Biographies
from
The History of Otsego County, New York
1740-1878
D. Hamilton Hurd
Published by Everts & Fariss, Philadelphia
KELSEY, ROSWELL - BURLINGTON
Roswell KELSEY, of Burlington, son of Solomon and Anna
Kelsey, was born in Edmeston, Otsego Co., N.Y., July 13, 1797.
Solomon was a native of Washington Co., N.Y., and was born
Sept. 10, 1767, and married Anna BROWN, a native of the same
county, by whom twelve children were borne; two only are now
living, but all lived to be men and women. Solomon was married
before 1789, and removed to this county about that time, and
settled in Edmeston, where he continued to reside until his death,
which occurred in June, 1815, and his wife died some three weeks
afterwards.
He was a farmer by occupation, and reared his children in
industry and economy. Roswell was thus reared, and in 1820 he
and his brother Silas purchased the old home, and continued to
reside there till about 1840, when he sold out his interest to his
brother, and removed on the farm in Burlington, where he has
continued to live ever since. He now owns some 200 acres of good
land near West Burlington.
He married Miss Rhoda DYE, a native of Madison Co., N.Y.,
May 27, 1820. By this union nine children have been born, namely:
Sarah, Solomon, Rachel, Daniel, Jerusha, Mary, William, Celia and
Martha. Jerusha, Celia, and Martha are dead.
Mrs. Roswell Kelsey was connected with the Friends, and after
more than fifty years of married life she was the first of this family
to pass away. She died May 29, 1871, and was buried in Burlington.
Mr. Kelsey has always been either a Whig or Republican in
politics. Mr. Kelsey has always been a farmer, and to-day, while
he is an old gentleman of more than eighty-one years, he has the
satisfaction of knowing that he has done some good in his day and
generation. His daughter, Mrs. Sarah LINES, is living with him,
and has the care of him in his old age.
Sarah married Julius LINES, a native of Susquehanna Co., Pa.,
Nov. 17, 1840, by whom one daughter, Laura, was borne. Mr.
Lines died Feb. 4, 1874, and Mrs. Lines came to live with her father
the next May.--
Excerpt from History of Otsego Co., NY, opposite page 108