MRS. WILLIAM KELLY.

Ann Jane Lundy was born in Armagh County, Ireland, August 20, 1832; died at her home in Olathe, Kansas, January 7th, 1908; age 75 years, 4 months and 17 days.

She was one of seven children, five boys and two girls. The sister and two brothers died in childhood. At the age of seven years she came with her parents and three brothers to America, and lived near Bishop's Mills, Ontario, Canada, until her marriage to Wiliam Kelly in 1858, when, with her husband, she moved to Belvidere, Illinois. In the spring of 1859 she came to Olathe, and in the fall of 1860 Mr. and Mrs. Kelly moved to their farm in Gardner township near Clare, where they lived until 1903, when they returned to Olathe.

She was the mother of eleven children twins dying in infancy. Her husband, five sons and four daughters survive her. In her early girlhood she united with the Presbyterian church and lived a conscientious Christian life.

In those stirring days in the early pioneer history of Johnson county which tried men's souls, when men were compelled to flee from the shelter of their homes and seek refuge in the corn fields to escape death at the hands of marauding bands of border ruffians, Mrs. Kelly proved herself a genuine heroine, and a true and devoted wife and mother.

Notwithstanding the great responsibility of a pioneer's wife and the motherhood of a large family, no night was too dark and stormy for Mrs. Kelly to leave her home and travel over the then bleak prairies to the home of the unfortunate, there to minister to the comfort and needs of the sick wife and mother and the little children of these early pioneers at a time when nurses could not be procured for price and when woman's tender ministrations were necessary before the arrival of medical aid, and many times for days thereafter. She was truly a mother in the broadest sense of that comprehensive word in those early days to her neighbors for miles around.

In later years when her sons and daughters were grown to manhood and womanhood, the then young people of the community were wont to gather beneath the hospitable roof of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly to spend the evenings in cheerful social intercourse; and inspired by the example of worth and virtue, they went forth with, new courage to build homes and develop character which are today recognized as our most honored and influential citizens.

Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church Monday afternoon, the pastor, Rev. N. A Shedd, officiating. J. D. J.

Olathe Mirror
Janauary 16, 1908
Page 2, col 2,3