Memorials › Capt Christian Magruder Kelley

Capt Christian Magruder Kelley

6 Feb 1861 – 14 Dec 1935

Birth6 Feb 1861
Death14 Dec 1935
CemeteryCedar Bayou United Methodist Church Cemetery
Baytown , Harris County , Texas , USA
Added byAl Howell on 01 Nov 2022
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74621409

Bio

Son of William H Kelley and Ellenor "Ellen" Rhea ∼ OBITUARY - Sunday, 15 Dec 1935 Captain C. M. Kelley, Who Sailed on Bayou 60 Years, Dies at Cedar Bayou Home CEDAR BAYOU - (UP) Capt. Christian Magruder Kelley, 74, lifelong resident of Cedar Bayou, who sailed boats between Galveston, Anahuac and Cedar Bayou for 60 years, died at his home at Cedar Bayou at 7 a.m. Saturday of heart disease. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Tri-Cities Funeral Home. Burial will be made at Cedar Bayou. Captain Kelley's father, Capt. William Kelley, was a native of Ireland and traveled widely as captain of a schooner many years ago, finally settling at Cedar Bayou. Captain Kelley began working on boats as a rook when only 11 years old and continued working on the water all his life. At the time of his death Captain Kelley was custodian of the bascule bridge across Cedar Bayou linking west Chambers County and East Harris County. He had had charge of the bridge since it was opened in 1931 for the first direct highway connection into West Chambers County. When Cedar Bayou was a brick-making center Captain Kelley sailed regular boat schedules between Anahuac, Galveston and Cedar Bayou hauling bricks to those points and bringing back merchandise of all kinds. He was most noted for the speed records he set between those points while captain and owner of the three-masted schooner, the P. J. Willis, which he sailed on Galveston and Trinity bays for more than 25 years. His brother, Capt. George Kelley is now a pilot on the Houston Ship Channel. Captain Kelley helped build a brick tow path along both sides of Cedar Bayou stream, used as a roadway for mules when they pulled the sailboats up and down the bayou when there was no wind to propel them. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Bessie Kelley, Cedar Bayou; four sons, Eddie, Lewis and Morris Kelley, all of Cedar Bayou and Jack Kelley of Goose Creek; four daughters, Mrs. Olef George of Galveston, Mrs. Jimmie Harbour of Sour Lake, Mrs. J. H. Collins of Houston and Mrs. H. E. Roe, Anahuac; one brother, Capt. George Kelley, Houston; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Busch, Cedar Bayou and Mrs. Mandy Morgan, Cedar Bayou; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ∼ OBITUARY - Sunday, 15 Dec 1935 COUNTY FERRY EMPLOYEE DIES Capt. C. M. Kelley Was Tugmaster Until His Retirement Capt. C. M. Kelley, 74, retired tugmaster and employee in the county ferry department for the past four years, died at his home at Cedar Bayou at 7:15 a.m. Saturday Captain Kelley was a native of Cedar Bayou and had made his home there all his life. He went to sea at the age of 16 and later captained several tugs in the gulf coast region. He retired a few years ago and entered the employ of Harris County when additional ferries were put into operation on Cedar Bayou four years ago. Captain Kelley is survived by his wife; four daughters, Mrs. Olaf George of Galveston, Mrs. Jimmie Harbour of Sour Lake, Mrs. J. H. Collins of Houston and Mrs. H. E. Reo of Anahuac; four sons, Eddie, Louis and Morris Kelley of Cedar Bayou and Jack Kelley of Goose Creek; one brother, Captain George Kelley of Galveston; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Busch and Mrs. Mandie Morgan of Cedar Bayou; eight grandchildren and one great-greatchild. Funeral services will be held in the drawing room of the Tri-Cities Funeral Home at 3 p.m. Sunday, Rev. S. P. Wright, pastor of the Cedar Bayou Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Bayou Methodist Cemetery under direction of the Tri-Cities Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be John M. Kilgore, Chris Casey, George Ellender, Chester Reid, Rhea Kelley and W. T. Busch. Honorary: Dr. W. N. Brooks, Dr. M. S. Alexander, Dr. C. H. Langford, Dr. John C. Schilling, Dr. Paul Ledbetter, A. T. Seammen, John Wright, W. O. Ilfrey, John Ilfrey, H. W. Kilpatrick, George Franklin Archie Mulkey, A. J. Busch, Henry Busch and William Smith.

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