My Genealogy Hound

Col. J. M. Kelso is a well-known attorney of Magnolia, Ark., and his life, with the exception of the first nine years, has been passed in Columbia County, his acquaintance therefore being an extensive one. Although he was born in Mississippi in 1838, the principal part of his education was received in this State, and at the age of twenty years he entered the law office of Sumte & Askew, and after a searching examination was licensed to practice his calling by Judge Len B. Green, in 1859. In 1868 he was licensed by the superior court to practice his profession in any court of the State, and he immediately after opened a law office at Magnolia, where his practice began to steadily and substantially increase. He was married March 3, 1863, to Miss Mary L. Wyatt, of Magnolia, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Dr. Alfred and Mary (Johnson) Wyatt, both families being prominent in Kentucky politics before and after the war. Mrs. Kelso was their only child, and is the mother of the following children: Felix A. (who is a graduate of Georgetown College, D. C, is at present reading law in his father’s office), Jennie (who is a teacher in the city schools), Paul (who on January 29, 1890, entered the West Point Military Academy, passing his examination in September, 1889). Miss Jennie and Felix are members in good standing of the Catholic Church. Col. Kelso is a member of the. A. F. & A. M., Colombia Lodge No. 82, and also belongs to Magnolia Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and Columbia Lodge of the K. of P. At the close of the late war he found himself almost bankrupt, and, as in his youth, had to commence at the foot of the ladder. As he had a thorough knowledge of his profession, he considered this sufficient capital with which to again commence the battle of life, and he has fully realized his most sanguine expectations, for he is now a wealthy man, and has a large and lucrative practice. The first fee he received after the war that is worth mentioning was from Paris, France, from a French cotton speculator, by the name of Duboyas, which fee was $1,000 in gold. He began speculating in land soon after the war, and although he was not very successful in his operations, he is now the owner of between 5,000 and 6,000 acres, with about 500 acres under cultivation. He also owns some fine city property, and has a handsome and comfortable residence. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word, and possesses those attributes of which great men are made. He was known as one of the kindest of masters to his slaves, and a negro that belonged to his wife when he married her is still living with them. Prior to the war he was a strong Whig, politically, but at present he is a stanch Democrat. He has never asked for or received an office at the hands of the people, but is eminently fitted to discharge the duties of any office which it is in their power to give. His parents, E. G. and Susan M. (Fitzgerald) Kelso, were born in Kentucky and Virginia, respectively, and at a very early day removed to Mississippi, and there lived for a number of years. In 1847 he came to Arkansas, and in the spring of 1848 settled in Columbia County, where he engaged in farming, as he had previously done in Mississippi. At that time this county was very thinly settled, but after a time a flouring-mill was built on Clear Creek, twelve miles north of Magnolia, which mill had a capacity of twelve or fifteen bushels of grain per day. This was in 1848, and during 1849 and 1850 there were several other mills erected on the same creek. Mr. Kelso became a wealthy farmer, and was enabled to give his children fair advantages. Their names are: J. M. (the subject of this biography), Mary J. (now Mrs. McNeil), Susan (now Mrs. Dermyer, of Dallas, Tex.), Joe G., Lucy (now Mrs. Sandford O. Couch), and Margaret (now Mrs. Prator). Mr. Kelso died in 1883, at the age of seventy-two years, but is still survived by his widow, who is now seventy-five years of age. She is a remarkably well preserved woman, and does not look to be over fifty years of age. She did her own work until a few years past, and for some time has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking a prominent part in all worthy enterprises.