Portland, Oregon: Its History and Builders/Volume 2/Penumbra Kelly
PENUMBRA KELLY.
Penumbra Kelly, who for almost thirty years has been a prominent figure in politics in Portland and in Multnomah county, is well known throughout the entire state and also in southwestern Washington. He has been connected with the sheriff's office in Portland for twenty years and his faithful discharge of his duties has constituted an important service in behalf of law and order here.
His birth occurred in Marion county, Kentucky, March 29, 1845, his parents being the Rev. Clinton and Moriah (Maldon) Kelly. His father was an itinerant minister of the Methodist church, who belonged to the Kentucky conference for thirteen years. In 1848, however, he started with his family on the long journey across the plains to Oregon, proceeding- by the slow, difficult and tedious stages of wagon travel and arriving at his destination in the late autumn. They spent the winter at Oregon City, but in the spring of 1849 removed to the donation claim which the Rev. Clinton Kelly had taken up, and which is located in what is now East Portland. The father developed and improved the farm and continued to make it his home until his death, giving his attention largely to general agricultural pursuits. He never associated himself with the Oregon conference, but his interest in church work never abated and he continued as a local preacher until almost the time of his demise. He was one of the sturdy pioneers of early Portland, being numbered among the few who crossed the plains prior to 1850, arriving here at a time when it was thought that Oregon City would be the metropolis of the state, the site of Portland being marked by only a few log cabins that bordered the Willamette and were mostly occupied by traders. Even Front street at that time had not become a business center and the most farsighted did not dream that there would spring up on the site a city that would extend westward until it compassed the hills of Willamette and Portland Heights and eastward until it covered a great area upon the other bank of the river. The donation claim, which the father secured and upon which he lived for years, was at that time situated several miles from the village of Portland, although it is now included within the corporation limits of the greater city.
Penumbra Kelly was reared in the pioneer home of the family upon a farm which required in its development much arduous and unremitting labor. He experienced many of the hardships which devolved upon the boys and young men of his day, assisting his father and the other members of the family to clear away the timber, prepare the land for cultivation and then plow and plant the fields and harvest the crops. His educational opportunities were limited to attendance for only a few short months at the district schools, which were held in the winter seasons. After permanently putting aside his text-books he continued to make farming his occupation and was identified with general agricultural pursuits until 18S4, when he received appointment from President Chester A. Arthur to the position of United States marshal for the district of Oregon. For three years and five months he capably filled that important office, during which time he traveled largely over the state, and it is doubtful if there is a man living today in Oregon who has a more intimate acquaintance with the Slate and with its people than Penumbra Kelly. His capable service as United States marshal commended him for election to the office of sherif of Multnomah county in 1888. He was twice reelected, serving for three consecutive terms, covering the period from 1888 until 1894. Since his retirement he has served almost continuously as deputy sheriff, so that his connection with the sheriff's office covers more than twenty years. He has long been recognized as a leading and influential member of the republican party in Multnomah county, makes friends easily and even his political enemies admire him for his qualities as a man and his fearless defense of his honest convictions.
Mr. Kelly was united in marriage, on September 30, 1873, to Miss Mary Emma Marquam, the eldest child of Hon. Philip A. Marquam, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. They have three children, Mary Agnes, Samuel Ralph and Sarah Maldon. The last named is the wife of Nicholas Cogley, and they have one child, Nicholas Penumbra Cogley.
Mr. Kelly is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His activity in political circles, his wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the state and the fact that he is numbered among the earliest of the Oregon pioneers all entitle him to representation in this volume.