borne on return for April & May 1865.
This Co. was mustered out as Co. "G."
Provost Mar Gen'l records on file in this office reports him "sent by Supt. Vol. Recrt'g Service W.Va. to Mil Commander Wheeling April 10/65, to be sent to Regt. no subsequent record."
The name James W. Kelley is not borne on any rolls of Co. "G" 7th West Va. Cav. Vols. on file in this office. (Note: This was probably checked because the number "1" in the records often looks like a "7".)
No evidence of alleged disabilities. name not borne on Regt'l Hospt. records.
M. Barber (?)
Assistant Adjutant General
Declaration for Increase of an Invalid Pension.
State of W.Va. County of CALHOUN ss.
On this 19 day of March A.D. one thousand nine hundred and one personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, JAMES W. KELLY aged 71 years, a resident of DEKALB county of GILMER State of W.Va who being duly sowrn according to law, declares that he is a pensioner of the United States, enrolled at the Washington, D.C. Pension Agency at the rate of 12 dollars per month, Certificate No 618.456 by reason of disability from CHRONIC DIAREA DESEASES OF THE RECTUM AND LOSS OF SIGHT incurred in the military service of the United States while serving as a PRIVATE in Company A & G 1 regiment W.Va. Vols. That he believes himself to be entitled to an increase of pension on account of disability resulting from cause aforesaid, and also CATTARRH IN THE HEAD ACRUD ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. I AM DRAWING FOR LOSS OF SIGHT OF LEFT EYE AND NOW BOTH EYES ARE FAILING AND GETTING WORS.
He feels that the rate of Pension which he now receives is not sufficient for the degree of his disability. He therefore files this application for increase of pension and requests a medical examination by a board of examining surgeons at GLENVILLE GILMER COUNTY W.VA. to whom special instructions may be issued, so that the full extent of his disability may be ascertained.
He hereby appoints, with full power of substitution and revocation, Stoddart & Co., of Washington, D.C., his true and lawful attorneys, to prosecute his claim.
His Post-office address is Dekalb Gilmer W.Va.
James W. (his X mark) Kelley, Claimant
Drop Order and Report
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions,
Finance Division,
Washington, D.C., Oct 21, 1905.
JAMES W. KELLEY (pensioner)
615456 (Certificate number)
Invalid (Class)
A 1 W.Va. Cav (Service)
U. S. Pension Agent, Washington
Sir: You are hereby directed to drop from the roll the name of the above-described pensioner who DIED ABOUT OCT 5, 1905.
V. Warner, Commissioner
Report.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir: The name of the above-described pensioner, who was last paid at $12 per month to 4 Sept., 1905, has this day been dropped from the roll of this agency.
Jno. R. King, U.S. Pension Agent.
Oct. 24, 1905
Declaration for Widow's Pension
State of West Virginia County of UPSHUR ss:
On this 15th day of February, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and seventeen before me, a Notary Public in and for the county and State aforesaid, personally appeared AURILLIUS KELLY who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is 86 years of age, having been born on the 25 day of Oct, 1830 at LORENTZ State of Va now W.Va.
That she is the widow of JAMES W. KELLY, who enlisted under the name of JAMES W. KELLY, on the 1st day of APRIL 1865, a PVT in Co A, 1st W.Va Regt. Cav. Vols., having served ninety days or more during the Civil War in the service of the United States, was honorable discharged on the 8th day of July, 1865 and died at Gilmer County, State of West Virginia on the 5th day of October, 1905.
That she was married under the name of AURILLIUS ALLMAN, to her said husband on the 5th day of January 1850 by J. L. Simpson at Lewis County State of W.Va. then Va there being no legal barrier to said marriage.
That she had not been previously married...
That her husband, first mentioned, had not been previously married...
That neither she nor the soldier, first mentioned, was married otherwise than stated above; that she was DIVORCED from him, and that she has NOT remarried since his death....
The names and dates of birth of all first mentioned soldier's children now living, under 16 years of age, are as follows: NONE....
That she is not receiving pension & HAS NOT applied therefor heretofore...
That her husband, first mentioned, had received a pension No. 618456 Cert.
That her Post-office is TENMILE County of UPSHUR State of WEST VIRGINIA.
