Joshua Stephen "Josh" Ault was born in Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas. His wife Mary Magdalene Wilson was born in Nashville, Davidson Co., TN. in 1881. When they moved to Upshur Co, Texas they already had four children; Medomossille "Med" b-1899; Dollie Mildred b-1902; Ada Elizabeth b-1903 and James Jefferson b-1905. All were born in Garland Co.(formerly Montgomery Co), AR. After moving to Kelsey, Upshur County, Texas, they had 9 more children: Lola Marena b-1907; Ruby Pearl b-1910; John Joshua b-1912, Jessie Lorena "Duke" b-1915; Julius Stephen b-1917, Arthur Cecil b-1918; Bartholomew Alvis "B A" b-1921, Glenn Paton b-1923 and Joseph Robert "Joe Bob" b-1926.

The following info provided by Calvin Wade, grandson of Josh Ault.
In early 1909 Josh and his family moved to Blackfoot, Idaho. Later in 1909 the Joshua Ault family came by train to Rosewood (TX) from Idaho. Josh went to Kelsey, borrowed a team and wagon, and moved his family to a log cabin southwest of Kelsey on the Bouknight place. Soon Josh bought 2 1/2 acres in the center of Kelsey, near other Ault family members and moved his family there.

Josh and Caleb Ault, as partners, built a large general store in the center of Kelsey in 1910. They sold everything needed on the farm and in the home. The store was a gathering place for the people of the community, especially in the winter when the crops were in. Dominoes and checkers were played on the front porch. Farm hands came in, bought lunch, and visited.

When the Marshall and East Texas Railroad came through Kelsey just below the Ault store in 1910, the post office was put in the store. Caleb Ault was appointed postmaster on December 19, 1910, and served until Joshua S. Ault was appointed on February 18, 1914; he served until March 30, 1918, when the mail was sent to Gilmer.

The Lightcrust Doughboys' Band came to the Ault store. People came from miles around to see and hear them. They cooked biscuits for people right there in the store.

Credit was extended to farmers until their crops were harvested; then the people came in to pay their bills. The store was owned and operated for seventy-four years by the same family

The Caleb Ault family moved to Arizona about 1914; the John Wesley Ault family and the Oscar Ray family followed soon after, leaving only the Josh Ault family in Kelsey.

Josh Ault served as school trustee for several terms. Five of his sons served in the military in WWII. The government gave him a flag with 5 stars on it to represent his 5 sons serving in the war. He hung it proudly in his store window.

TX Death Certificate:
Name: Joshua Stephen Ault
Death Date: 31 Jul 1954
Death Place: Gilmer, Upshur, Texas
Gender: Male
Race: White
Death Age: 78 years 4 months 4 days
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 27 Mar 1876
Birthplace: Clark Co., Arkansas
Marital Status: Widowed
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: John W Ault
Father's Birthplace: Unknown
Mother's Name: Elizabeth Westbrook
Mother's Birthplace: Unknown
Occupation: Store Keeper-Mercantile
Place of Residence: Gilmer, Upshur, Texas
Cemetery: Kelsey
Burial Place: West Of Gilmer, Texas
Burial Date: 02 Aug 1954
Additional Relatives:
Film Number: 2114217
Digital Film Number: 4165492
Image Number: 1001
Reference Number: cn36706
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976