Samuel B. Kelsey, J. P. (--1909)

KELSEY, LEWTHWAITE, OXLEY

Posted By: Dennis and Gail Bell (email)
Date: 2/19/2006 at 15:24:24

KELSEY, SAMUEL B., J. P. (-1909)

THE MAXWELL TRIBUNE, Maxwell, Iowa, Thursday, April 23, 1909, “OBITUARY – Mrs. Mary K. Oxley handed us a copy of the Retford, Worksop, Isle of Axholme and Gainsburgh Neys and General Advertiser for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, England, containing the obituary of her cousin, Samuel B. Kelsey, J. P. – MR. SAMUEL KELSEY, J. P. How highly the late Mr. Samuel Kelsey was esteemed, not merely by residents of Gainsburgh and Morton, but by the people of the district generally, was amply demonstrated by the large attendance at the funeral which took place at Morton church on Friday. Despite the bitter cold weather the crowds of people who were unable to find accommodation in the church, waited patiently until the end of the service and then in serried lines surrounded the grave, and listened reverentially until the last lines of the solemn Office were spoken. The services which was conducted by the Vicar, Rev. G. W. Danks, assisted by the Rev. B. Davis, in the church, was choral. Psalm 90 was sung to a plaintive chant and the hymn, “O God our help in ages past,” followed. Mrs. Clay presided at the organ. The funeral cortege was headed by a contingent of local police, under the command of Superintendent Wilkinson. The wheeled bier – presented to the parish by the deceased gentleman – bearing the coffin, covered with magnificent floral tributes, followed, with a number of workmen who acted as bearers. The chief mourners were: Major T. Kelsey (son), Mrs. Lewthwaite (daughter), Mrs. Kelsey (daughter-in-law), and the Rev. G. Lewthwaite (son-in-law). Then came the brethren of the Kelsey lodge of Odd Fellows, of which Mr. Kesey was treasurer, wearing regalia, and nearly at full strength. The Linsey County Council were represented by Mr. J. D. Sandars, J. P., . L. and Alderman Chas. Thompson, J. P. Other local magistrates present were: Mr. Fletcher Mercer, J. P., Mr. J. Dixon, J. P., Mr. S. Hawksworth, J. P., Mr. S. Gray, J. P., Mr. W. H. Hanson, J. P., Mr. Chas Cooper, J. P., Mr. W. Drust, J. P., Mr. L. C. Iveson, Clerk of the Peace, was also present. The firm of Messrs. Marshall Sons & Co., of which Mr. Kelsey was one of the original directors, was represented by Mr. Herman D. Marshall and Mr. J. Hugh Marshall and the office staff by Mr. H. Lambo and Mr. Cook. Among the employees present of the firm of which the deceased gentleman was the head were…**.” **Editorial note – the remaining article lists those in attendance.

“PULPIT REFERENCE – The Vicar of Morton, preaching on Sunday morning from the text “Well done thou good and faithful servent,” alluded to the death of Mr. Kelsey, and said, all their thoughts were with a good and faithful servant who had passed away, to their great loss. He was a servant of God, a servant of the church, and a servant to the public. He never shirked a duty because it was disagreeable. Always to be depended upon, utterly reliable, with a king word and generous action for every one. Of him it might be truly said he wished no ill, he did no ill, he spoke no ill, and he thought no ill of any one. His service to the church was untimited as shown by his regular and constant worship, his alms and his work. He was church warden twenty-eight years ago when he (the Vicar) first came to Morton, and he was church warden again this year. For fifty years he was a member of the choir for many, choirmaster. His service to the public was unstinted on the bench, in the County Council, the Parish Council, a school manager, a trstee of charity. So was he in those and other ways a servant of the public. Great ws their loss but the could all unite in saying – “Well done tho good and faithful servant – enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”