Served in Company A, 29th Virginia Infantry, enlisted on July 10, 1861 in Russell Co., VA as a First Lieutenant, present through April 1862, discharged and paid off May 16, 1862.
    Michael Kelly, the earliest known ancestor of Joseph Kelly, served in Dunmore’s War from Botetourt Co., VA under the command of Capt. Matthew Arbuckle.  Little is known of this early Michael Kelly.
    His son, Edward Kelly, served in the Revolutionary War as a private serving under Captain Thomas Young in the Western Battalion commanded by Col. Joseph Crockett in the Virginia State Service. He also served under Captain Edwin Hull in the 15th Virginia Regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Innes. Edward Kelly is said to have preached a sermon for General George Washington at Valley Forge.
    Edward Kelly, born ca 1752 in Virginia, died August 17, 1834 in Russell Co., VA, married April 9, 1774 in Shenandoah Co., VA to Bridget “Biddy” Nugent, b. ca 1752 in Ireland, died in Russell Co., VA. Both are buried in the old Kelly Cemetery in Reed Valley, Russell Co., VA. Biddy Nugent Kelly was kidnapped on her way to school in Ireland by unscrupulous persons and placed on board a ship bound for America. Then, upon reaching America, the young girl was forced to become a bound servant to pay her passage to America. Presumably, Biddy never saw her parents or homeland again. The schoolbooks carried by Biddy the day she was kidnapped were at the home of her granddaughter, Matilda Kelly Johnson when Matilda died. 
    Edward Kelly was the minister of the Reed’s Valley Baptist Church. He was licensed to perform matrimony at the June Court of Russell Co., VA in 1798. Edward Kelly was moderator of the Washington Baptist Association (Regular Baptist)in 1815, 1816, 1818, and a delegate from Reed’s Valley Church 1814 to 1822, 1826 and 1827. 
    Edward and Biddy Nugent Kelly’s son, Peter Kelly was born ca 1792 in Russell Co., VA, married Susannah Banner, born ca 1792, daughter of John and Catherine Bare Banner. Both are buried in the old Kelly Cemetery, Reed’s Valley, Russell Co., VA.  Little is known about Peter, except that he served during the war of 1812, along with his brothers: Michael, John, Joseph and William, in the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Regiment of Virginia, under Captain Thomas Dollarhide, KY Mounted Volunteers.
Peter and Susannah Banner Kelly were the parents of Joseph Kelly, born 17 Jan 1823 in Russell Co., VA, died 23 Nov 1890 in Dickenson Co., VA, married Elizabeth Counts, born 22 Jan 1819 in Russell Co., VA, died 24 Dec 1890 in Dickenson Co., VA. Both are buried in the Kelly Cemetery, Dickenson Co., VA.
    Joseph and Elizabeth Counts Kelly lived at Carterton, Dickenson Co., VA, before moving in 1866 to a farm near Wakenva purchased from her brother, William. Both were members of the Baptist Church. He served as Clerk of the Washington District Primitive Baptist Association, 1858-1860; as a justice of the peace, Russell Co., VA 1854-1855; as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1855-1857; as a justice of the peace for Buchanan Co., VA; led in the formation of Dickenson Co., VA in 1880 and served as a justice of the peace, 1882-1886. He taught a number of old-time subscription schools in Clinch Valley and in Sandy Basin. 
    Their children were: Margaret Kelly, born April 18, 1850, died December 13, 1933, married Noah K. “Dock” Rasnick; Eliza Ann Kelly, born September 2, 1851 and died August 12, 1931, married Reuben Wise Owens; Jefferson J. Kelly, born January 26, 1854; Melvina Eva “Sis” Kelly, born February 15, 1856, married John Deaton Ervin; Floyd Pierce Kelly, born April 22, 1858 married Martha Ellen Phillips and Charles Hopkins Kelly, born April 22, 1858.