The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-02-14
MARRIED sIxTY-N1NE YEARS.

Today is the siXty-ninth anniversary of the
marriage of Mr.. Benjamin Kelley and his
wife, Mrs. Anna Bailey Kelley Today is
also the nintieth birthday of Mr.. Kelley,
having been born February II, 1906, while his
wife was born August 30, 1905. They have
spent their entire married life on the same
farm and in the same house where Mr.. Kelley
was born and always lived, near the south
rOad. Mr.. Kelley's father BENJAMIN Kelley,
and his grand father, David Kelley, owned
| The land, or portion of it, comprising the
farm on which they have lived so long. Mrs.
Kelley was born in Newbury and was the
laughter of Abner Bailey, arespected farmer
ol that town, who afterwards moved to Top
sham. Mr.. Kelley and his wife were married
at the brides fathers home in Topsham, Feb.
IA, 1927, by the Rev. Slas McKeen, who had
been the pastor of the Congregational church
in Bradford for more than eleven years.
Our friends, the Kelleys, have been blessed
With much more than an ordinary degree of
good health all their lives, rarely being COM
pelled to call in the services of a physician.
Their union has been blessed with eight chill
dren, VINO lived to be married and have chill
dren of their own. Their names are as fol-
lows: Mary Ann who married .. w. Putney,
James w. who married Sarah Martin, Phyl-
ander who married Munroe Shumway, Anna
A. who married VIM. Moore, Kimball B. who
married Lydia Barber, Hannah b. who mar
rled James McLam and for second husband
A. M. Grey, Leyina f. who married ID. L.
Derby, and Sarah H. who married Hartwell
IL. Pillsbury. In the family there have been
thirty grandchildren, and sixteen great
grand children. Mr.. Kelley has been an ar
dent Republican since the old Whig party
became defunct and has been an interested
observer of public affairs. AS might be ex-
pected some of his sons and sons-in- law were
imbued with the patriotic spirit of 1851 and
went into the Union service. His oldest son,
James W. Kelley, was corporal in Co. ID of
the LIST VT. Regt. and first lieutenant of Co. III
18th Regt.; Munroe Shumway was member
of Co. d Sth Vt. Rcgt. and died in service;
iIartwell H. Pillsbury was member of Co.
II 18th VT. Regt.; David l., Derby was men,
Der of Co. II llth N. III. Regt.; James McLam
was also in the service but we cannot give the
name of his regiment. Mr.. Kelley in addi
tion TO farming has worked at his trade as a
carpenter and Joiner and to this he has added
shoe making and coopering as occasion re-
quired. We must not forget to mention the
Kelley handmade hand-rakes so much
sought after.
1t rs seldom that married couples survive
SO long as these good people have and we
trust they will long be spared. Mrs. Derby, |
one of the daughters, and her husband are
making a comfortable and happy home for |
their parents in their declining years. Peo- |
Pile who are spared so long are destined to the |
loneliness occasioned by the death of old and |
former friends. There is not person living |
ON the south road who resided there when |
the Kelleys began their married life in the
old homestead. They have both been long (
beloved and respected citizens, and we shall |
be sorry to hear of their demise