Biographical Sketch of

Hon. Charles S. Kelsey

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 750 - 751 - 752 


Hon. Charles S. Kelsey is one of the early and well known residents of Montello, Marquette County, the date of 
his arrival in the city being 1854.  He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Perry, Genesee 
County (now Wyoming County), Oct. 7, 1822.  His father, Solomon Kelsey, was one of the early settlers in the 
famous Genesee Valley.  He was born in Massachusetts, of Scotch ancestry, but removed to Chenango County in 
his youth and there married Miss Virtue Record, a daughter of a Baptist Clergyman.  Some years after that 
important event and after the birth of Electa and William H., he removed to Genesee County, settling in Perry, 
where were born two sons and three daughters.  Of that number only three are now living, our subject and two 
sisters, the eldest of whom is Mrs. Electa Skidmore, who now lives with a daughter in Ithaca, N. Y.  The 
younger is Mrs. Ellen Parsons, wife of Galusha Parsons, a prominent lawyer of Des Moines, Iowa.  The deceased 
members of the family are William H.; Julia, wedded Daniel Rall, of Rochester, N. Y., and the entire family, 
with the exception of the youngest child, died of cholera in that city in 1852; Miranda, who died in Des Moines, 
Iowa, at the home of her sister; and Edwin B., the youngest son.
 
The Kelsey family was a well known and influential family of Western New York.  William H., the eldest brother 
of our subject, was a lawyer of eminence, who served as District Attorney and Surrogate of Livingston County, 
N. Y., for a considerable time, and was also a member of Congress from New York for four terms.  He died May 18, 
1879, leaving a wife and daughter.
 
Edwin B. grew to manhood in his native county, and received a good English education.  He learned the trade of 
a printer, and was afterward foreman in the Daily Advertiser office in Rochester, N. Y., for several years.  
Soon after attaining his majority, he came to Wisconsin, locating in Prairieville, where he studied law and was 
admitted to the bar.  On the 3d day of July, 1851, the village plat of Montello was surveyed by Henry Menton and 
the Hon. G. H. Benton, afterward Governor of Iowa, E. B. Kelsey and Henry S. Crandell were the proprietors.  Since 
that time Mr. Kelsey has been prominently identified with the interests of the village and the county.  He was a man 
of marked ability and was elected to the Legislature in 1851, serving two sessions.  In 1855, he was elected to the 
State Senate, and in both houses proved an able and faithful officer.  He died in Montello in February 1861, leaving 
a widow and three children.  The family afterward moved removed to California, in 1867, and still make their home in 
that State with the exception of the youngest daughter, who is now a resident of Buffalo, N. Y.
 
Miss Miranda Kelsey was a lady of superior intelligence.  She was principal of several academies in the State of New 
York, and for some time was also principal of the State Normal School, located in Geneseo, N. Y,, one of the most noted 
institutions of its class in the country.
 
Our subject, Charles S. Kelsey, like his two brothers, learned the trade of a printer in his youth and for some time 
was employed on the force of the Livingston Republican in Geneseo, and later worked at his trade in the city 
of Rochester.  However, abandoning that occupation, he was engaged in an iron foundry until his emigration to the 
West in September, 1854, when he settled in Montello and in company with his brother, E. B. Kelsey built the first 
flouring mill in the place.  They jointly operated the mill for fifteen years, being very successful in that undertaking.  
In company with Benjamin Hall, our subject organized the Wisconsin Industrial Association, and erected the woolen mills 
in Montello, and in other ways he has been prominently identified with the growth and upbuilding of the city.  His 
residence covers a period of thirty-six years, and from the beginning he has been numbered among the leading and 
representative men of the community.  He served for four years as State Senator, covering the trying years when the 
Civil War was in progress, and also was a member of the General Assembly in 1867, 1873 and 1880.  He was also Deputy 
Warden of the State Penitentiary at Waupun, from December, 1869, until October, 1871; was Commissioner of the first 
draft in 1862, and has held several minor offices.  In more recent years he has given his attention to the construction 
of artesian wells, with which Montello and the surrounding country now abounds.  He, however, filled the office of County 
Superintendent of schools of Marquette County, from January, 1887, to January, 1889.
 
Previous to his removal to the West, Mr. Kelsey was united in marriage in Perry, N. Y., in 1840, with Miss Lucretia Bacon, 
who died Jan. 4, 1869, having enjoyed twenty years of happy wedded life.  Her death occurred in Perry, whither she had 
gone for the benefit of her health.  They were parents of four children, three sons and a daughter; Winfield B., the 
eldest is a resident of Southern California.  Otto learned the trade of a printer as did his elder brother but, deciding 
to follow some other business, he went to Geneseo, N. Y., and studied law with his uncle, the Hon. William H. Kelsey, and 
is now an attorney of that city.  Julia, the only daughter, was a successful teacher for a number of years.  She was also 
Postmistress of Montello for some time, but resigned the position that she might accompany her father to California.  On 
their return she again became connected with the postoffice, where she is now employed.
 
Politically, Mr. Kelsey is a Republican, and has ever been a warm advocate of the principles of that party.  As a Legislator 
he was true to his convictions and labored for the best interests of the people in general; as a business man, he is fair 
and honest in all his dealings, possesses judicious management and excellent ability, and ranks high in business circles.  
He is esteemed by all as a worthy, upright and honorable citizen, and it affords us great pleasure to present to our readers 
of the ALBUM this brief sketch of his life.
 
 




Back to the Marquette Pages Menu