Biographies

Michael Kelly, 1827 - 1879

Michael Kelly
Born Sept. 1827
Died July 28, 1875

Was one of the early residents of the humble village of Wea. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1827. After the death of his wife he came to Miami County, Kansas, in 1869, locating at Wea, Kansas. He was married to Mary Lannian, who was also from County Roscommon. They had four children, two of whom died when young. Bridget (Mrs. John Gritter), lives at Wea, Kansas. Mary (Mrs. Michael Flaherty), lives in Olathe, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Gritter have one daughter, Mary (Mrs. B. W. Seck) and one son, Albert Gritter. Both live near the present home. Mr. and Mrs. Flaherty have two daughters, Ida (Mrs. Clem Conboy), Kansas City, Mo., and Katherine (Mrs. Geo. Grass), of Olathe, Kansas. John Gritter was a carpenter by trade, and came to Wea in the seventies. He was married to Bridget Kelly in May, 1876. Mr. Gritter built many of the first good and substantial buildings in this community, and built the first Catholic Parsonage in Wea, which is now being used as a home for the Sisters who teach the Wea school. Mr. Gritter built the Altar, Communion Railing and Pews for the first church in Wea out of walnut trees, which they went to the timber for, and hewed out of the rough lumber. Mr. Gritter was one of the old class of workmen that labored under difficulties, but did fine work.

The History of Our Cradle Land, by Thomas H. Kinsella
PART VII, WEA, MIAMI COUNTY
THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROSARY
NOTES ON THE FIRST CATHOLIC SETTLERS OF THE WEA PARISH.
Transcribed by Sean Furniss