Ninth Generation

2017. Lena M. HOWLAND¹⁹⁵ was born on 24 November 1865 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.¹⁹⁶ She died on 4 March 1888 at the age of 22 in Pittsfield, MA Mass VR 391:62.¹⁹⁷ She was buried in Kells Plot 31, Indian Ridge, PIttsfield, Berkshire Co., MA. Lena Howland, 14, born in MA, listed as daughter of George L. Howland, 46, born in MA in 1880 Census. They are the only two listed in the household, implying that George's wife, Josephine Monnier, had died befoe 1880.

She is listed as having died of plupureal miasma (?). Genealogist at NEHGS thought she may have committed suicide (postpartem depression).

By family tradition, Arthur was a twin, but there's no indication of twins being born.

Lena M. HOWLAND and Herbert Clinton KELLS were married on 3 June 1884 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.¹⁹⁸ Herbert Clinton KELLS, son of Robert KELLS and Esther Wright LISK, was born on 2 February 1862 in Hudson, Columbia Co., NY.¹⁸⁹ He died on 28 December 1904 at the age of 42 in 49 Marshall Street, Providence, RI.¹⁹⁹ He was buried on 31 December 1904 in Kells Plot 31, Indian Ridge, PIttsfield, Berkshire Co., MA. Birthdate is February 4th, figured from age at date of death.

Herbert C. Kells, 22, born in Hudson, NY, a printer, is listed in the 1890 Voter Registration for Pittsfield living at 6 First St. on May 1 and at 2 Robbins Ave. on voter registration day. There is also a William S. Kells (his brother), 21, born in Hudson, NY, a clerk, listed as living at 13 Francis St. on May 1, and at 9 Bank Row on registration day. He was living at 21 Park Street when he married Lodema Smith.

He moved to Pittsfield in 1875, apparently with his father, brother, and sister.

The 1880 Census lists Herbert Kells, 18, a printer, living alone in Pittsfield, born in New York, as were both parents, as of 30 June 1880 (National Archives Film T9-0521. page 357A). Herbert C. Kells, 18, a compositor in a newspaper office, is also listed as a boarder at 143 Union Street, Springfield, MA, on 5 June 1880 (page no. 17 or 159). October 1888, Herbert C., 22, born in Hudson, NY, was living at 6 First Street with his father Robert. He is listed as a book and job lot printer at 15 1/2 North, residing at 2 South Robbins, in the 1887 City Directory for Pittsfield, rooming at 8 West in 1888 and 1889. In 1901, he is a printer with business located at 57 North, home at 21 Park, and leader of the Pittsfield City Band. In 1903 he is listed as removed to Providence, RI. The City Tax Roles in 1897 has him paying taxes of $28.20 for real estate at 21 Park and $8.90 for personal property. He owned the same property in 1899 and 1900, but was also administrator of Lucretia E. Kells' estate comprised of vacant lots at 20 and 43 Lake View Terrace and a lot at 21 Lake View Terrace he or they jointly owned. In the 1900 Census, the family was living at 21 Park Street, Pittsfield. Cornelia Smith, mother-in-law (possibly mother of Fanny Lodema Smith, although her mother was named Elizabeth and born in May 1845), born Sept. 1844, was living with them. Herbert was a printer at that time. The 1901 Pittsfield City Directory lists him as a printer at 57 North and leader, Pittsfield City Band, residing at 21 Park.

Herbert started his musical career on the violin. He joined Mallory's Band, playing the Tenor and later the Baritone until the organization disbanded. Then he joined St. Joseph's band, starting on 2nd Cornet and ending on solo cornet. He played solo cornet in the Germania Band and was its leader until going to Boston to study under E.M. Bagley, solo cornetist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He then returned to Pittsfield to lead the American Band of Pittsfield for a year, then returned to Boston for another year of study. He was leader of the Pittsfield City Band, the Lenox Band, and the Stockbridge Band. He played Cornet in the Stockbridge Silver Cornet Band and tenor and baritone in Malory's band. Berkshire HIlls magazine mentions him in an article in 1901 (March 1, 1901) and in 1902, pp. 86-87, including a picture.

Herbert Kells mentioned in Berkshire Genealogist Quarterly, Vol. 11, #4, p. 108. (1890 Voter Registration).

