Henry Carroll Kelso

GRAHAM, HAYS, HERREN, KELSO, RAMSEY

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/14/2004 at 22:07:06

Henry Carroll Kelso had but meager educational opportunities, as the early schools of this county were of necessity primitive and limited in curriculum. In 1869, in company with his father, brother and brother-in-law, he went to Buena Vista county and filed upon land, each getting eighty acres. In 1870 he removed to his claim and began its operation. In 1877 the father sold his land and removed to Mitchell, South Dakota. Our subject continued to reside in Buena Vista county and engaged in the implement business at Alta, that county. In 1895 he disposed of his interests there and was for some time engaged in the real-estate business in Brownsville, Tennessee. In February, 1896, he returned to Winterset and established his home here. For three years he was in the hardware and implement business as a clerk of J. F. Tate and subsequently was for two years a traveling salesman in Nebraska for the Deering Harvester Company. In 1902 he went to Mitchell, South Dakota, and entered the real-estate field there, in which connection he has since been successful. He buys, sells and trades land and has handled much valuable property in that locality. He sold forty-six quarter sections of land in Dakota to friends who never saw the land, which statement speaks for itself, and he still owns an interest in four hundred and eighty acres in South Dakota. He has business interests in Winterset and resides here.

On the 11th of November, 1875, Mr. Kelso was united in marriage with Miss Hattie W. Herren, a native of Vermont, and they have had two children: Gertrude C., the wife of J. A. Ramsey, an undertaker of Winterset; and Roscoe B., who died in Goldfield, Nevada, in 1906.

Mr. Kelso is a republican and for eleven years served as township trustee while living in Buena Vista county. He and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church of Winterset and are earnest supporters of the work of that organization. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is one of the best known men in Madison county and nothing but good is heard of him as a business man or as a citizen.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915"