William Kelly

Introduction

 See Introduction for some general background.

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 2, p.771

Kelly, William, a member of the Mormon Battalion, was born April 6, 1828, on the Isle of Man, the son of John Kelly and Elizabeth Quinn. [Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 16, p.509 has William Kelly was born in Kirkmarown [Kirk Marown], Isle of Man, April 6, 1828, the third son of John and Elizabeth Quine Kelly. The family set sail for America in 1842, having become members of the Latter-day Saint faith in their native land. They landed in New Orleans and soon afterwards moved to Nauvoo, Illinois.] He emigrated to America when quite young and became a resident of Nauvoo, Illinois, where he passed through the scenes connected with the persecutions and drivings of the saints from Illinois. While a lad in Nauvoo he became intimately acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith, Elder John Taylor and other prominent men of the Church. Having traveled as far as the Missouri river he enlisted in the Mormon Battalion and marched as a member of that illustrious body to California as a private in Company A. The day before he took his departure from the camps of the Saints on the Missouri river he married Ann Faraker. After serving his time according to the terms of enlistment and working a short time in or about the mines on the Sacramento river, Cal. he made his way to G. S. L. Valley, where he rejoined his young wife and soon afterwards became one of the first settlers of American Fork, Utah county, where he became a successful merchant and farmer. During his residence in American Fork he married two other wives, namely, Christine P. Christensen and Elizabeth Cunningham. By his three wives he became the father of 32 children. Bro. Kelly died at American Fork June 18, 1899, leaving two wives, 26 children and a host of grandchildren. For a number of years he was active as a military man and held the rank of major in the Nauvoo Legion.