Fanny Kelly facts for kids

Fanny Kelly (1845–1904) was a brave pioneer woman in North America. She was captured by the Sioux people and was held for five months. After she was freed, she wrote a book about her experiences in 1871. It was called Narrative of My Captivity among the Sioux Indians.

Early Life and Journey West

Fanny Wiggins was born in Orillia, which is now part of Ontario, Canada, in 1845. When she was 11, her family moved to a new town called Geneva in Kansas. Sadly, her father died during the journey, so her mother and the family settled in Geneva on their own.

In 1863, Fanny married Josiah S. Kelly. He was a farmer and a soldier who had left the army. Josiah was about 15 years older than Fanny. He hoped that moving to a new place would help his health. So, on May 17, 1864, Fanny, Josiah, and Fanny's seven-year-old niece, Mary Hurley, began a journey west. They were heading to what is now Idaho or Montana.

Other people joined their group along the way. These included two servants, Franklin and Andy, and a neighbor named Gardner Wakefield. A clergyman, Mr. Sharp, also joined them. Later, William and Sarah Larimer and their eight-year-old son Frank left a larger wagon train to travel with the Kellys. Noah Daniel Taylor also joined, driving the Larimers' wagon.

Captured by the Sioux

On July 12, 1864, Fanny's group was traveling on the Oregon Trail in Wyoming. They met a large group of about 250 Miniconjou and Hunkpapa warriors. Fanny said they looked ready for war. Their leader was Ottawa, an Oglala chief.

Fanny wrote that her group tried to make peace with the warriors. However, one Sioux story says that the warriors had heard about the "Holy Road" (the Oregon Trail). They met some white people, ate, and smoked with them. Then, a Sioux messenger arrived, saying that U.S. soldiers had killed some of their relatives. This made the Sioux very angry.

The Sioux then attacked the travelers. Mr. Sharp, Noah Taylor, and Franklin were killed right away. Gardner Wakefield was badly hurt. Josiah Kelly, William Larimer, and Andy managed to escape. Fanny, Sarah Larimer, and the two children were taken captive. The Sioux then took everything from the five wagons.

Josiah Kelly and Andy eventually found safety with a large wagon train. They later found William Larimer, who had an arrow wound, and Gardner Wakefield, who was still alive but badly injured. After a few days, they reached Deer Creek Station, where there was an army camp.

Attempts to Escape

The very night they were captured, Fanny tried to help Mary Hurley escape in the dark. Mary slipped away, but Fanny was caught and beaten when she tried to follow. Mary's body was found a few days later and buried by her uncle. Sarah Larimer and her son Frank did manage to escape the next night. They were later reunited with William Larimer at Deer Creek Station. The Larimer family then returned to Kansas.

Fanny's Story of Her Time as a Captive

Fanny faced many dangers during her captivity. Once, an old chief almost killed her for losing his pipe. She calmed him down by giving him some banknotes, explaining how valuable they were. Another time, she accidentally caused trouble by accepting a gift of stockings. This made the chief angry, and he killed one of his brother-in-law's horses. The brother-in-law tried to shoot Fanny with an arrow, but a young Blackfeet named Jumping Bear stopped him. The chief then gave his brother-in-law another horse to make peace.

The Sioux group arrived at their home village. But then, a Union Army force led by General Alfred Sully attacked them. Fanny was quickly moved away with the other women and children. After several days, Sully's men stopped chasing them. When the Sioux returned home, they were so angry about their losses that they threatened to burn Fanny. At a meeting to decide her fate, Chief Ottawa spoke up for her, and she was saved. She became Ottawa's "exclusive property." She described him as being "over seventy-five years of age, and partially blind."

One day, a Sioux man named Porcupine came to the camp. He had a letter from Captain Marshall of the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry. The letter talked about the efforts to rescue Fanny. Porcupine had been offered a reward to help free her, but he chose not to.

On September 5, a large group of Sioux attacked part of a wagon train led by Captain James L. Fisk. The attack was stopped, but 12 white settlers and 6 Sioux died. The Sioux made Fanny exchange letters with Captain Fisk. They hoped to trick him into lowering his guard. But since the Sioux could not read English, Fanny was able to warn Captain Fisk of their plans. Fisk tried to pay for her release, but he was not successful. He promised to spread the news about her situation.

Chief Ottawa went on a journey, and Fanny was sent to live with an elderly couple in another village. There, she met Chief "Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses." She later learned that her husband had given this chief two expensive outfits as ransom for her release. But the chief had told Mr. Kelly that he could not find Fanny.

General Sully had been sent to stop Indian attacks on settlers. The Sihasapa people became tired of fighting and offered peace. Captain Fisk had told Sully about Fanny's situation. So, Sully insisted that Fanny be freed as part of the peace agreement. The Sihasapa said she was being held by the Oglala, not them.

In November, Sihasapa warriors, including a leader named Kill Eagle, went to the Oglala camp to get Fanny released. The Oglala did not want to give her up. The Sihasapa then took Fanny away without the Oglala's permission. When the Oglala chased them, the two groups talked. They finally agreed that the Sihasapa could keep Fanny.

Fanny was taken to a Sihasapa village. She found out that other groups had been trying to buy her because they knew a reward was offered. White traders in four wagons came to buy her release at one point, but all but one were killed. Fanny began to worry that the Sihasapa planned to attack Fort Sully and not give her up after all.

One day, Jumping Bear, who had protected her when she was first captured, visited her. He reminded her that he had saved her life. Fanny asked him to take a letter from her to General Sully. He agreed, though he was reluctant. In the letter, she warned of a planned attack using her return as a trick to get into the fort. Fanny never saw Jumping Bear again, but the letter he delivered led to her freedom.

A large group of Sihasapa warriors took her to Fort Sully, a journey of about 200 miles. On December 9, a small group of chiefs escorted her into the fort. The gates were closed behind them, stopping the attack Fanny believed was planned. Fanny was free after five months of being held captive. Two months later, her husband joined her at Fort Sully. He confirmed to her that their daughter, Mary, had died.

Another Version of Her Story

Some books tell a slightly different story. They say Fanny did not live with the old chief Ottawa. Instead, she was sold to a Hunkpapa Sioux man named Brings Plenty to be his wife. He was very pleased with her calm nature. It was very difficult for her to be taken away from him, even by Sitting Bull. In this version, Fanny was safely returned to Fort Sully under Sitting Bull's protection.

Later Life

After her release, Fanny and her husband returned to Geneva. They later moved to Shawneetown, then to Ellsworth, Kansas. There, an illness called cholera spread, and Josiah Kelly died on July 28, 1867. Their child was born after Josiah's death.

Fanny was convinced to live with the Larimers, who had settled in Wyoming. While there, she claimed her book manuscript was stolen. Sarah Larimer published a book about her own short captivity in 1870, called The Capture and Escape; or, Life among the Sioux. Fanny had to go to court to deal with the issue of her stolen manuscript.