Aurrilius (her X mark) Kelley
Witnesses: Marley C. Tenny & Jessie Spiker
A. J. Zickefoose
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Upshur County
Buckhannon, W.Va.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Sir: - I enclose declaration of Aurilla Kelly for pension.
She was divorced back about 1879 I think but I understand that her divorced husband never married afterward. I am not sure whether she is entitled under the law to a pension as she was divorced.
I wish you would inform me as that matter. I think she can get the necessary proofs in case she is entitled to pension.
Respectfully,
A. J. Zickefoose
WH/EBC
Civil War Division
Wid. Orig. 1,101,471
Aurillius Kelly,
James W. Kelly,
Co. A, 1 W.Va. Cav.
July 13, 1917
Mrs. Aurillius Kelly,
Tenmile, West Virginia
Madam:
Your above cited claim for pension under the Act of April 19, 1908, as amended by the Act of September 8, 1916, filed April 12, 1917, is rejected on the ground that you are not the widow of the soldier, having been divorced from him about 1879.
Very respectfully,
G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner
1870 Census, Washington Township, Lewis County, W.Va.
#107/101
Kelley, James W., 38, Farmer, $400, b Va
Orilla, 30, Keeping House, Va
Clinton, 17, Farm Laborer, Va
Jane, 15, Va
Rose A., 13, Va
Virginia, 11, Va
Abraham, 9, Va
Eliza, 6, Va
Ellen M(?), 2, W.Va.
1880 Census, Washington District, Upshur County, W.Va.
Page 118-A, #W021
Aurell Kelly, Divorced, 45-F, Keeping House, WV WV WV
Charls Kelly, Son, Single, 26, Farmer, WV WV WV
Eliza Kelly, Dau, 14, At Home, WV WV WV
Abraham Kelly, Son, 17, WV WV WV
Ellen Kelly, Dau, 12, WV WVW V
1880 Census, Dekalb, Gilmer County, W.Va.
Source: FHL Film 1255402 National Archives Film T9-1402 Page 173D
James W. Kelley, Married, 51, Farmer, WV NJ WV
Anna M. Kelley, Wife, 38, Keeping House, Baden Baden Baden
In the Upshur County death records, transcribed by Paul C. & Judy Hawkins, Nathan C. Kelley, age 1 year 2 days, the son of J. W. Kelley, died 28 Oct 1865. (vol 1, page 20, line 7). This child was apparently named after James W.'s brother, Nathan C. Kelley, who served with James in the 1st Cavalry.
According to descendant, Wendy Andrus, James did marry Anna and is buried beside her in Gilmer County. - Furthermore, the 1900 Census of DeKalb, Gilmer County, shows a daughter GRACIE WESTFALL, living with James and Anna M. - Gracie, age 19, was born April 1881 and was married 4 years, with no children. Anna M., age 61, was born Jan or June 1839; James, 70, was born Aug 1829. The length of their marriage is stated as 27 years.
INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CHILDREN:
Charles "Clinton" Kelley, b abt 1853
Sarah Jane Kelley, b 16 Jan 1854; d 16 Mar 1931, Upshur Co; m John Russell
Rosanna Kelley, b 15 Oct 1859; d 16 Sep 1935, Upshur Co; m Jefferson Davis, 11 Aug 1883
Abraham Kelley, b 30 Sep 1860; d 24 Nov 1944; m Roxanna Rosa Tenney, 24 Feb 1886, Upshur Co.
Wendy Andrus is a descendant of Abraham and has provided a photo of Abraham with his wife, Rose, and four children Will, Lon, Nola, and Gert. She also sent a photo of Aurilla/Aurillius Allman Kelley and one of her tombstone at Tenmile Baptist Cemetery, Upshur County. According to the death records of Upshur County (transcribed as "Crilla"), she died 2 Mar 1925 and was 101 years, 4 months and 19 days old . (vol 3, page 109, line 6).
Another descendant, Mildred Zickefoose, contributed photos of the graves of James W. Kelley, his second wife, Anna M. Kelley, their daughter, Grace Ann Kelley. According to Mildred, Grace Ann married Edward Westfall 3 Apr 1896 and had a son, Holly Westfall. She was either divorced or widowed and later had a daughter, Nora Moore, with second husband, Worthy Moore. Grace Moore and her two children appear in the residence of her widowed mother in the 1920 Census of Gilmer County. Nora (Moore) Funk is buried by her mother.
