Florence A. Kelly - Obituary

Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Amanuensis Monday, hosted by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.


While working at sorting out the Kelly's that lived in Adams, NY I found this obituary. As of right now I do not know how or if Florence and her family fit into my family tree. I did find her presumed cause of death very interesting.



Jefferson County Journal, Adams. N. Y., Wednesday, July 13, 1927; page 1, top of column 5

Florence A. Kelly

Miss Florence A. Kelly, aged 46 years, died at the home of her father, John E. Kelly, on Church Street West, Thursday, July 7, at 10:45 a. m.

Because of ill health she had been making her home with her father and her sister, Mrs. Margaret Cannan, since April 30, coming here from New York, where she had lived for the past twelve years. She was employed by the government during the World war in the manufacture of gas masks, from which she suffered a severe attack of chemical poisoning which left her heart in a weakened condition. She has recently finished a complete course in a beauty culture school and the close application to this work helped to hasten her end.

At 8:30 Thursday morning she came downstairs, took her heart medicine at the usual time and then went to her room to lie down again. At 9:30 her sister entered the room and finding her seriously ill summoned Dr. Hollis, but all efforts to revive here failed.

Florence Kelly was born in Kingston, Ont., the daughter of John E. and Catherine McDonald Kelly, and came to Adams to live when about a year old. She was educated in the Adams schools and was a member of St. Ceclia's church of Adams, where services were held Saturday morning at 9:30, Rev. Father J. R. McClure of Sackets Harbor officiating. Burial was made in Elmwood cemetery.

Miss Kelly was of a very lovable, kindly nature and was always ready with services in illness or trouble. She had many friends who will miss her and her death is a severe loss to her family and friends.

She is survived by her father and the following brothers and sisters: John E. Kelly, Jr., of Watertown, Margaret Cannan of Adams, Mrs. Harry A. Brown, Mrs. John Thornley and Mrs. John F. Collins of Syracuse, Allen R. Kelly of Washington D. C., and Harry A. Kelly of Adams; also an aunt, Mrs. Flora McDonald, of Adams. A sister, Mrs. Harry A. Brown, of Syracuse, was unable to be present at the services as had just undergone a serious operation. Other brothers and sisters with their families were present at the services, also Mrs. Anna Eagan, R. W. Eagan, Geo. F. Kelly and family of Syracuse.

Card of Thanks

We wish to express our deep appreciation to friends, neighbors and relatives for the beautiful floral tributes sent at the death of our beloved daughter and sister, and for the many cards and words of sympathy in our loss.

John E. Kelly and Family.