Auther Edmon Kelley

Auther Kelley was an American soldier who sailed to the Philippines to be part of a war; but fell in love with the country and the people. He is the maternal grandfather of Fernando Poe Jr., Filipino screen legend and Presidential aspirant.

Auther was declared as having been born in 1888 in the 1910 US Federal Census. However, his US Army enlistment log in 1910 reflect that he was born in 1886 -- this is consistent in all later records. His brother Luther, who was reflected as an older sibling in the 1910 Census was born in June 1886. So it is possible that Auther made himself appear older as a young adult and never corrected this later in life.

Auther mustered out from military service on 09 February 1913 at Camp Keithley*** in Marawi City in Mindanao, Philippines. He worked as a fireman at the Manila Rizal Fire Department until 1918, when he enlisted again for another tour of duty in the Army. He had blue eyes and auburn hair.

(*** This Army post was named after Private Guy Fernando Keithley, another soldier from Missouri, who served in the 28th United States Infantry Regiment. He died in a clash with local Moro tribesmen on 14 November 1903.)

References:

• A. E. Kelley and Marta Gatbonton. FamilySearch.org-Philippines, Manila Civil Registration. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-12229-94895-47. Date accessed: 9 June 2015.
• Kelley, Auther. Ancestry.com - Reports of Death of American Citizens Abroad. http://ancstry.me/YLgGti. Date accessed: 09 Feb 2013. This record outlines names of family member co-habiting with him in his home in the UP Diliman area -- sibling, children, grandchildren
• Kelley, Auther. Ancestry.com - US Army Register of Enlistment. http://ancstry.me/YLhXAo. Date accessed: 09 Feb 2013.
• Kelley. Authur. Ancestry.com - US WWI Draft Registration Cards. http://ancstry.me/WUVmCw. Date accessed: 09 February 2013.
• Sales, Todd. "Tracing FPJ's American Ancestry Through Online Sources". Date published: 03 February 2013. Date accessed: 17 February 2013.

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