Minnie Welch’s

Autograph Book

The Autograph Book of

Mary Janice “Minnie” Welch

Scanned and transcribed by

Susan M. Petersen

Great-granddaughter of Minnie Welch Kelly

Mary Janice Welch

Mary Janice “Minnie” Welch was born February 24, 1865 in Waterbury, Connecticut. She was one of seven

children born to Mark Welch and Sarah Conneally, both of whom were born in Ireland. Minnie’s siblings

were Edward (b. about 1860), Mark William (b. about 1861), Nellie (b. about 1863), Annie (b. about 1864),

Marcella (b. about 1869), and Agnes (b. about. 1872). There were also three half-sisters born to Mark

Welch and his first wife, Bridget: Sarah (b. about 1851), Catherine (b. about 1855), Jane (b. about 1857).

As more information becomes known about this family, this book will be updated.

As a young woman in her early twenties, Minnie traveled from Connecticut to Nebraska, eventually

residing in Greenwood, a small pioneer community located between Lincoln and Omaha in Cass County. It

was there she met and married Daniel Kelly who had come to the area with his parents, William D. Kelly

and Mary Casey, both of whom were born in Ireland. The Kelly family moved from Elgin, Illinois to St. Paul,

Minnesota to Omaha, Nebraska to Council Bluffs, Iowa before settling in Greenwood and the northeastern

section of Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Minnie Welch and Dan Kelly were married December 27, 1888. Sources differ on the location of the

marriage, but for now, I will go along with the source that says they married in St. Joseph’s Church in

Greenwood, Nebraska. The couple celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on December 27, 1938.

Dan Kelly died two years later on February 6, 1940, with Minnie’s death coming on August 13, 1942 at the

age of 77 years. Her life spanned from the Civil War to World War II.

The couple raised three sons: Francis John (1889 – 1941), William Leroy (1892 – 1968) and Paul Daniel

(“D.R.”) (1897 – 1946).

About Minnie’s Autograph Book

As with many families, photographs and mementoes are saved, put away in boxes and attics. Many are

long forgotten or thrown away by those with no interest in preserving family history. Many of the

memorabilia from the Kelly family passed on to my mother upon the death of her father, William Leroy

Kelly, in 1968. I was fascinated with the sepia toned family photographs from my childhood, wondering

who were these interesting looking people from whom I came. At some point in my twenties I discovered,

among the various family items, two autograph books. One had belonged to Minnie Welch. The other had

belonged to her sister, Nellie Welch.

As I read through the writings and signatures, I found that the two books provided me with the first

documentation that weaved together the names of the members of this family. It immediately became

clear that the two autograph books chronicled the two young women’s journey from their home in

Connecticut to their new western home in Nebraska.

The pages chronicle many of Minnie’s friends and family between 1883 and 1888. There are people from

Goshen, Litchfield and Waterbury, Connecticut; Rochester, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dover,

New Hampshire; Seneca Falls, New York; and finally, Greenwood, Nebraska. The Greenwood entries

appear to be written in January 1888 and are the last chronological entries in the book. Minnie became

the wife of Daniel Kelly in December of that year. The time frame makes me wonder where and how they

met, what was their courtship like? How did a young lady from the east fall in love with a hard-working

Nebraska farmer whose family had travelled by covered wagon from St. Paul, Minnesota? The answers to

those questions may never be known, but what these pages show is that Minnie had a wealth of loving

friends and family who undoubtedly contributed to the woman, wife and mother she became.

Some of the writings on the pages have long since faded away, with little hope of being able to read their

messages with the naked eye. Other pages have been neatly excised from the book, which makes me

wonder what stories and secrets were once between the burgundy wine colored fabric covers of Minnie’s

book.

I am still piecing together the pieces of the family history puzzle. As I continue my research on my family, I

will continue to update their story here.

I have included an index of names of people who signed Minnie’s book, in the hope of helping other

genealogists and family historians whose ancestors crossed paths with my great-grandmother. If you

discover any of your family members among these pages, please write to me (sumaree@inebraska.com)

and let me know. I would also like to know if you can assist me with some of the missing words of the

transcriptions.

As I again read through these pages, the message written by one of Minnie’s friends gave a wish which

became Minnie’s reality:

May you live in bliss from sorrow away,

Having plenty laid up for a rainy day

And when you are ready to settle in life,

May you find a good husband, and

make a good wife.

Is the wish of your friend

Mrs. G. T. Oviatt

Torrington, Conn.

Susan M. Petersen

Lincoln, Nebraska

June 2009

The Kelly Family of Greenwood, Nebraska, several years after Minnie Welch travelled west from

Connecticut to settle in Nebraska and marry Dan Kelly.

