Sixth Generation

147. Herbert Clinton KELLS was born on 2 February 1862 in Hudson, Columbia Co., NY.⁶⁴ He died on 28 December 1904 at the age of 42 in 49 Marshall Street, Providence, RI.⁸⁶ 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).

Herbert Clinton KELLS and Lena M. HOWLAND were married on 3 June 1884 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.⁸⁷ Lena M. HOWLAND⁸⁸, daughter of George Lawrence HOWLAND and Josephine C. MONNIER, was born on 24 November 1865 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.⁸⁹ She died on 4 March 1888 at the age of 22 in Pittsfield, MA Mass VR 391:62.⁹⁰ 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.

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

Herbert Clinton KELLS and Fannie Lodema SMITH were married on 22 June 1898 in Albany, NY, or Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.⁹¹ Fannie Lodema SMITH, daughter of James N. SMITH and Elizabeth , was born in June 1879 in Cairo, Greene Co., NY.⁹² She died on 3 December 1966 at the age of 87 in Warwick, R.I.. She was buried in Kells Plot 31, Indian Ridge, PIttsfield, Berkshire Co., MA. They were married by George Eltite in Albany, NY.

In the 1900 Census, she is listed as living with Herbert and his children in Pittsfield. According to the Census, her parents were born in New York. In 1910 she was living at 82 Olney Street in Providence. In the 1920 Census, she was working as a housekeeper for (Sydney A.?) Wells on Elmwood Avenue, Providence, and his two daughters, Margaret E. Wells, 4, and Harriet H. Wells, 2. Eva P. Kells was also living with them. She was living at 850 Elmwood Avenue in Providence in 1923. She was known as Lodema Waite during my childhood and until she died. At some point she had married Minor S. Waite, and he died.

She lived at 120 Merle Street, Warwick, R.I., at time of death. She is buried in Kells plot, Indian Ridge #31, Pittsfield, MA, cemetery. She was the widow of Minor S. Waite

A Fannie Smith was b. 1873 in NY. Source: NY Genealogical and Biographical Record (1921). She would have been 16 when Lena died. Family tradition is that Fannie was hired to take care of Arthur and his twin brother when Lena died and later married Herbert.

By family tradition, Lodema was a full-blood Mohawk. I never talked with her about it. But she had the whitest skin of all my family.

Herbert Clinton KELLS and Fannie Lodema SMITH had the following children:

Herbert Clinton KELLS and Lucretia E. MICKEL were married on 11 March 1891 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.⁹⁶ Lucretia E. MICKEL, daughter of Simeon A. MICKLE and Deborah Marie R. RIDER, was born on 3 July 1863 in Lebanon or Rider's Mills, NY.⁹⁷ She died on 25 September 1897 at the age of 34 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., MA.⁹⁸ She was buried in Kells Plot 31, Indian Ridge, PIttsfield, Berkshire Co., MA. Her nickname was Lulu.

Her father was Simeon A. Mickel, born abt. 1842, and her mother was Maria Rider. Simeon's father was Philip A. Mickel, born abt. 1805, a farmer in Chatham, NY (land worth $6,000 in 1850 Census) and had children Mary b. 1831, William, b. 1834, Catharine, b. 1836, Philip, b. 1838, Isaac, b. 1840, Simeon, b. 1842, and Louisa, b. 1844. His grandfather was Simeon A Mickel and his great grandmother was Charity Rivenburgh (Reifenberg). Simeon had brothers Isaac A., Philip A., and William A. and a sister, Catherine who m. Redmond.

Herbert Clinton KELLS and Lucretia E. MICKEL had the following children: