John Van "J. V." Kelley

Notes:

This is my great grandfather, and at birth his name was simply JV Kelley. My grandfather told me the following story about how his father came to be named:

"Papaw was named JV after his uncle John Van Kelley. When Papaw registered for the draft during World War II, the draft board would not take initial names. Many southern boys suddenly had to get names. Since Papaw knew he was named after his uncle, he naturally took the name John Van. But, that is not all. Many people born in the early 1900's did not have birth certificates. The draft board also made everyone get birth certificates. Papaw got a birth certificate, and it has John Van on it. On all official documents, he was John Van, but the family called him JV all his life. The men he worked with at the plant called him John."

Sincerely,
Rachel Kelley Franklin
rach_kelley@yahoo.com

Family/Spouse: Bessie Mae McDaniel. Bessie (daughter of Francis Richmond McDaniel and Louvella "Ella" Impson) was born on 3 Dec 1909 in Fairdale, Sabine County, Texas; died on 15 Jul 2004 in Liberty, Liberty County, Texas; was buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Pineland, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

Notes:

Said to be the son of Rev. Joel Parish KELLEY and Deborah Ansofee FUNDERBURK. Other children bonr to Joel and Deborah were: Cornelius, Baron DeKalb, Emily Frances, Nancy Jane, William Wilson, John Van, and Rhoda.

On his "Descendants of William C. KELLY" website, Phil Sulser writes that:

Joel Parrish Kelley was born in North Carolina Oct. 3, 1825. He, along with his parents, brother John (Jack) and sisters Jennie and Malinda, moved to Alabama in the early 1830's. The 1840 Census of Perry County, AL listed: William C. Kelley and John C. Kelley. The family then moved to the area of Farmerville, LA., Concord community just NE of there, about 1842. The 1850 Census of Union Parrish, LA listed: Joel P. Kelley age 25, Deborah Kelley age 21, Cornelius Kelley age 3, Cal Kelley age 1, Tabitha Kelley age 63, John C. Kelley age 33, Eliza Kelley age 32, and their 6 children. Also listed was Van R. Funderburk family, descended from Hans Devauld Von Der Berg and the Von Der Burg family of medieval Germany nobility. The Census of 1860 in Union Parrish still listed Joel P. Kelley and family but with four children.
Joel and Deborah Kelley lived in LA long enough for all 8 children to be born there (Farmerville area, Union Parrish) prior to the family moving to Texas. Debora's brother Van R. Funderburk and family moved to Texas with them in 1869, as did Joel's brother Jack Kelley. Jack Kelley and family left the group in route shortly after crossing the Sabine River and settled in Chambers County, TX. Joel's sisters Jennie Smith and Malinda Davis also moved to Texas. Jennie Smith and family moved elsewhere (where ?) rather than settle in Concord. Malinda Davis's husband disappeared , fate unknown. Malinda thereafter lived with relatives and is buried in Concord Cemetery. Joel and Van Funderburk bought adjoining land 12 miles North of Palestine, TX in the Concord Community, then known as Fitzgerald . Joel, a Baptist Minister, donated the land, a corner of his property, for the cemetery at the Concord Baptist Church when it was organized in 1871. He died of spinal meningitis Feb. 1872 shortly after coming to Texas and was the first person buried in Concord Cemetery. His wife Deborah, who lived another 41 years and never remarried, is buried beside him. She died March 30, 1913.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Jasper County, Justice Pr 2
Enumerated 8 and 9 January 1920 by Albert Norsworthy
SD 326 ED 73 Sheet 9B
175-197
Kelley, George A Hd M W 52 M La NC Ala Farmer
Kelley, Mary E Wif F W 46 M Tx Ga Tn
Kelley, Valentine Son M W 22 S Tx La Tx Sawyer Lumber Mill
Kelley, Arthur G Son M W 19 S Tx La Tx Sawyer Lumber Mill
Kelley, Vivian Dtr F W 16 S Tx La Tx
Kelley, John V Son M W 10 S Tx La Tx


1930 Census
Texas, Anderson County, Precinct 4
Enumerated April 7, 1930
SD 1-20 ED 18 Sheet 4A Stamped 273
71
Kelley, George A Hd M W 62 M@22 La La La Farmer
Kelley, Mary E Wf F W 56 M@17 Tx Tx Tx
Kelley, John V Son M W 20 S Tx La Tx

George married Mary Ella Redwine. Mary was born on 15 Aug 1874 in Anderson County, Texas; died on 31 Jul 1941 in Jasper County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name: Mary Ella Kelley
Death Date: 31 Jul 1941
Death Place: Jasper, Jasper, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: White
Death Age: 67 years 11 months 16 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 15 Aug 1874
Birthplace: Anderson Co., Texas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Martin Redwine
Father's Birthplace: No Data
Mother's Name: No Data
Mother's Birthplace: No Data
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Beaumont, Jefferson, Texas
Cemetery:
Burial Place: Jasper, Texas
Burial Date: 01 Aug 1941
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2138642
Digital Film Number: 4030533
Image Number: 1427
Reference Number: cn 33175
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976

Notes:

Married:
They were also the parents of Valentine Stanton, Arthur Gilbert, and Stella Vivian KELLEY.