Alice Kelly

Alice Kelly was born in 1855 in (Elgin) Kane County, Illinois. She married Terrence Walsh on November 22, 1875 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Terry was born in Stratford, Ontario, Canada in 1850. With his parents he came to Boone, county, Iowa in 1868. In 1870 he went to Palo Alto County and took up a homestead in Great Oak Township. After some years he moved to Emmetsburg and worked in the, E.G.. Pond Sawmill. Later he handled freight with a team between Emmetsburg and Algona. He also worked at the blacksmith trade for several years.

Alice and Terry were those time-honored pioneers whom the younger generation must admire. They came to the county when it was little more than a wilderness, fought the battles of plague, intense heat and bitter cold; tasted adversity in its cruelest form; and in spite of it all endured and survived to a ripe old age.

From the Emmetsburg paper, December 1, 1926.

The T.B. Walsh Golden Wedding
Large Number of Friends Join in Celebrating - Important Event in Their Lives.

The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. T.B. Walsh of this city gave them a pleasant surprise last Sunday and assisted them in observing in a befitting manner the golden anniversary of their marriage. Perhaps 200 friends and neighbors called during the day and evening. All of the ladies brought well filled baskets. The afternoon and evening were pleasantly spent in various kinds of amusement and in recalling interesting - incidents of pioneer days, as Mr. and Mrs. Walsh spent all of their married life in this community. They were presented with a very substantial purse and with a number of appropriate and useful presents. Mrs. J. M. Coonan of Minneapolis was among the generous donors. A large number participated during the evening in dancing the quadrille, the schottische, the polka and other old time favored. Will Kane finished music on the violin. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh were light on foot and were as clever on the floor as they were fifty years or more ago.

Mrs. Walsh, whose name before marriage was Alice Kelly, was a native of Elgin, Illinois. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Kelly, came to Palo Alto county perhaps sixty years ago. Their sons and daughters grew up in our county and are widely and favorable know. Mr. Walsh, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Walsh, is a native of Ontario, Canada. He came to this locality with his parents when quite a small boy. He hauled freight from Algona to this city for years before the Milwaukee road was extended west. He followed black smithing a long time and was a capable, successful workman.

Mr. and Mrs. Wash are enjoying fairly good health and look to the future with hope and confidence. Their adopted daughter, Miss Lottie, died a number of years ago and Joseph Kelly, who made his home with them form early childhood, is now married and resides in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh gave their adopted son and daughter the best of opportunities and made a record in this respect that is surpassed by none.

Those who came from a distance to attend the anniversary exercises were Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wilson of Britt, Mr. and Mrs B. L. Maguire of Ruthven, Mr and Mrs. Otto Conklin and Mr. and Mrs. John Maguire and Mrs John Kahley of Ayrshire, and Miss Florence Morrissery of Mason City. The other guest were from Emmetsburg and vicinity.

Mr. and Mrs. Walsh have been intimate friends and patrons of the writer for more than forty years and it give us pleasure to recall their loyalty and to give becoming publicity to this high important event in their lives. We wish them health and strength for many years to come and hope that providence will be as kind to them in the future as it has been in the past.

Alice and Terrence had one adopted daughter Lottie Walsh, and they also raised Joseph James Kelly, (nephew of Alice) after the death of his mother, he was raised as one of their own. Terence was also a charter member of the Emmetsburg Fire Department.

Terrence died at Iowa City in August 1928, following an operation, and Alice died December 8, 1936, at her foster son, Joe Kelly's home. They are both buried at St. John's Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

A. Lottie Walsh (Adopted) was born December 13, 1882, in New York State, she was born Charlott Baker. Lottie never married. She was well known as a good piano player, and she would often play the piano at local silent movies. Lottie was a music teacher, and had received a degree from a collage in Colorado. According to death records her name was Cholotte. She died of Chronic Nephritis on March 27, 1913, and is buried at St. John's Cemetery in Emmetsburg, Iowa.

Collected by Karen (Genser) Kelly