Timothy W Kelly

Timothy W Kelly was the son of Timothy Kelly and Sarah Water. They emmigrated from Ireland, possibly Waterford County, between 1828 and 1833 to Canada. They and their children, Margaret, a son probably named Patrick, Maria, Bridget, and Sarah moved to Buffalo, NY, about 1837. Also in 1837, son Timothy W Kelly was born, the only of the siblings born in the United States. In the early 1840s the family moved back to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, where Timothy Kelly opened a general store. In 1859, Timothy died and son Timothy W Kelly was called home from reading law in Buffalo, NY, to run the store. Within a year, Timothy W.'s mother Sarah, and sisters, Maria and Sarah, also died and were buried in what is now Our Lady of Peace Church Cemetery, Falls View, Ontario, Canada.

Soon after oil was discovered near Titusville, Pennsylvania, Timothy W. Kelly travelled there in search of his fortune. That venture was not successful. At this time the American Civil War broke out and he joined the New York Volunteers and was appointed a Captain and raised a company as part of the 155 Regiment, NYV. This was part of the prestigious Corcoran" Irish Legion named after Michael Corcoran. His Company C was transferred to the 164th Regiment and Timothy W Kelly served as its Captain until he was captured at Ream's Station, Virginia, August 25, 1864. He was held at Libby, Salisburg and Danville prisons until February, 1865, when he was exchanged, his health broken in those 6 months of imprisonment. He convalesced at the Annapolis Army Hospital and at home before rejoining his company in April, 1865, and served out the end of the war with it.

He never regained his health and died August 29, 1880. His death certificate lists a fifteen year battle with consumption dating back to the six months he spent in Confederate prisons. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna, NY.