Note: Daisy Kelly MacCallum changed the spelling of the name, adding the “e,” sometime after her return to Mendocino in the mid 1900s.
Elizabeth Lee Owen Kelly
Eliza Lee Owen was born in Cardigan on Prince Edward Island in Canada. Eliza spent her childhood and adolescence in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island until she married William Henry Kelly in June of 1855. Eliza made the long journey to from Prince Edward Island to Mendocino with her new husband that same year.
Eliza Owen Kelly arrived in Mendocino on August 29, 1855. She spent the rest of her life in Mendocino, raising 4 children and becoming a prominent member of the community. Eliza was especially generous to the Mendocino Baptist Church that was built by her husband William. Eliza died September 25, 1914. Eliza was one of the first settlers of Mendocino and as such, her obituary appeared on the front page of the Mendocino Beacon.
William Henry Kelly
William Henry Kelly was born on Prince Edward Island in Canada on November 2, 1821. William was one of eight children born to Peter and Elizabeth Kelly. Although not much is known about his life on Prince Edward Island, it has been established that William and his brother James left Prince Edward Island in 1850 and set out for California in search of gold.
The two brothers stopped in Panama and set up a store on the Chagres River. Unfortunately, James Kelly died in Panama of cholera. After his brother’s death, William continued on to California where he found work as a ship builder in Benicia. Soon after in 1852, William signed on to the ship Ontario as a carpenter and set sail for the Mendocino Coast.
William Kelly arrived in Mendocino on July 19, 1852 and began working for the California Lumber Manufacturing Company. Working his way up in rank, William grew wealthy and his business endeavors prospered. In 1855 William returned to Prince Edward Island and married Eliza Lee Owen. With her, William had 4 children: Daisy, Elise, Otis, and Russell. William continued to live and work in Mendocino, acquiring land and businesses. William died December 5, 1895.
Emma Shirley “Daisy” Kelly
Daisy was the oldest child of Kelly family. She was born August 2, 1859 in what is now known as the Heeser House. Daisy spent most of her adolescent life traveling, socializing, visiting her relatives in San Francisco, and attending a school for girls in Benicia, California. At the age of 20 she married Alexander MacCallum, who was 27. At that time Alexander was the bookkeeper for the businesses of Daisy’s father, William Kelly. Daisy had two children with Alexander: Jean and Donald.
While married to Alexander, Daisy lived in many places, including San Francisco. Daisy did witness the great 1906 earthquake that damaged much of San Francisco; she even helped in the city’s many recovery efforts. The most important of her residences was her house here in Mendocino: The MacCallum House.
After the death of her husband, Daisy moved back to Mendocino where she became a prominent member of the community. Around this time, Daisy became a foster mother to her niece Gwen MacCallum. Daisy was known for her interests in the local Pomo indigenous populations, flowers (especially roses), books and her generous nature. Daisy lived out the rest of her life in the MacCallum House in Mendocino. She died August 13, 1953 at the age of 94.
Russell Blair Kelly
Russell was the second child of the Kelly family. He was born June 19, 1863. Russell was known to have generally poor health. Despite this, Russell traveled when his health allowed. The Mendocino Beacon even reported Russell as having almost completed building a boat called the Nancy Lee in 1881. On July 11, 1885 Russell (along with Ella Lansing) led the grand march at the School Ball.
Due to his health, Russell lived his entire life in Mendocino with his parents. Russell Blair Kelly died November 7, 1887 at the age of 24. Although Russell succumbed to his poor health, the few facts that we know about his life tell us that he was a classic wealthy young man.
Elise Abigail Kelly
Elise was the third child of the Kelly family. She was born February 26, 1866. Like her sister, Elise also attended the school for girls in Benicia and spent a lot of time in San Francisco with her Aunt Abigail Blair, enjoying high society life. She also traveled a great deal, much like all of the Kelly children (except Otis). Elise married Louis Philippe Drexler on January 4, 1893 at the age of 27. Louis was a 55 year old millionaire from Virginia, operating in San Francisco. Elise moved away from her native Mendocino to live in San Francisco with her new husband. When Louis died in 1899, Elise continued to live in their San Francisco home until it was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
After the death of her husband, Elise used the inheritance left by Louis’ estate to rent a home and travel. She also used this inheritance to contribute to various charitable causes. Elise was especially generous to a convalescent hospital and school for disabled children that existed in the Bay Area.
Elise soon settled down and began to live in a home she built in Woodside, California. After living in Woodside for a couple of years, Elise moved into a home she built in Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco. She lived in her Pacific Heights home until her death. Elise died on November 10, 1951 at the age of 85.
Otis William Kelly
Otis was the last of the Kelly children. He was born July 21, 1869 in Mendocino. Few facts are known about Otis Kelly; however, what is known can paint a rough picture of the youngest Kelly child. At one point in time, Otis attended Laurel Hall College of San Mateo. In September of 1894, Otis accepted a position with an electric light company in San Francisco. Although there is very little mentioned about jobs he had, Otis could have easily made a living later in his life from the properties left to him by his father.
Otis married Miss Annie McGuire on May 29, 1897. With her, Otis had 8 children: Lloyd “Otis” Drexler, Richard Leigh, Carroll Vincent, James Emmet, Mervyn Francis, Katherine Rose, Gordon Philip, and Margaret Elise. Otis and Annie raised their children in San Francisco. Otis continued to life there until his death on December 26, 1937 at the age of 68. This photo depicts Otis in his older years. There is only one photo of Otis as an infant, and none of him during his childhood.