Pvt., 94th Ohio Infantry
1839-1887
Isaac P. Kelly was born 22 May 1839 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. His father David Kelly was born in Virginia and his mother Mary B. Musgrove was born in Kentucky. Isaac had six brothers: Calvin, William, Charles, Anthony, David, and Albert. Isaac was a farm laborer.
Isaac served in the Ohio Volunteers, 94th Infantry, Company H. He saw action at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky. Due to extreme varicose veins, he was sent to the hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. He was unable to continue on the battle field and so was transferred to Company D Convalescent Barracks #1 in Louisville. He was discharged with a Surgeons Certificate of Disability 27 May 1865, with one half disability and health too poor for Reserve status.
Two of Isaac’s brothers also served in the Civil War. Anthony served in the Ohio Volunteers 34th Regiment, and Albert served in the Ohio Volunteers 184th Regiment.
During his time at the Louisville Hospital Isaac acted as a nurse for the surgeons. Here he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Vansant of Louisville. She was one of many hospital volunteers. Isaac and Mary Elizabeth married 23 July 1864 in Louisville, Kentucky. They had six children: Mariah, Benjamin, David, Jesse, Charles, and Cora. They lived for a while in Louisville, then moved to Xenia, Ohio, to be with Isaac’s family. Due to the fact that anti Southern sentiment was so vicious, Isaac and Mary Elizabeth moved their young family back to Louisville.
Isaac died at Anchorage Hospital, Kentucky, 29 June 1877, from paralysis and ulcerated varicose veins. He and other family members are buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky.
