First Generation

1. 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.