The Kelley Family

The Kelley Family. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. , This circa 1855 house was built by Lorenzo Dow "Whig" Kelley, a local carpenter and one of a family of wheelwrights and carriage builders. His widowed mother, Elizabeth "Widow Kelley" and his grandmother Priscilla (Baugh) Staples also lived here. The family patriarch, Neal Charles Kelley, died in 1855 shortly after completion of the house. The war changed the family forever., Leonard mustered into service in the summer of 1861, but died of typhoid fever in May 1862., Lorenzo joined in May 1862, and died in December at home while on medical furlough., Lawson also enlisted in May 1862. He survived the war and was present at the surrender., Lawrence was the last to join in August 1862, but deserted after four months. Later he became a Baptist preacher., Charles entered into service in the summer of 1861. On April 4, 1865, he left the Confederate Hospital in Farmville, Virginia. He may have made it home to his mother and two sisters to witness the April 12th surrender of arms ceremony in front of the house., The war's impact on the Kelley family is typical of many Virginia families during the Civil War., The interior of the house was originally finished with lath and plaster, but has been left unfinished to show rural building techniques of Southside Virginia., (Captions):, Charles, Priscilla, Lawrence, and Lorenzo Kelley, Lawrence Kelley , All photos courtesy of Patricia R. Kelley, Charles Kelley, Parole card and photo of Lawson Kelley