William and Eliza Kelley’s second child and first son, Russell Blair Kelley, was born on June 29, 1863. He was the first Kelley child born in their Albion Street home. Russell was said to be very intelligent. He attended Mendocino’s first public school and regularly made the honor roll. From a young age, however, he struggled with respiratory problems and a weak heart. At 13, during a particularly bad period of ill health, Eliza took him to “some of the southern counties” (presumably Southern California) for a rest cure in a warmer, dryer climate. He also made many trips to hot springs in Ukiah and Bartlett Springs in Lake County for rest cures.
In 1879 while traveling on horseback from the Ukiah springs to Mendocino, Russell fell off his horse and nearly drowned while crossing the Russian River. His foot luckily caught in the stirrup, and the horse dragged him ashore. Only a month later Russell fell from his horse yet again, but the conditions that caused the accident are unknown.
As a teen and young adult, Russell liked to attend parties and was well liked by the community. In February 1881, when Russell was 17, he attended a masquerade ball held by Alf Nelson Jr. Prizes were awarded to one man and one woman for the “best sustained characters,” but the Mendocino Beacon noted that if second place prizes were awarded, Russell would have been won for his “City Belle” character.
Later that year, Russell traveled to Europe, a rite of passage for affluent young men at the time. He spent time in Antwerp, Liverpool, Brussels, Paris and Cardiff. He returned to Mendocino in October 1882, 11 months after he departed.
Back in Mendocino, Russell stepped into the role of party-organizer. He served on several committees arranging community events, like the 1884 Fourth of July procession and an 1885 fundraising ball for the new schoolhouse.
Unfortunately, Russell’s health continued to decline. On October 9, 1886, the Mendocino Beacon reported that Russell was recovering from a severe illness. On November 7, he passed away in the early morning at the age of 23. His obituary stated that Russell was one of Mendocino’s brightest and most cultured young men, who was universally esteemed and dearly loved. His funeral took place two days later, with the service conducted by Reverend J.S. Ross. Russell was buried in the Kelley family plot at Hillcrest Cemetery in Mendocino.
Averee McNear is the curator at the Kelley House Museum in Mendocino, Calif.