Family of John Robert Kelly Jr. & Mary Elizabeth Reeves

Notes

1. John Robert Kelly, Jr.

John Robert Kelly Jr. traveled as a "hobo" for years, returning home often enough to have twelve children with Mary Elizabeth Reeves. He taught school for his meals while he was traveling. When he finally gave up tracling and settled down with Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie), he worked as a carpenter.
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His parents:
John Robert Kelly Sr. was an Irish sailor who jumped ship at Pensacola, Florida. He became a business partnet working as a Bayman on the wharves with William Henry Burleson. When William Burleson died (ca 1873-1874), John Kelly married his widow, Mary (Mollie) Burnham. Mollie had 3 sons by her first marriage and it is believed she was pregnant with her fourth child, John Robert Kelly Jr. when she and John Kelly Sr were married.

Mollie's sons by William Burleson were William Henry Burleson, Jr., Sone Burleson, and John Burleson, born 1871, 1873, 1875 respectively. Her first child after her marriage to John Kelly Sr. was John Robert Kelly Jr. They had five more daughters and another son, all born in Pensacola, Escambia Co., Florida.

John Robert Kelly Sr and Mollie ran a cat house on the docks, which their daughter Bridgette continued to operate after their deaths.

John Robert Kelly Sr. was born August 1851 in Dublin, Ireland and died February 12, 1903 in Pensacola, Florida. Mollie was born in 1858 and died in 1913 in Bay Co., Florida.
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His siblings:
Bridgett May Kelly, b. April 30, 1874
Katherine Kelly, b. April 1880
James Kelly, b. January 1883
Nora Kelly, b.April 1886
Margaret Kelly,
Sarah Kelly,
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Census records for John Robert Kelly Sr.
1880 Census, Pensacola, Escambia Co., FL, ED 44, vol.5, p. 18, ln.33, enum. Joseph E. Sierra
John Kelly, wht, male, age 24, laborer (1856)
Mary, wht, female, age 22
Wm., wht, male, age 9
Sone, wht, male, age 7
Bridget, wht, female, age 3
Kate, wht, female, age 1 6/12

Pensacola, Escambia Co., Florida, Precinct 12, East Oregon St., vol.5 #399, p. 20, hh 808-449, ln. 36, enum. 11 June 1900
John Kelly, wht, b. Aug 1851 in Ireland, age 48 (1852)
Kelly, Mary, wife, Jan 1891 [sic], age 39, Florida
Kessidy, Bridget May, dau., Dec 1877, age 22, Florida
Kelly, Katie, dau., Apr 1880, age 20, Florida
Kelly, James, son, Jan 1883, age 17, Florida
Kelly, Nora, dau., Apr 1886, age 14, Florida
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Sources for notes on John Robert Sr & Mary Mollie Burnham family:
Bible record of Marie Kelly Tarver, (Current owner granddaughter Lotus Cirilo, Concordia Par., Louisiana).

Death certificate of John Robert Kelly, Sr., (Pensacola, Escambia Co. Florida, no. 04157 (uncertain reading on number), DOD 12 Feb 1903), Age 56, male, wht, married, cirrhosis of liver, occupation Bayman, b. in Ireland, Irish descent, reside in FL for 34 years, reported by Louis de Blocker. (1847)

Family knowledge, ldc, (known by author and or other immediate family member).

Family records, (deeds, property transactions, estate settlement, etc.).

Federal Population Schedule FL, John Robert Kelly Sr. household, 1880 and 1900, (Pensacola, Escambia Co., Florida).

3. Marie Annette Kelly
Go to additional notes on Marie Annette Kelly, pdf file requires aAdobe Acrobat Reader.

Marie Annette Kelly
b. January 11, 1903 in Selma, Grant Par., Louisiana
d. December 10, 1959 in Ferriday, Concordia Par., Louisiana
marr. John Wesley Tarver on May 26, 1918 in Jonesville, Catahoula Par.,La
bur. Pine Grove Cem., Blade, LaSalle Par., Louisiana

Marie Annette Kelly Tarver was my maternal grandmother.

