This file part of www.dodgejeffgen.com website

Holsten – Kelly

1869

Article cites 1860 founding of Emanuel Lutheran Church of Farmington (Jefferson Cty)

and area residents Anna Margareta Holsten and Peter Edward Kelly.

RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES

'Anna Margareta Holsten was born June 16, 1848, to Anna Cordes Holsten and her husband, William Holsten, who was one of the founding members of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Farmington, Wis., in 1860.

'Anna grew to young womanhood, but there was some doubt if she would ever marry. Often her family taunted her about being 'an old maid.' However, at the old age of 21, Anna decided to marry Peter Edward Kelly of Watertown. This brought indignation from Anna's parents because Peter was not only a Catholic, but he also was Irish and owned a tavern. Rumor said that on an appointed day, Anna's father drove Anna in his wagon until they met the conveyance of Mr. Kelly. Anna stepped down from her father's vehicle and onto that of Mr. Kelly's and on Oct. 14, 1869; they were married in the Catholic Church at Jefferson, Wis. On her marriage application Anna listed no parents. This unpleasant situation too many years to ameliorate.'

(Peter had been clerk of the town of Watertown in 1965-1866, Justice of the Peace in 1869 and became County Clerk of Jefferson County from 1871 -1874).

The above information originally was published in a family history book titled 'Anna Margareta' which was compiled by Hallie Harte Pease Harrison, Genevieve Kelly Cass and Jane Elizabeth Kelly.

Full text of WDTimes article, 01 05 2013