Search our Places Database

Kelly, Village of

Return To List of Locations | Back to Search

For more information on this location, please contact our research library.

Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 28 N. - R. 8 E., Sec. 15 &16, Township of Weston

Founded:
1850s

Background:

See Milo Kelly Biography

Beginning with Native Americans and continuing with fur traders, Kelly's history evolved into the location of Kelly's Mill, owned by Milo Kelly, on the Eau Claire River. Kelly later built a second dam and mill along the Eau Claire giving rise to the community crossroads.

First Public Official:
Milo Kelly

Biography:

Milo Kelly was the owner of Kelly's Mills in Section 15 of the township. He marked out the area for his mill in 1850. With his death in 1870, ownership of the mill passed to his sons Nathaniel and William.

Post Office Established:
November 26,1858

First Postmaster:
Milo Kelly

About The Post Office:

Originally called Weston, the name was changed to Kelly's Mills on January 29, 1864. Located in Section 15 of the township, the P.O. was discontinued on February 27, 1866. There was also a P.O. named Kelley, established on December 2, 1881 with Charles H. Kelly (relative ?) as postmaster and located slightly north of Kelly's Mills in the SW 1/4, Section 9. It was discontinued on September 30, 1902 with service from Wausau.

Railroad:

The C&NW RR built a spur from Schofield to Kelly in 1870 to serve the mill.

The original depot sign showed "Kellys"  that was derived from the three brothers who were prominent in the early settlement  of  Kelly.  In later years, the "s" was dropped and the singular form adopted.

Churches:

Fairly regular services were held for Presbyterians in the Lower Kelly school in Section 14 as early as 1882. John Ross donated an acre of land and $1000 to build a chapel that was completed and used after 1884.

Presbyterian church,a mission church of the First  Presbyterian Church of Wausau, built in 1895.

Schools:

See Weston Township

Business:

Kelly Saloon, which was owned by the Gusemans (also spelled Gusman) in 1911, was moved from Kelly to Callon, later to Ringle and finally back to Kelly.

Manser office and store

Smithy - the original smithy was built near the creamery by a Mr. Brown  

Industry:

Kelly's Mills record books go back to May 10, 1857. Upon Milo's death in 1870 and transfer to his sons Nathaniel and William, there was a later sale to B. E. Jones and then to his son-in-law John Manser. In 1901, Manser owned the mill on the site adjacent to the bridge on Ross Avenue crossing the Eau Claire River. The mill ceased to exist sometime after the flood of 1912 destroyed the dam on the site which is part of the River Pines sub-division in Weston.

Manser's Creamery

A creamery was built in 1910 by Joseph Minton and stood 150 feet south of the river.

Stories:

The sign on the train depot read "Kellys" (plural not possessive).  According to the Weston Centennial  booklet, the name came from the 3 brothers prominent in the early settlement of Kelly. In later years, the "S" was dropped and the singular adopted.