Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-13
OBSERVING 91ST BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY
TODAY, MRS. KELLEY WAS ACTIVE IN ANTI
SLAVERY MOVEMENT BEFORE CIVIL WAR

Today at the home Of her daugh-
ter Mrs. George +. Andrews of IL
Winter St, this city. with whom she
resides about eight months out of
the year. Mrs. Mary Ann Kelley, will
celebrate her 91st birthday. Although
OF such age that she was active In the
anti slavery movement before the
Civil War. Mrs. Kelley, is In re-
markable health. and takes the same
keen interest In the affairs of today,
that she took in this great move
ment so many years ago.
The fine state of her health is
/ shown by the fact that Just this last
| winter, she suffered from a bad at
tack of whooping cough. for nearly
| six weeks, coughing night and day,
| buG she recovered from It without
any apparent impairment Of her
usual good health.
With the aid of glasses she is a
great reader, carefully scanning the
Gals. During the World War she
was quite active as a member Of the
Augusta Chapter Of the American
Red Cross. and knit many garments
for the use of the soldiers. Since
that time she has not done so much
work Of this sort, but knits many
| yards Of fine white edging. She is
a very fine penman and carries on
her correspondence today with firm
beautiful hand that is easily read in
spite of her advanced age.
She Is thoroughly up to date on all
things, and is in favor Of women
voting. although she herself has
never voted. The radio interests her
to great extent, and she remarked
when interviewed that while she had
never been fortunate enough to get
a ride in a flying machine, she
would like to do so.
In the summer she passes about
four months with her daughter Mrs.
Fred G. Dolloff Of Mount Vernon and
makes the trip to Mount Vernon and
back by auto, beside riding quite a
little at other times.
In speaking of the days when she
was active as president Of an Anti
Slavery Association in Belgrade, Mrs
Kelley said: "Those were exciting
days. and I remember that the feel
ing ran high. We did not all think
alike when the club was first started
and there were some vigorous dis
cussions but we all came toSa com
mon ground before the first gun was
fired at Fort Sumter"
Mrs. Kelley's mother, Mrs. Caro-
line Folsom Scribner. rounded out %
years and her grandfather, benjamin
Folsom of Vienna, lived to be o.
years of age.
Mrs. Kelley attended school at the
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents
Hill, back in 1851. Her brother. JOS
eph S. Scribner Of Rome. was in
charge Of a class at the institution
at that time. She was married in
1883 to Elezear Kelley and she then
moved from Rome tosBelgrade Lakes
where her husband built the Central
House. He died 40 years ago. Mrs
Kelley's mother was distantly relat-
ed to Mrs. Frances Folsom Cleve-
land. wife Of the late President Gro
yer Cleveland. After completing her
education at Kents Hill. Mrs. Kelley
taught for awhile in Rome. Mt. Yer
non and Readfield. Mrs. Kelley has
three daughters, Mrs. George r. An
drews Of this city, Mrs. Charles A.
Slower of Cambridge. Mass. and Mrs
Fred c. Dolloff of Mt. Vernon. all OF
whom are living and she also has a
grandson, Leo X. Andrews and a
eat-grandson, Roger s. Andrews,
who resides at the Andrews home on
n Winter street.