March 27, 2022Chevy Chase, Maryland Byrd Farmer Kelly, questionable fiancé of Emmett Wilson and oldest daughter of Matthew Whitfield Kelly and Mary Jane (Also known as Maidie Jane) Farmer Kelly, was born July 18, 1887 in Columbus, Georgia. She lived in the family home at Talbotton Avenue, in the Rose […]
September 29, 20155 pmPensacola, Florida What: Emmett Wilson and Byrd Kelly’s engagement announcement. Where: Walter Kehoe’s annual summer vacation gathering at St. Andrews, Florida; August 1-14, 1911. Why/how: In June, 1911 Emmett was named (not elected) State’s Attorney for his brother Cephas Wilson’s unfinished term as State Attorney. This was […]
September 29, 20151:25 pmPensacola, Florida After spending several productive hours with the awesome Santa Rosa Court archivists, Nancy and I went to Denny’s for brunch to review where we were so far with Emmett’s discovery. There’s nothing like a plate load pancakes and pots of coffee to refuel and relax. […]
September 28, 20153:45 pmPensacola, Florida Nancy and I made plans to hit the Santa Rosa County archive in Milton the next day; because we were archived out after eight hours with the Escambia County folks, we decided to visit historic St. Michael’s Cemetery. Several of Emmett’s good friends were buried […]
September 28, 20151:30 pmPensacola, Florida It was pouring rain in Old Town Pensacola; coming down in what people describe as sheets — you could see what looked like panels of water blowing sideways across the streets, the wind was gusting hard. But Nancy was steadfast and unflappable as she navigated […]
September 10, 2015Chevy Chase, Maryland As of today, I booked my second research trip to Pensacola. It’s time: I’m at the point in his story that I have to know what kind of lawyer he was, and how his political background was developing. What papers I can see online are […]
October 21, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland Because we have very little primary information (letters, journals, scrapbooks, personal testimony) from Emmett, the next best thing is primary information from Emmett’s friends, family, and colleagues, in addition to the secondary information (newspaper articles, books, other research). Emmett spent a lot of time with […]
October 19, 2019Chevy Chase, Maryland The remainder of 1909 was rather busy for Emmett — he divided his time traveling for the L&N case for most of the year, between Pensacola, and Louisville — he spent Thanksgiving in Louisville — only to return home to head to Tallahassee for U.S. […]
October 29, 1909Pensacola, Florida Railroad commissioners named me special examiner to review the passenger rate increase of the L&N Railroad in August, in addition to my work as the Assistant District Attorney, and the cases at my uncle’s law firm (yes, I am a partner — but I am constantly […]
October 4, 2021Chevy Chase, Maryland March, 1908 was a prime social month for Emmett: He was selected to be a Gentleman in Waiting for the Pensacola Mardi Gras court, featuring Miss Stella Clare Avery as Queen of the Mardi Gras. This was a huge accomplishment for Emmett. It meant he […]
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