Family:Whitney, Jessie Pearl (1876-1970)

Jessie Pearl⁹ Whitney (George C.⁸, Ephraim⁷, Ephraim⁶, Amos⁵, Amos⁴, Nathaniel³, Benjamin², John¹), daughter of George Calvin⁸ and Helen S. (Ashman) Whitney, was born 24 Jan 1876, Jefferson, IA, and died 4 Nov 1970, Burwell, NE.

She married, 23 Dec 189[-], Stuart, NE, Biard Belou Kelley. He was born about 1870, NE.

Obituary of Jessie Pearl Whitney Kelley:

SERVICES HELD FOR MRS. JESSIE KELLEY:

"Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 7, at the United Methodist Church in Burwell for Mrs. Jessie W. Kelley, who died November 4 a the Burwell Community Memorial Nursing Home.

"Rev. Richard Shapland officiated at the last rites. Mrs. Dale Harrod, soloist, accompanied by Mrs. Merle Edghill, sang 'Beyond The Sunset' and 'The Old Rugged Cross.'

"Pallbearers were Roger Kelley, Max Kelley, Ronnie Vang, Fred Vang, Lee DeGroff, and Ray DeGroff. Interment was in Cottonwood Cemetery, Burwell. Arrangement were from Fleming Funeral Home.

"Jessie W. Kelley, 94 year old Holt County pioneer, passed away November 4, 1970. Jessie Pearl Whitney was born January 24, 1876, to George and Helen Ashman Whitney in Jefferson, Iowa, Green County. Her father was a Civil War veteran who lived to be 93. She moved to Stuart, Nebraska in a covered wagon with her parents and a brother in 1883, and received her education there.

"They lived near town and when she entered high school they moved to town where Mr. Whitney operated a meat market. She was the oldest living graduate of Stuart High having graduated in 1894, and was honored at the alumni banquet in 1964 as a 70 year old graduate. She taught school in Inez Valley south of Atkinson where she met Biard Belou Kelley. They were married in Stuart December 23, 189?. The newlyweds moved to Inman where Mr. Kelley taught school, later moving north of O'Neill.

"Their next home was a homestead 30 miles southwest of Atkinson in Holt County, where they lived 18 years. They moved to a nearby place and lived there until the '?? blizzard, when they were flown out by plane to the home of their son, Ralph.

"They ranched and Mr. Kelley was a familiar sight, freighting from his home to Burwell, 30 miles away. He freighted with eight mules and was well known as "Eight-Mule Kelley".

"Mrs. Kelley told of the blizzard of '83, and how she was able to get her little brother safely home from the neighbors. She was an active WRC member and her favorite hobby for many years was making quilts for her many relatives and friends.

"She leaves to mourn her five children: Frankie, Larson, and Ralph of Burwell; George of Carmichael, Calif.; Rita Vang of Wolbach; and Jane DeGroff of Brewster. Two children preceded her in death: Helen in infancy and Gene, a twin of Jane, at 19 years of age. She also leaves 20 grandchildren and a host of friends."

Children of Biard Belou and Jessie Pearl⁹ (Whitney) Kelley:

i.	Frankie Kelley, of Burwell, NE.
ii.	Larson Kelley, of Burwell, NE.
iii.	Ralph Kelley, of Burwell, NE.
iv.	George Kelley, of Carmichael, CA.
v.	Rita Kelley, m. ----- Vang; of Wolbach, NE.
vi.	Jane Kelley (twin), m. ----- DeGroff; of Brewster, NE.
vii.	Gene Kelley (twin), d. aged 19 years.
viii.	Helen Kelley, d. in infancy.

References

---

Copyright © 2009, Kenneth L. Whitney and the Whitney Research Group.