Kelley's Island

A Neighbor of mine who lives in the North Olmsted Historical District told me that the person who built his house was Daniel Kelley Huntington and  wondered if he is buried in Butternut Ridge Cemetery he also knew that Daniel was born on Kelley’s Island. I found that he and his wife Emily Farr are both buried in Butternut. That started my research.

        Kelley’s Island was originally known as island #6.  Later it was called Cunningham Island.  In 1833 Datus and Irad Kelley started purchasing the property for about $1.50 per acre. By 1840 they had completed the purchase and renamed it Kelley’s Island. Datus Kelley was a successful business man from Rocky River and Irad had become a successful Real Estate investor in Cleveland. They created several businesses on the Island including Lumber and Quarrying. They also had many summer visitors from both Dover and Olmsted township. Datus Kelley’s’ daughter Emeline Married George C Huntington Daniel Kelly Huntington is one of their children. He Lived in Olmsted in the winter and on the island in the summer.  I have found a couple of other people in the cemetery that were born on Kelley’s Island.

        Daniel Married Emily in Cuyahoga but met her up at the Island her family spent summers up there. Emily’s sister Hannah Married Albert Stow Kelley a son of Datus Kelley They had a son Hermon A. Kelley who became a very prominent lawyer in Cleveland. He was also a board member of some of the big corporations in Cleveland. 
      Hermon and Daniel became friends Hermon bought 2 Lots in Butternut Ridge Cemetery. He sold one To Daniel Huntington into the other He moved the remains of the parents and family of Hannah and Emily Farr. I have not found out were they were buried before they were moved. Here is what might have happened.
       I was at Frostville today and found a reproduction of a 1878 map of Rockport township. It showed a farm on the border of Rockport and Dover Townships owned by Julius Farr at the back of the Property it shows a cemetery. Some of the old farms had family cemeteries in the back of the property. The family was moved in the early 1900's. I would have to assume that the farm was sold and to keep the family together they were moved to Butternut. Julius Farr died and was buried in Butternut in 1905. That is about the time everyone was moved by H. A. Kelley.