Printers and Printing in Providence, 1762-1907, Providence Typographical Union #33, 1907: "Herbert Clinton Kells - Died Providence, December 28, 1904, 42 years, 10 months, 24 days; he was born in Hudson, NY, but removed to Pittsfield, MA, in1875 where he began to study music and learning printing; he played in all the bands of note in and about Pittsfield; he removed to this city in 1902 and was admitted his card to Providence Union September 28, 1902; subsequently withdrew and became a member of the Pressman's Union. He was also a member of the Musicians Union and of the Royal Aneanum. He was buried in Pittsfield."

He died of pneumonia, according to his death certificate. H. Clinton Crocker, MD, of 194 Smith Street (Providence) signed the certificate. Undertaker was H. B. Knowles & Sons, 99 North Main St. (Providence).

There is mentioned a Maria Kells as an unidentified Williamstown wife in Berkshire Genealogical Notes, Vol. 61, page 5 (Shepard).

Lena M. HOWLAND and Herbert Clinton KELLS had the following children:

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Arthur Robert KELLS was born on 28 February 1888 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA. Resided: 71 Hawthorne Ave., Cranston, R.I. between 1920 and 1947 . Employed: Philips Memorial Baptist Church, janitor between 1938 and 1945 . Employed: Cranston School Dept., bus driver between 1940 and 1947 . He died on 4 May 1947 at the age of 59 in Cranston, Providence Co., RI. He was buried on 7 May 1947 in Indian Ridge, Lot 31, Book C, Page 539, Pittsfield Cemetary. Employed: Providence Journal/Bulletin, proofreader in 1947 . Employed: Providence Tribute, proofreader . He lived in Providence before moving to Cranston. In 1910 he was boarding at 102 Prairie Avenue in Providence His obituary said that he moved to Rhode Island as a child. He was educated in Providence schools. His father was living with him when his father died in 1904.

He and Amy were married by Edward L. Ninde, Pastor of Mathewson Street Methodist Episcopal Church, 154 Narragansett Avenue, Providence. He and Amy initially lived at 155 Wellington Avenue in Auburn in 1911. His brothers, Harold and Paul, lived in Toledo, Ohio. He had a favorite cousin, William, according to my mother.

When Dolores was born, they were living at 136 Garden Street, Auburn, R.I. They next moved to 768 Park Avenue in Auburn, where they were living in 1913. They celebrated her third birthday at 481 Pontiac Avenue, also in or near the Auburn part of Cranston, R.I.

At the time of the World War I draft registration, he was living at 481 Pontiac Avenue, working as a printer with the Standard Printing Co., 54 Pine Street, Providence, and was of medium height, stout build, blue eyes, black hair. At some point between then and 1923, he went to work as a compositor for the Providence Journal and was still there in 1932.

In the 1920 Census, the family was living together in Cranston along with Amy's mother, Maria. He bought a home at 71 Hawthorne Avenue in the Eden Park section of Cranston. Hawthorne Avenue was called Chestnut avenue until 1928.

He was a printer/proofreader by profession and worked for one of the Providence papers until the paper folded during the Great Depression (1932?).

He played the cornet. His father also played the cornet and was a bandmaster. He told me he used to play on the excursion boats that sailed between Providence and Sakonnet Point.

In the 1930 Census, the family is listed at 71 Hawthorne Avenue, Cranston. Arthur was a compositor with the Journal newspaper. Dolores was a typist.

He was a member of Phillips Memorial Baptist Church in Cranston. During World War II, he worked as a janitor for the Phillips Memorial Church and also as a school bus driver for the Cranston School Department. Amy used to deliver telegrams during World War II (they had a phone, and many people then didn't). When he registered for the World War II draft in 1942, he was 54 years old, lived at 71 Hawthorne Avenue, Cranston, and was working for the Cranston School Department as a bus driver.

He was a compositor with the Providence Journal at the time of death in 1947. His father was in the same profession.

I (Brad Leonard) used to call him "Daddy Art." I like him very much. He used to tell me stories and go for walks with me. A favorite walk was around Blackamore Pond in Cranston. He was very handy with tools and taught me woodworking.

He died of a coronary thrombosis, according to his death certificate. He went upstairs to take a nap and never woke up. He had been bothered by phlebitus prior to his death.