In 1860s and ’70s, Idahoans knew where to turn for entertainment: musician John Kelly

“Grand Concert,” announced the Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman on Oct. 4, 1864. “Mr. John Kelly, the world renowned vocalist, violinist and delineator of characters has arrived in town, and will give one of his extraordinary entertainments this Tuesday evening at the Overland Hotel. Mr. Kelly is acknowledged by the first musical critics to be one of the most natural violinists in the United States.”

Two days later, the newspaper reported: “Kelly’s Concert. The concert on last Tuesday evening, at the Overland Hotel, was largely attended. The hall, early in the evening, was filled to overflowing by both ladies and gentlemen, and was the most fashionable entertainment ever given in this city. Mr. Kelly is so well-known it is unnecessary to call the attention of the public to him, but the performance of the Indian child Willie under Mr. K’s tuition is truly wonderful, and is supposed to be the greatest contortionist of his age living. The child Willie was captured from the Snake Indians by Jeff Standerfer during his expedition through the Snake country in ’63. He was found nursing on the breast of his dead mother, and brought by Mr. Standerfer to Placerville, where he was given to Mr. Kelly.”

The Idaho World reported on Feb. 11, 1865: “On Sunday evening Mr. John Kelly will receive a complimentary benefit at the Forrest Theater. At the writing of this notice, his friends are getting up a bill designed to furnish every attendant with his money’s worth of amusement. Mr. Kelly is one of the pioneer dramatists of this Territory, and has done much to furnish the public with the means of whiling away the tedious hours, and is deserving of a full house. The bill will include a very inviting list of songs and ballads.”

The Idaho Tri-weekly Statesman noted in August 1865, “John Kelly, the musician and vocalist, with his wonderful Indian, arrived in this city yesterday, and will give one of his grand parlor entertainments this evening.” A week later. Silver City’s Owyhee Avalanche reported, “Mr. John Kelly, the natural vocalist and violinist, and his pupil, the Indian prodigy, have arrived in Ruby City, and will give one of their entertainments at the Magnolia this evening.”

We learned from the Statesman that September that Kelly had to keep moving in order to make a living, when the newspaper called him “the great violinist of the Pacific Coast” and noted that the people of Boise City were preparing a farewell benefit for him in Sanderson’s Hall. A list of more than 50 prominent sponsors was published in the paper.

The Idaho World wrote in July 1866: “John Kelly, with his violin and Indian boy have amused the people of Centerville, Hog’em and Placerville nearly as long has he intends to. He is off for Salt Lake in a few days. As a violinist, Kelly is unrivaled. When he reaches Salt Lake the Mormons will hear some music.”

In September 1879, the Idaho World published a letter from Lewiston noting that “John Kelly the pioneer violinist, well known by old timers of the Pacific Coast, is holding forth at Olympia.” He was accompanied by his second wife, a talented musician.

We have been unable to find any further information about Willie, Kelly’s “wonderful Indian boy.” We hope he lived long and prospered.