Clinton Kelly (minister)
Encyclopedia
Reverend Clinton Kelly was an early pioneer
of what became the U.S. state
of Oregon
.
Kelly was born on June 15, 1808, in Pulaski County
, Kentucky
, the son of Samuel and Nancy Kelly.
In January, 1827, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church
and became a pastor.
Kelly joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
after its succession from the main church. After seeing what would come of slavery and the strife surrounding it, however, he and his family, along with his brothers Albert and Thomas, traveled to the Oregon Country
in 1847, arriving in late 1848 (by which time Oregon had become a U.S. territory
). They initially stayed in a cabin on James B. Stephens
' claim. They later settled in what is now Oregon City
, where Kelly purchased his land claim for $50. He died on June 19, 1875, at the age of 67.
The eldest of Clinton and Moriah's children was Sarah Margaret Kelly, who later became the wife of Captain John W. Kern. Among Moriah and Clinton's other children was their son Penumbra Kelly, who became a sheriff and later a U.S. Marshal
of the district and who also represented Multnomah County
in the Oregon State Legislature
for four terms. Another son, Dr. Richmond Kelly, was a well-known citizen of Portland, Oregon
, for whom the Richmond neighborhood
was named. Penumbra married Mary E. Marquam, daughter of Judge Philip A. Marquam, in 1875. Three of Clinton and Moriah's children died in childhood.
Kelly's family figures prominently in the history of the Mt. Tabor area of Portland. Kelly's son Plympton may have influenced the naming of Mt. Tabor after Mount Tabor
in Palestine
.
Kelly Butte was on a portion of Plympton Kelly's land claim
.
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
of what became the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Kelly was born on June 15, 1808, in Pulaski County
Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 63,063 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Somerset6. The county is named for Count Kazimierz Pułaski. Most of the county is a prohibition or dry county...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the son of Samuel and Nancy Kelly.
In January, 1827, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church, sometimes referred to as the M.E. Church, was a development of the first expression of Methodism in the United States. It officially began at the Baltimore Christmas Conference in 1784, with Francis Asbury and Thomas Coke as the first bishops. Through a series of...
and became a pastor.
Kelly joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Methodist Episcopal Church, South
The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, or Methodist Episcopal Church South, was the so-called "Southern Methodist Church" resulting from the split over the issue of slavery in the Methodist Episcopal Church which had been brewing over several years until it came out into the open at a conference...
after its succession from the main church. After seeing what would come of slavery and the strife surrounding it, however, he and his family, along with his brothers Albert and Thomas, traveled to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
in 1847, arriving in late 1848 (by which time Oregon had become a U.S. territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
). They initially stayed in a cabin on James B. Stephens
James B. Stephens
James B. Stephens was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon. A cooper by trade, he operated one of the first ferries across the Willamette River at what was East Portland, Oregon. His father was the first burial at Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery...
' claim. They later settled in what is now Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, where Kelly purchased his land claim for $50. He died on June 19, 1875, at the age of 67.
Family
In 1827, Kelly married Mary Baston, and together they had five boys: Plympton, Hampton, Archon, Calmet and Benjal. Mary died in 1837. A year later Kelly married Jane Burns. Clinton and Jane had one daughter, Mary Jane, and Jane died shortly afterwards. Kelly married his third wife, Moriah Maldon Crain, on March 11, 1840. Clinton and Moriah had nine children together. Moriah died in January 1864.The eldest of Clinton and Moriah's children was Sarah Margaret Kelly, who later became the wife of Captain John W. Kern. Among Moriah and Clinton's other children was their son Penumbra Kelly, who became a sheriff and later a U.S. Marshal
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
of the district and who also represented Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
in the Oregon State Legislature
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
for four terms. Another son, Dr. Richmond Kelly, was a well-known citizen of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, for whom the Richmond neighborhood
Richmond, Portland, Oregon
Richmond is a neighborhood in the Southeast section of Portland, Oregon. It borders Sunnyside on the north, Mt. Tabor and South Tabor on the east, Creston-Kenilworth on the south, and Hosford-Abernethy on the west....
was named. Penumbra married Mary E. Marquam, daughter of Judge Philip A. Marquam, in 1875. Three of Clinton and Moriah's children died in childhood.
Legacy
Clinton Street and Clinton Park in Portland are named after Kelly. Albert Kelly Park in Portland is named after Rev. Albert Kelly, Clinton Kelly's brother.Kelly's family figures prominently in the history of the Mt. Tabor area of Portland. Kelly's son Plympton may have influenced the naming of Mt. Tabor after Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor
-Places:*Mount Tabor, a hill in Israel near Nazareth believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration of ChristIn the United States:*Mount Tabor, Indiana, an unincorporated community...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
Kelly Butte was on a portion of Plympton Kelly's land claim
Donation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
.
External links
- Image of Clinton Kelly from History of the Pacific Northwest: Oregon and Washington
