Sacramento County
Biographies
THOMAS KELLY
THOMAS KELLY.--Among the pioneers of California who bore an active part in the development and growth of Sacramento
County was Thomas Kelly, who passed away in the prime of life at
his country home in the San
Juan grant. The
honesty, the industry, and the loyalty which formed the dominating elements in
his success were qualities in his character which made him highly respected in
the community where he made his permanent home. He was born in Ireland April 1, 1832,
and was only fifteen years of age when he came to America, stopping in New Haven, Conn., where he learned the blacksmith trade. At the age of
twenty he took passage on a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to California and upon arriving in the Golden State he prospected and mined.
In Sacramento in December, 1859, Mr. Kelly was married to Miss Margaret
Moony, also a native of Ireland; her parents died when she was small and at the age of ten
years she came to America, direct to New
Haven, later coming
to California, where she has resided more than sixty-five years. She was
reared in the home of Mrs. O'Toole, the eldest sister of Mr. Kelly. Three
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly: Mrs. McMillan resides in Fair Oaks;
Mary Jane became the wife of John Donahue; and Thomas Jr., has charge of the
home place on the San Juan Grant. In the early seventies Mr. Kelly bought land
in the San Juan Grant and began farming, but only lived for a short time; he
was survived by his widow and their three children, who continued to operate
the home place. Mrs. Kelly now resides with her daughter, Mrs. John Donahue,
and is held in high esteem by all who knows her.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento
County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 323. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.