The Harvey Alexander Kelley Family of Tennessee

This page is dedicated to the mysterious Harvey Alexander Kelley who dropped in on this earth in 1870 from parts unknown. He first appeared in the 1870 Cumberland Co., Tennessee census as a 34 yeard old farmer married to Louisa J. Bouknight of Lexington Co., S.C.. Various census information place his birth around 1836 in Georgia; his father supposedly from N.C. and his mother from S.C. Prior to his arrival in Cumberland Co. he supposedly lived in both Georgia and South Carolina. His son John Alexander claims S.C. as his birthplace in 1858. His Daughter Mary Doretta claims both South Carolina and Georgia as her birthplace in 1863. Son Walter David claims his birthplace as Georgia in 1865. Sons James A. , born in 1869 and Reuben, born in 1875 claim Cumberland Co., Tn. as their birthplace. In addition, there may have been an addition child who died as an infant. Harvey and Louisa's marriage supposedly dates to 1856.

Who is this man ? Various family tales have Kelley as an alias for Dorsey. Other tales tell of a Civil War deserter, a man who murdered a sheriff, tales of hiding in a cave as the family watched the homestead burn, stories of hiding in a hay wagon as the family sneaks out of town, a gold shippment robber, a Civil War payroll robbery and many more.

My Family History

• Surname List


• Index of Individuals


• InterneTree

Family Photos

• John L. Kelley (146 KB)
  Grandpa John
• Harvey, Louisa and family (126 KB)
  This is the only known photo of Harvey Kelley. Also pictured are Louisa, John A. , Mary , infant Reuben, and Walter and James with faces obliterated.
• Ruben Kelley Family (333 KB)
  Ruben Kelley second from right. Harvey Kelley on left. Circa 1913
• Mildred Sherlin (92 KB)
  Grandma Mildred at age 15
• Louisa Bouknight Kelley circa 1900 (47 KB)
  Louisa Bouknight Kelley in Texas circa 1900
• James Albert Kelley family (299 KB)
  James A. Kelley seated on right
• Mildred Sherlin Kelley and Cecil Harvey Kelley (140 KB)
  Grandma and Unc in Spring City
• Frank Derrick (89 KB)
  Frank Derrick
• Mary Kelley Derrick and Family (1092 KB)
  Mary Kelley Derrick and Family
• Roane County Ramblers (79 KB)
  Grandpa John L. on mandolin
• John A. Kelley 1938 (167 KB)
  John A. Kelley at Piney Creek around 1938
• Rob Roy Kelley (59 KB)
  Rob Roy Kelley and unknown friend in World War 1
• Ben F. Sherlin (149 KB)
  Ben F. Sherlin around 1875
• Sam T. Kelley and John L. Kelley (64 KB)
  Sam and John in Toledo, Ohio
• Bertie and Nora Kelley (86 KB)
  Bertie and Nora Kelley
• Louisa Bouknight Kelley (156 KB)
  Louisa age 95
• Cecil Harvey Kelley (48 KB)
  " Unc " at his best
• Kelley Family circa 1935 (204 KB)
  May be all of the Kelley children of Harvey and Louisa
• Frank, Clifford and Parker Kelley (127 KB)
  Somewhere in a coal mining town in Alabama
• Alex Roscoe Mize (62 KB)
  Alex Roscoe Mize
• James H. and Bonnie M. Kelley (181 KB)
  Mom and Dad around 1945
• Pearl Henderson Mize (65 KB)
  Pearl Henderson Mize

Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees

• Genealogy Report: Descendants of Harvey Alexander Kelley