Where DID the Irish workers go?

Clann Mhor has spent much time researching the location of the Irish workers and contractors of the Blue Ridge Railroad after the work here was completed.  We assume that many of them followed the railroad as it went west into Virginia and West Virginia.  We have finally located where John Kelly, the major contractor on the Blue Ridge Railroad, lived and was buried. 

Kelly is buried in the Old Catholic Cemetery in Sweet Springs, West Virginia.   He died July 4, 1887 and is buried along side his wife Honora (d. June 27, 1891), daughter Bonnie, and sons John P. and Jas. O’B.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer dated Dec. 16, 1862, John Kelly bought the Sweet Chalybeate Springs resort for $100,000 cash.  Kelly and his wife Honora lived in Alleghany County in the Boiling Springs area in 1870, and 1880 as listed in the census records..  In 1866, Kelly listed his income from the Red Sweet Springs (earlier name) where he was the proprietor. 

Clann Mhor is planning a trip to West Virginia to visit the resort area and locate the grave of John Kelly.