Known family members are : Francis Kelly, eldest son of Dan and Minnie Kelly, far left, front row; Dan

Kelly, front row center; and Minnie Kelly, front row, far right. Standing between Dan and Minnie is likely

their youngest son, Paul Daniel. Standing on the far left is Dan and Minnie’s middle son, William Leroy, my

grandfather.

Can you help me identify the other family members?

Minnie Welch’s

Autograph Book

To Miss Welch, May life’s pathway be illuminated by your shining virtues. Yours very sincerely, Maria C. Jones Waterbury, Jan ‘83

Be you to others kind and true,

As you would have them be to you

Neither do nor say to them

Whatever you would not take again.

Your affectionate

Uncle

Luke Conneally

Greenwood, Nebr

1888

To Minnie

may you always be happy and

never grow old. May your path

through this life be brighter than gold

Yours Respectfully

T. J. Foley

Hartford, Conn

To Minnie,

(help needed with transcription)

The young ladies exclaim:

At twenty; Oh Which shall

it be. At thirty, Always ready to say (Yes. And

at forty (alhtough very few ever reach that age)

Oh where is he.

Fondly yours

Luman R Long

Waterbury, CT

5-5-83

When far away

In distant climes

Remember the Girl

That wrote these lines

H. A. Braxton

L. S. C. Colla--

Rochester, N.Y

To Miss Minnie

Oh what a

Tangled web we

Weave when first

We practice to deceive

S. M. Hoye

Mount Carmel, Conn

Sep 14 1884

May your path through life

Be bright with flowers

Sweet as the perfumes from Eastern bowers,

Smooth as the crystal lakes of Heaven

Where to you an Immortal crown may be given.

Your Sincere friend,

Mrs. D. A. Mag---

Waterbury, Mar 4th 1883

To Minnie,

“Kindness makes friends”

Every Your loving

Brother

Edward G. Welch

Litchfield, Conn

8-4-82

What write in this album

For the Critic to spy

For the Learned to laugh at

Ha. Ha. Not I

F. L. Christman

Philadelphia Pa.

“To Minnie”

“These few lines to you are tendered

By a friend sincere and true;

Hoping but to be remembered,

When I’m far away from you.”

Sincerely yours.

Anna M. Lewis

Farmington, Conn.

Waterbury 4 -23-83

Minnie –

Sincerely your friend -

Mrs. Herbert F. Hunt

Dover, N.H.

Waterbury, Conn May 13th 1883

“God bless us”

Most Respectfully Yours

H. F. Hunt

A.D. 1883 5th 13th, Dover, N.H.

To Minnie

You asked me for something Original

But I know not where to begin;

There is nothing original in me,

Except Original Sin.

Your friend

Susie E. Elliott

Torrington, CT

Mar 19 1886

To Minnie

When the golden sun is setting,

And your heart from care is free,

When of absent friends your thinking

Will you sometimes think of me.

Sincerely yours,

Etta Meaher

City of Elms

Feb 10/84

4-10-87 Easter Sunday

Hattie L. Newcomb

Townsend, N. Y.

R. C. H. _____

To Minnie,

There are times whn visions flash

Before the mind of earthly joy;

Oh! Rememember it’s but a dash

That leaves a network to decoy.

Rev. J. J. Shea

St. Joseph May 16th, 87

Dear Minnie

Vera amicizia serumpertina est ??

Yours very muchly

Emma C. Norris

Springfield, N.Y.

4-8-87?

Dear Minnie –

May celestial happiness be there

After many years on earth.

Prosperity

The wish of your --- and affectionate cousin in Ill (?).

S.B.S

Sept 4th/83

To Minnie

With best wishes of a friend

Grace Brewster

Farmington

N.Y.

Apr 8th 1887

Apr 26. ‘87

Dear friend: -

When you are in your Western home

With new friends on the wing

Remember your R. C. H. Friend –

L. Louise King

Seneca Falls, N.Y.

--- earth is sometimes bright and fair

And sometimes dark and lonely.

Let us forget it’s pain and cary

And mark the bright hours only.

Your friend

Minnie Dumply

Dec 10 1884

Kiss is a noun,

Both common and open,

Not very singular,

And agrees with you and me.

Your friend

Mary A. Lucas,

Goshen Connecticut

Sept 8. 1885

To Minnie

Your Sincere Friend

Mrs. T. A. Elliott

Torrington. Apr 23rd 1887

To my dear Minnie: -

May you live in bliss from sorrow away,

Having plenty laid up for a rainy day

And when you are ready to settle in life,

May you find a good husband, and

make a good wife.

