Delbert Steele (Steele) Kelley (1895 - 1976)

As his second youngest grandchild I know little about my grandfather and do not guarantee the accuracy of what I write, the following stories. Delbert lost his parents at an early age. One story is his father was horribly abusive and the State removed the children from the home. Another story is his parents were killed in a train / buggy collision. I tend to believe the latter because my grandfather was never abusive and was a loving and caring man. Whatever the case, Delbert and his siblings went to an orphanage and from there were eventually separated as they were sent to foster homes. During the early 1900s foster children were obtained and used as indentured servants working for room and board to perform house chores or work as farm hands. Many foster children did not receive the standard education natural children were privileged too. Bounced around from home to home as a seasonal labor Delbert grew up street tough. After several seasonal ‘foster homes’ Delbert, in his mid teens was eventually adopted by a Kent County, Michigan attorney with the last name Kelley where he was afforded better conditions, education and opportunity. After leaving the Kelley family home he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was proud of a photograph showing him entrenched with his Machine Gun team. At this time the fully automatic machine was a recent invention, the design closely guarded and a real game changer in what was then modern warfare. Only the best men received machine gun assignments. I believe his enlistment occurred nearing the end of WWI. He completed his enlistment and was discharged. Sometime afterwards, he met his wife Suzy. He remained in Kent County working as a lineman for the local electric company. Following a winter storm he was out repairing downed lines. Working in the bitter cold he went to a nearby house and asked to be admitted to warm up. The woman of the house graciously invited him in to warm up while she put on coffee. During their visit and discussion Delbert and the kind woman came to the realization they were brother and sister! They re-establish a lifelong relationship, their two families often exchanging visits. After enough money was saved up, with motorcycle and side car Delbert, Suzy and their children departed Kent County driving eventually to Brown Township, Manistee County where he purchased a dairy farm. As a child in the late 1950s I do not remember any cows, he previously sold off the herd; however he did have large fruit orchards primarily comprised of sweet cherries and sour cherries, some apple and peach trees too. He maintained large vegetable gardens during the summer for canning winter food. He also had a large patch of strawberry and raspberries for cash crop and family preserves. He kept nearly 25 hives of honey bees, honey being another product from the farm. In the spring he tapped the Sugar Maple trees and made maple syrup. Using Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment he made hay and combined grain for himself and neighboring farms. As children we stayed summers at the farm. He allowed us to ride on the tractor while he worked the fields and orchards, taught us rudimentary skills and how to entertain ourselves on the farm and in the nearby woods. Del and Susy were loving grandparents and provided their grandchildren with many ‘story book’ quality memories. During 1966(?), with Suzy’s failing health, to satisfy her preference he decided to retire selling the farm. He purchased a modest retirement home in the Village of Onekama. Suzy passed away in the hospital during 1968 at the age of 73. Delbert passed away peacefully during sleep in 1976 at the age of 81. Grandpa is fondly remembered by myself and I'm sure by all of his grandchildren.

Delbert Steele was adopted by a Kelley in Kent County, Michigan. Grand Rapids area?