James Monroe Kelley was born July 1863 in Missouri, the son of William Henry Kelley and Luticia "Lettie" Westmoreland Kelley.
On March 1, 1883, 19-year-old James was working as a hired hand on the farm of John Franklin Estes and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Tucker Estes. The farm was located in the Pleasant Ridge Township in Fulton County, Arkansas, near the present day town of Agnos. Sarah was 30 years old and about 9 months pregnant with their 6th known child.
John, according to family history, was building a barn when he fell ill and died of "brain fever." His daughter, Sarah Frankie Estes, was born exactly two weeks later.
Sallie, now a widow, was left with six young children to raise: James, age 12; William, age 10; David, age 7; Rhoda, age 5; Rebecca, age almost 3; and the infant Sarah Frankie, named after her two parents.
Before the end of 1884, Sarah married James Monroe Kelley, who was almost 11 years her junior. At some point they adjusted their birth years (or ages) by 2, giving a birthdate of 1854 to Sarah and 1861 to James, making their difference in age only 7 years instead of 11 years. All but one census record has their correct ages and in the 1900 census both the month and years of their births are listed correctly.
Both of their grave markers list the incorrect dates. Their son, Luther Delbert Kelley, made the grave markers and he would not have knowingly entered the incorrect dates. James marker also gives an incorrect middle initial of "H." According to the family bible, his middle name is Monroe.
James died from cancer in 1917, however his death certificate has not been located.
On March 1, 1883, 19-year-old James was working as a hired hand on the farm of John Franklin Estes and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Tucker Estes. The farm was located in the Pleasant Ridge Township in Fulton County, Arkansas, near the present day town of Agnos. Sarah was 30 years old and about 9 months pregnant with their 6th known child.
John, according to family history, was building a barn when he fell ill and died of "brain fever." His daughter, Sarah Frankie Estes, was born exactly two weeks later.
Sallie, now a widow, was left with six young children to raise: James, age 12; William, age 10; David, age 7; Rhoda, age 5; Rebecca, age almost 3; and the infant Sarah Frankie, named after her two parents.
Before the end of 1884, Sarah married James Monroe Kelley, who was almost 11 years her junior. At some point they adjusted their birth years (or ages) by 2, giving a birthdate of 1854 to Sarah and 1861 to James, making their difference in age only 7 years instead of 11 years. All but one census record has their correct ages and in the 1900 census both the month and years of their births are listed correctly.
Both of their grave markers list the incorrect dates. Their son, Luther Delbert Kelley, made the grave markers and he would not have knowingly entered the incorrect dates. James marker also gives an incorrect middle initial of "H." According to the family bible, his middle name is Monroe.
James died from cancer in 1917, however his death certificate has not been located.
James Monroe Kelley was born July 1863 in Missouri, the son of William Henry Kelley and Luticia "Lettie" Westmoreland Kelley.
On March 1, 1883, 19-year-old James was working as a hired hand on the farm of John Franklin Estes and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Tucker Estes. The farm was located in the Pleasant Ridge Township in Fulton County, Arkansas, near the present day town of Agnos. Sarah was 30 years old and about 9 months pregnant with their 6th known child.
John, according to family history, was building a barn when he fell ill and died of "brain fever." His daughter, Sarah Frankie Estes, was born exactly two weeks later.
Sallie, now a widow, was left with six young children to raise: James, age 12; William, age 10; David, age 7; Rhoda, age 5; Rebecca, age almost 3; and the infant Sarah Frankie, named after her two parents.
Before the end of 1884, Sarah married James Monroe Kelley, who was almost 11 years her junior. At some point they adjusted their birth years (or ages) by 2, giving a birthdate of 1854 to Sarah and 1861 to James, making their difference in age only 7 years instead of 11 years. All but one census record has their correct ages and in the 1900 census both the month and years of their births are listed correctly.
Both of their grave markers list the incorrect dates. Their son, Luther Delbert Kelley, made the grave markers and he would not have knowingly entered the incorrect dates. James marker also gives an incorrect middle initial of "H." According to the family bible, his middle name is Monroe.
James died from cancer in 1917, however his death certificate has not been located.
On March 1, 1883, 19-year-old James was working as a hired hand on the farm of John Franklin Estes and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Tucker Estes. The farm was located in the Pleasant Ridge Township in Fulton County, Arkansas, near the present day town of Agnos. Sarah was 30 years old and about 9 months pregnant with their 6th known child.
John, according to family history, was building a barn when he fell ill and died of "brain fever." His daughter, Sarah Frankie Estes, was born exactly two weeks later.
Sallie, now a widow, was left with six young children to raise: James, age 12; William, age 10; David, age 7; Rhoda, age 5; Rebecca, age almost 3; and the infant Sarah Frankie, named after her two parents.
Before the end of 1884, Sarah married James Monroe Kelley, who was almost 11 years her junior. At some point they adjusted their birth years (or ages) by 2, giving a birthdate of 1854 to Sarah and 1861 to James, making their difference in age only 7 years instead of 11 years. All but one census record has their correct ages and in the 1900 census both the month and years of their births are listed correctly.
Both of their grave markers list the incorrect dates. Their son, Luther Delbert Kelley, made the grave markers and he would not have knowingly entered the incorrect dates. James marker also gives an incorrect middle initial of "H." According to the family bible, his middle name is Monroe.
James died from cancer in 1917, however his death certificate has not been located.
