An American Journey

See history through the eyes of the Shearers and the Kelly's from when they first arrived in the United States, their migration to California in 1849, the construction of the Port Townsend Southern Railroad to financial disaster, followed by fresh start in Mexico building the Mexican Central R.R. only to escape with their lives as Pancho Villa's army closes in on them. They returned to the United States in time for the flu epidemic at Camp Cody N.M. and to be called up for service in the Great War. Starting all over again in California to be put center stage with Harry Bridges in the 1934 dock strike suffering another financial disaster they went into mining that was shut down as WWII erupted.

Without stories our ancestors are just faceless names on tombstones in empty fields. The story of the Shearers and the Kelly's illustrate the fiber of the people that built our nation at a time when people couldn't turn to the government for assistance. People had to live by their wits. This collection of first hand stories handed down over several generations allows us to see history through the eyes of a family. Samuel Kelly started collecting family interviews in the early 1970's his son David continued with more interviews and research. Together they traveled the U.S. and Mexico retracing history. There is much to learn for the generations of our elders. If we fail to record their experience then their lessons are sealed in their grave with them and we'll be cursed to painfully relearn them.

SSam Kelly was born in Long Beach California they year of the great earth quake. He witnessed the Long Beach Dock strike as a child as his father lead the strike breakers. At the outbreak of WWII his father left for Panama leaving his mother to raise three kids on her own. Sam served with he 73rd Tank Battalion in Korea attended Cal Poly San Louis Obispo after the war and career in oceanography. In the 1970s he started documenting family history.