Kelly Cemetery

Today's Walk Through the Tombstones is at Kelly Cemetery in Bloomington, Indiana.  It is located inside of a newly built housing edition just off of State Road 446 near the intersection of State Road 46.  

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 39.16339, Longitude: -86.46764

We visited the cemetery on February 8, 2015 and found it fenced off with a small gate for access.  When the residential development occurred on the property, the developers made sure to fence off the area to keep it safe.  There are only 13 interments.  It is also known as the Smith-Kelly-Ellis Cemetery.

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This is the grave of Estella Stella Ellis.

Born: April 1819, Macklinburg County, Virginia
Died: February 23, 1892, Monroe County, Indiana

Her parents were James P. Ellis (?-?) and Lucy Ellis (?-?).  I am unsure of where they are buried.

She had seven siblings, but I know of one:
James Henderson Ellis (1823-1891) - buried in Kelly Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.

Her obituary was listed in the Bloomington Saturday Courier on March 5, 1893:
"Stella Ellis, one of the oldest citizens of this township, died at teh residence of her sister, Susan Johnson, on Tuesday evening, February 23, 1893.  She had been blind and afflicted for a long while.  Deceased was born in Macklinburg County, Virginia, in April 1819, and at the time of her death was 73 years old. She was the oldest of 8 children born to James P. and Lucy Ellis.  She emigrated to Monroe County with her children at an early age and lived here the rest of her life.  The burial took place at the Kelly Graveyard on Wednesday evening."

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Here is the grave of James Henderson Ellis.

Born: April 6, 1823, North Carolina
Died: May 28, 1891

His parents were James P. Ellis (?-?) and Lucy Ellis (?-?).  I am unsure as to where they are buried.  

He had seven siblings, though I only know of one:
Estella Stella Ellis (1819-1892) - buried in Kelly Cemetery, Monroe County, Indiana.

He was married to Sarah Sallie Payne Ellis (1812-1883).

His obituary was listed in the Bloomington Saturday Courier on June 6, 1891, 
"Death of an old citizen, James H. Ellis, died at his residence in Salt Creek Township on Thursday evening, May 28, 1891, after a short illness.

James Henderson Ellis was born in North Carolina, April 8, 1823.  Consequently, at the time of his death he was 68 years, 1 month and 20 days old.  He was the third eldest of eight children born to James P. and Lucy Ellis.  The parents emigrated to Monroe County when Henderson was an infant, and he has been a resident of the county ever since.  many years ago he was married to Sallie Payne, no children was born to them.  The wife died May 22, 1883.  From that date until his death the husband lived alone.  He lived on the farm where he died about 34 years.  Though a member of no church he was a faithful reader of the New Testament.  He was a sober, moral man, and honest and upright in his dealings with his fellow men.  He was an uncompromising democrat and cast his first vote for President James K. Polk in 1844 and voted for every democratic nominee for President since that date.  At various times his mental condition was seriously affected and for the past few years his mind wandered at times very much.  All efforts to persuade him to not live alone were unavailing.  Poor, lonely sufferer, he has laid down the trial and afflictions of this world of sorrows, has crossed Jordan's cold and silent stream and gone to test the realities of an unknown world.

Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep.
Were no mortal wakes to weep.
J.B.E."

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This is the grave of Richard Ellis.

Born: September 19, 1820
Died: July 7, 1893, Monroe County, Indiana

He was married to Susan Ellis (1818-1895).  She is listed on the opposite side of his marker.











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Here is the grave of Susan Ellis.

Born: July 9, 1818
Died: October 14, 1895, Monroe County, Indiana

She was married to Richard Ellis (1820-1893).  His name is carved onto the opposite side of her marker.

Her obituary was listed in Bloomington Courier on October 18, 1895: 
"Mrs. Susan Ellis, one of the best known ladies in Salt Creek Township, died at her home Monday night after several weeks illness of typhoid fever.  She was 87 years of age at the time of her death and was greatly liked by all of her acquaintances.  The interment took place in the Kelly Cemetery Tuesday afternoon."


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We now stop at the grave of G.W. Kelley.

Born: unknown
Died: unknown, Monroe County, Indiana

He served in the Civil War in the 117th Indiana Infantry, Company I.  He is listed on his headstone as being a Sergeant.  I have yet to find his name in the Civil War records.  









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We now stop at the grave of R.E. Kelley.

Born: unknown, Indiana
Died: unknown, Monroe County, Indiana

He served in the Civil War in the 117th Indiana Infantry, Company I.  I haven't found his name in the Civil War Records.










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This is the grave of Alexander Kelly.

Born: December 13, 1839, Indiana
Died: June 13, 1926, Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana

He was a Private in the 14th Indiana Infantry, Company K, in the Civil War.  He mustered out June 6, 1864.









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Please email me or leave a comment if you have any information on these graves or have a photo request.

I hope that you have enjoyed your walk through Kelly Cemetery.

Please visit the listing at Find-A-Grave.