Addie Sarah Kelley: The Maiden Aunt (52 Ancestors #4)

Addie Sarah Kelley was the unmarried daughter who became the maiden aunt. She was born in 1869, the 5th child of John and Susan (Tucker) Kelley. There would be three more Kelley children who would come along later.

Of the five Kelley daughters, Addie was the only one who didn’t marry. She lived with family members her entire life. Her father, John, died in 1891; Susan was the head of the household in 19001)Susan Kelley household, 1900 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 62, sheet 5A, nos. 100/106., with Addie and her brother William and Jesse living with her. By 1910, Susan and Addie had moved in with William and his new wife Nora Edith2)William Kelley household, 1910 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 128, sheet 8A, nos. 185/185..

Susan died in 19143)Susan Kelly (sic) death certificate, certificate #10989 (1914), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org. and Addie continued to live with her brother William and his family4)William Kelley household, 1920 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 65, sheet 1A, nos. 1/1.. Even after William’s sudden death in 19275)William Kelly (sic) death certificate, certificate #22222 (1927), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org. , Addie continued to live with William’s widow and children6)Edith Kelley household, 1930 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 11, sheet 6A, nos. 123/123..

Who was Addie? Was she a dutiful daughter who felt obliged to take care of her widowed mother? Did Addie have a physical or mental challenge, and others were actually taking care of her? Was she bitter that her sisters and brothers married and she did not? Was she carefree, “unencumbered” from the responsibilities of having a family of her own, or was she protective of her nephews, viewing them as the sons she never had?

Addie died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 22 May 1936 and was buried in Highland Cemetery  in Glenford, Perry County four days later7)Addie Kelley death certificate, certificate #34195 (1936), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org.. When the weather clears, I want to visit her grave. I have a feeling that Addie doesn’t have many visitors.

Addie Kelley 1920 Census

Addie Kelly (sic), 1920 census. 50, single, and living with her brother and his family.

References   [ + ]

1. Susan Kelley household, 1900 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 62, sheet 5A, nos. 100/106.
2. William Kelley household, 1910 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 128, sheet 8A, nos. 185/185.
3. Susan Kelly (sic) death certificate, certificate #10989 (1914), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org.
4. William Kelley household, 1920 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 65, sheet 1A, nos. 1/1.
5. William Kelly (sic) death certificate, certificate #22222 (1927), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org.
6. Edith Kelley household, 1930 federal census, Hopewell Twp., Perry County, Ohio, ED 11, sheet 6A, nos. 123/123.
7. Addie Kelley death certificate, certificate #34195 (1936), Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Also available on FamilySearch.org.

4 thoughts on “Addie Sarah Kelley: The Maiden Aunt (52 Ancestors #4)

  1. K H

    She’s possible a mental challenge. My great great grandfather cousin daughter lived with her parents all her life. And died in a insane asylum. I found out whats wrong with her. Lucky they have old newspapers online in the area they lived at. She went to school for deaf. The cousin was very poplar in those days, and his step-father own a saloon.

    Reply

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