Is the wish of your friend

Mrs. G. T. Oviatt

Torrington, Conn.

10 – 24 - 1885

Every joy that Heaven can send,

Wealth and every kind of treasure,

Health and love to thee my friend,

And happiness without measure.

May your days in joy be passed

With friends to bless and cheer.

And each year exceed the last

In all that earth holds dear.

Yours in friendship,

George T. Oviatt

Torrington, Oct 24, 1885

John Ryan

Nebraska

January 8th 1888

To Minnie,

Remember the happy

Days gone by

Which passed between you and I

Ever Your Loving

Cousin

John R. Welch

Eagle Hall, Goshen, CT

June 8/85

Age 14 years

“Dear Minnie”

Remember thy Creator

In the days of thy youth.

Ever Your loving Sister.

Marcella – Welch

Litchfield, Conn.

5-5-85 (transcription note: uncertain of date)

Your Sincere Friend

Addie W. Lucas

Goshen, Conn

Sept 8th 1885

More about the friends who wrote in Minnie’s book [this page is being updated as information is discovered.]

Luke Conneally – Minnie’s uncle, brother of Sarah Conneally Welch. Born in Ireland, immigrated to the United States. Lived in Greenwood,

Nebraska for a brief period, then settled in Wallace, Nebraska in Lincoln County.

Maria C. Jones – Maria was born in Connecticut about 1858, a single, white teacher living with her mother, Margaret A., in Waterbury, New

Haven, Connecticut in 1880 (source: 1880 United States Federal Census). She would have been about age 25 when she wrote in Minnie’s book.

T. J. Foley –

Luman R. Long – Luman was born about 1855 in Connecticut, son of Joseph C. and Sarah Long. In 1880, he was a single, white bookkeeper, living

with his parents and grandmother, Sarah Long, in Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut. He was about 28 years of age when he wrote in Minnie’s

book. He continued to reside in Waterbury at least through 1920, when he was aged 65. Census records indicated he may have never married.

Edward G. Welch – Minnie’s brother, born in Connecticut, about 1860, the son of Mark Welch and Sarah Conneally. He was about 22 years of

age when he signed Minnie’s book.

INDEX OF INDIVIDUALS

The Welch Family

Mark Welch

Sarah Conneally Welch

Their children:

Agnes Welch

Annie Welch

Catherine Welch

Edward Welch

Jane Welch

Marcella Welch

Mark William Welch

Mary Janice “Minnie” Welch

Nellie Welch

Sarah Welch

The Kelly Family Daniel Kelly

Mary Janice “Minnie” Welch

Their children:

Francis John Kelly

William Leroy Kelly

Paul Daniel “D.R.” Kelly

INDEX OF INDIVIDUALS

Those who wrote in Minnie’s book Grace Brewster – Farmington, New York – April 1887

F. L. Christman – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

L.S.C. Colla --, Rochester, N.Y.

Luke Conneally (Uncle) – Greenwood, Nebraska – 1888

Minnie Dumply – December 1884

Susie E. Elliott – Torrington, Connecticut – May 1886

Mrs. T. A. Elliott – Torrington, Connecticut – April 1887

T. J. Foley – Hartford, Connecticut

S. M. Hoye – Mount Carmel, Connecticut – September 1884

Mrs. Herbert F. Hunt – Dover, New Hampshire – written in Waterbury May 1883

H. F. Hunt – Dover, New Hampshire – May 1883

Maria C. Jones – Waterbury, Connecticut – January 1883

L. Louise King – Seneca Falls, New York – April 1887

Anna M. Lewis – Farmington, Connecticut, written in Waterbury April 1883

Luman R. Long – Waterbury, Connecticut – May 1883

Addie W. Lucas – Goshen, Connecticut – September 1885

Mary A. Lucas – Goshen, Connecticut – September 1885

Mrs. D. A. Mag---, Waterbury – March 1883

Etta Meaher – City of Elms – February 1884

Hattie L. Newcomb – Townsend, New York – April 1887

Emma C. Norris – Springfield, New York – April 1887

George T. Oviatt – Torrington, Connecticut – October 1885

Mrs. G. T. Oviatt – Torrington, Connecticut – October 1885

John Ryan – Nebraska – January 1888

S. B. S. (Cousin) - September 1883

Rev. J. J. Shea – St. Joseph, (state?) – May 1987

Edward G. Welch (Brother) – Litchfield, Connecticut – August 1882

John R. Welch (Cousin) – Eagle Hall, Goshen, Connecticut – June 1885

Marcella Welch – Litchfield, Connecticut – May 1885

R. C. H. ___________