My Genealogy Hound

ANDREW KELSEY JR. is a descendant of one of the old settlers of Portland town, and the deed to the property he now owns shows no transfer on the recorder’s books since the original purchase. He is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (House) Kelsey and, was born in this town July 18, 1829. Grandfather James Kelsey lived in bonny Scotland, enjoying the quiet and uneventful life of his people, but when the English had need of soldiers they took him among others to assist in subduing the rebelling colonies. He stoutly asserted that he would not fight against the Americans, and at the first opportunity deserted the British forces and joined their opponents and fought through the war. At the close of the struggle he went to Massachusetts but died in Connecticut in 1822, aged about seventy-five years. He married Catharine Brown and had a family consisting of four children, one son and three daughters. Andrew Kelsey, Sr., was born in Tyringham, Massachusetts, August 17, 1789, and came to Chautauqua county in 1811, settled in the town of Portland and took up ninety-six acres of land. The heavy work of clearing was at once commenced, but the next year, when the demand was made for men to whip the British the second time, he fought as his father had fought in the first struggle and work was, for the time being, discontinued. At the close of the war he returned to the farm and conducted it until 1858, when he died. Mr. Kelsey was a man of the strictest integrity, a member of the Congregational church and an old-line whig. He was industrious, economical and frugal and lived a life commendable in every respect. He married Elizabeth House, a daughter of John House, who came from Rhode Island in 1816. She is an aunt to Cyrus House, whose biography appears under the head of Westfield town. She was born in Homer, Cortland county, New York and had the distinction of being the first female child to appear there. She died in 1864, aged seventy years. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey raised a family consisting of eight children, three sons and five daughters.

Andrew Kelsey, Jr., gained his practical education on the farm and his theoretical knowledge in the common school. Farming has been his life-long avocation and today he owns seventy-one acres of as fine land as may be found within three miles of Westfield. Grape-growing is his delight and he now cultivates a fine vineyard. Mr. Kelsey never married. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fills the office of trustee and class leader.

He belongs to the Grange Society and is a member of the Prohibition party, being entrenched in his convictions that they are right. He is a courteous gentleman, though he does not impose his ideas upon those who do not choose to hear them. At home he is pleasant and hospitable and has the regard and esteem of a large circle of friends.