Marie had bone cancer and her leg was removed a couple of years before her death.

John Wesley Tarver Rev.
Go to additional notes on John Wesley Tarver, includes obituary and photo of John and Marie Kelly Tarver.

: WWI Civilian Draft Registrations
Tarver, John Wesley
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1897 Ethnicity: W
Birth Place: Avoyelles Par. LA City/County: Jackson Co.
State: MS

Tarver, John Wesley
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1897 Ethnicity: W
Birth Place: dad b. Lake Charles LA City/County: Jackson Co.
State: MS

Monroe Morning World
Mon. Oct. 1977
Rev. John Tarver

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John Wesley "Johnny" Tarver, my maternal grandfather, was a gifted craftsman in carpentry,blacksmithing, and gunsmithing. He worked hard and his skills and craftsmanship were sought by many people in the area.

5. Robert Milton Kelly

Buddy died with trench mouth.

6. Heyward Reeves Kelly

Heyward died when a train ran over him.

James Edward King

Died with 6/11/31 of TB in hospital at New Orleans.

10. Johnny Lawrence Kelly

Interview with Jim's sister, Margaret "Miggie" Kelly DeCausey:

Jim was on lead ship going to beach head at Normandy. Japanese suicideplane hit the convoy and 45 sailors died. One was 17 years old - a goodsailor bought beer for him. This sailor was the first jim recognized ofthe dead.

Jim said he was told to get sandbags to soak the blood on the deck, whichwas strewn with wounded and dead soldiers.

Ten weeks later a Western Union telegram arrived to his wife and babysaying only "Will be home soon, Love Jim." Lola had cried desparatelywhen Jim had last shipped out, Miggie said, and Grandma Kelly had stayed with her, Jim and the baby for 12 days while Jim was on a previousleave. Jim's leave had been a 30 day leave, which he spent in Arkansas with Lola.

Uncle Charlie picked Jim up from the train depot on Reno Street. Divorcepapers and custody papers were waiting at the ship for him, as Lola hadfiled to have them served while he was home on leave.

Miggie said Jim told them he'd "rot in jail" before he signed them, thenhe went to church and prayed at the alter for God to send her back to him.

Lola had moved back to Warren, Arkansas. Charlie, Miggie, Steve and Jimdrove to Mrs. McIntyre's to try to see her and David - the baby, but Mrs. McIntyre told them that as far as Lola and the baby were concerned, he'dnever returned from the war. Cursing him, Lola would not let Jim touchnor hold the baby. Miggie said she (Miggie) and Jim "squalled andsqualled." She was with a man called Dick Crim. Jim threw his weddingring at her and she threw an old pair of shoes at him, saying "There'syour trade!"

At supper at a coffee shop, Jim put a quarter in tthe jukebox and playedfive sad songs staring at his coffee the whole time. As daylight broke,jim woke her, crying. He wanted uncle Charlie to take him back out toLola's. He wouldn't eat, saying his mama would have a cake baked for himwhen he got back to Biloxi.

Alvin Bernell Coleman

Alvin came to live with the Tarver family after his widowed mother died.He was about 15, abt. 1935. He had been living in an old, abandonedschool bus when uncle J. brought him home and the Tarvers took him in.Alvin was legally adopted by grandma and grandpa Tarver when he enlistedin the army. The records should be available in the courthouse at Jena,LaSalle Par., Louisiana.

SSDI:
ALVIN B COLEMAN
b.13 Feb 1919 25
d.Jul 1996 (V)
Residence. 71465 (Olla, La Salle, LA)
Soc. Sec. 436-12-4029
Issued: Louisiana

Hardy Reece

Army veteran of WWII, 7th Infantry in the Pacific Theater, member of theVeterans of Foreign Wars in Kiln. Civil Servant for 30 years, lifelongresident of Biloxi.

Services at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home Chapel on Howard Avenue.

HARDY REECE
SSN 426-09-1466 Residence: 39532 Biloxi, Harrison, MS
Born 26 Sep 1917 Last Benefit:
Died 23 Jan 1994 Issued: MS (Before 1951)

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