William Marsh Kelsey
William Marsh Kelsey, farmer, P.O. Centerville. William Marsh Kelsey, son of Jesse and Hettie (Marsh) Kelsey, was born January 5, 1814, in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. His father being a farmer the son was also trained to it from early boyhood. Hid education was received in the pioneer log schoolhouse, to which place he was guided through the dense forests by the blazed trees (a blazed tree is one from which the bark is chipped off of on opposite sides.) David Watkins was the name of his first teacher. The branches then taught were reading, writing, arithmetic and geography. A scholar’s copy-book was made by sewing a few sheets of plain fools-cap paper together, and the copies set by the teachers. The scholar was expected to provide himself or herself with a lead pencil and ruler for lining the copy-book, and manufacture his own ink. Gold and steel pens were not then in use, but the scholars provided themselves with goose-quills, out of which the teacher manufactured his pens. Mr. Kelsey received his last schooling the year he attained his majority. Being the eldest son it fell to his lotto assist his father in clearing up his land ready for farming. He remembers his first plowing was done with the wooden mold-board plow and followed up for a series of years. The wearing apparel in his boyish days was principally of home manufacture, flax-linen for summer and linsey for winter wear. At that time it frequently fell to his lot to assist in pulling and dressing the flax, shearing of the sheep, in fact almost everything appertaining to a farmer’s life, which he has followed or has carried on to this time. (He is now the owner of three farms in this township). Milling he did then on horseback, going as far as the Little Miami River. Frequently he would go with his father to Cincinnati markets, trading their produce for all kinds of groceries and other articles needed for family use. Wheat was then cut entirely with the sickel; after a while came the grain cradle; which was looked upon as a great improvement over the sickle, being more expeditious; next came the McCormick Reaper, when it was thought all the improvements had come for the cutting of grain, but since that Mr. Kelsey has seen many very decided improvements in the machines, and now sees the self-binder. He also remember when thrashed grain was cleaned with a sheet being operated by a man at each end and jerking vigorously, created the wind which cleaned their grain, poured out by the third man from a measure or scoop shovel. The first horse-power thrashing machine was a stationary one, operated by four horses only doing the thrashing, the cleaning done afterward at the wind-mill. His parent were both members of the regular Baptist Church, and attended at the pioneer log meeting-house; one-half mile north of Centerville. There he has heard John Mason and other pioneer preachers. Phebe Carver, born January 30, 1832, married to William Marsh Kelsey, December 14, 1852. From this union there were three children, the two eldest living--Mary Elizabeth, born September 29, 1853, married to Perry Hatfield, February 3, 1876, Annie Kelsey, born January 12, 1857, married March 12, 1876, to B. F. Vaughn; Mable Lucasta Kelsey, born February 6, 1863, died September 11, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are both members of the Regular Baptist Church, of Centerville.
The following is a memorial sketch of Mrs. Phebe Kelsey, read at her funeral February 22, 1882:
Mrs. Phebe Kelsey was born January 30, 1832, and died of consumption January 31, 1882, at 6:15 A. M., aged fifty years. She was married to William M. Kelsey, December 14, 1852. To this union was given three daughters the youngest of whom (Mabel Lucasta) preceded the mother to the eternal world September 11, 1880. Mother Kelsey united with the Primitive Baptist Church, at Centerville, Ohio, about 1855. She was baptized and received into said church by Elder Samuel Williams. Her last sickness was attended with much severe pain and prolonged suffering; but she was resigned to the will of God, and her condition, and hence, bore her sufferings with Christian fortitude. During the last few days of her sickness, she experienced the fact that she was being "made perfect through suffering." Yet while she was being thus tried in the furnace of the Lord, she did not cease to pray, but repeatedly asked the Lord to give her dying grace. When she first began to enter the valley of the shadow of death, about nine days before she passed over the Jordan of death, she told the writer that it looked dark, that her pathway was not all light. But he directed her to some of the promises of God’s word, and told her to lean on Christ, and light would be given her for each step. The former proved to her a rod, and the latter a staff, for soon after the valley was lighted up, and she could sing with us,
Oh, how happy are they, etc.;
and we knelt by her bedside, in the dark morning hour, and prayed with her. But for nine long days she continued to travel through the valley, in the midst of severe sufferings, yet supported by the strong arm of her Savior. She had a longing desire to depart and be at rest, and many times did she repeat the invitation of Jesus Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.: Often was she heard to say let me go; let me go. She has at last entered into that rest that remaineth for the people of God. Doubtless she will be missed by the church to which she belonged; missed by her pastor; missed by the large circle of friends and acquaintances, who had often shared of her hospitalities in her home, and received her charities; but missed most of all, by her husband, her remaining children and her aged mother, but we hope to all meet again bye and bye.
Funeral services at the O. S. Baptist Church, Centerville, Ohio. Sermon preached by the pastor, Elder John M. Thompson. Text, 2 Cor., v. 4.
From History of Montgomery County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1882