hidden-metaphor

Manx Genealogy

John James Kelly and Mona Lawson

While on a research trip to Butte Montana not long ago. I found the following information about John James Kelly who was my grandmother's brother. John was an immigrant from the Isle of Man to Butte and was employed by the Colorado Smelter. He and his wife Mona Lawson Kelly lived on the smelter property. Their son James Douglas Kelly was born at home at the Colorado Smelter. He died on Aug 7, 1890 at the age of 2 months and 8 days. the cause of death was listed as Cholera. A sad but not uncommon story. Butte at that time, although the mining industry provided work for thousands, was a rough place to live. History reports that the valley, where the Colorado smelter was located, was often so filled with smoke that visibility was only a few feet. A far cry from the pristine sea air of the Isle of Man. It is no mystery to me as to why John James and Mona moved back to Laxey. It is also clear to me why one of their girls was named Helena and why Mona was a proprietress of a hotel in Laxey named the Montana Hotel.