J. R. KELSO, a well known citizen and enterprising agriculturist of Mt. Pleasant township, is a son of George M. Kelso, whose father was Mark Kelso. The Kelso family are of Irish descent, and Mark Kelso, after his marriage to Elizabeth Ewing, came to a farm in Allegheny county, Penn., where he remained for some time, and in 1818 bought an improved farm, which became his permanent home. His wife died many years before him, leaving the following children: Mary (Mrs. John Cowden), living in Mt. Pleasant township; Jane, married to George Robb; Esther, deceased in 1888; Elizabeth, deceased in 1884; George M., the father of our subject; John, married in Ohio, had one child, Americus, who died some years ago; James, Martha and Letta Ann (mentioned below). Of these children, James Kelso was first married to a Miss Elder, who bore him children as follows: William E., Mark, John, Elizabeth and Lucinda; the mother died, and for his second wife James was married to Jane Miller, and they had three children: Margaret, Alice and Miller; this wife also died, and Mr. Kelso then made a third choice in the person of Mrs. Catherine McMillan, who bore him two children, viz., James and Samuel George. The father of this family died in Allegheny county, two years after the decease of his last wife. Martha Kelso became the wife of Phineas Kelso, of Lawrence county, Ohio, and four children were born to them, as follows: Mark (who entered the service in Lawrence county, and was killed in battle), Elizabeth, Andrew and John. Letta Ann was married to John Gregg, of North Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn., the following children being born to their union: Elizabeth, Mark, Edward, Mary, Levi and Esther (twins), Clara, Emma and Ellsworth.
George M. Kelso, son of Mark and Elizabeth (Ewing) Kelso, was born April 6, 1806, in Allegheny county, Penn., in 1818 coming to Washington county with his parents. The family settled on a farm now owned by J. B. Kelso, where George M. grew to manhood. On March 28, 1838, the latter was married to Maria Rankin, who was born December 22, 1813, in Mt. Pleasant township. The young people settled on the home farm, where their lives were passed. George M. Kelso and his wife were formerly members of the Robinson's Run Union Church, afterward uniting with the United Presbyterian Church at Venice. He died March 27, 1879, his wife being laid to rest July 30, 1878. They were the parents of nine children: an unnamed infant (deceased); Mary Jane; Lizzie E. (wife of David R. P. Springer); Mark; Abigail Lavina (deceased); Abigail Lavina (living on the home farm); J. R., subject of this sketch; William James, and Maggie A. Of these children, Lizzie E. was married February 19, 1878, to David R. P. Springer, a native and resident of Robinson township, and to this union were born two children, one of whom, Charley Ross, is living (Mr. Springer died August 29, 1887); Mark Kelso was married, October 19,1871, to Elizabeth Cornelius Allison, a native of Allegheny county (they have had seven children, three of whom are living: George and Alexander (twins) and Mark; the father is a farmer of North Fayette township, Allegheny Co., Penn.); William James was married May 11, 1882, to Miss Ella Finley, of Pittsburgh, Penn. (they reside in Cecil township, this county, and have one daughter, Mary Elsie).
J. R. Kelso, son of George and Maria (Rankin) Kelso was born on the farm where he is now residing, receiving his literary education in the schools of Mt. Pleasant township. Mr. Kelso has always followed agricultural pursuits on the home farm of 189 acres, his sister keeping house for him. He devotes considerable attention to stock raising, and has been successful in all his business undertakings. He is a member of the U. P. Church at Venice, this county, and in politics votes the Republican ticket.
Text taken from page 575 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by George A. and Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]