DEATH COMES TO C.B. KELSEY
GRAND RAPIDS FINANCIER DIES AT HOME AFTER ILLNESS OF SEVERAL WEEKS.
HE ROSE FROM FARM BOY
WAS ORGANIZER OF BANKS AND PROMINENT IN PUBLIC UTILITY FIELD.
Charles Bert Kelsey, ex-farm boy who worked his way to national prominence in the banking and public utility industries, died Tuesday afternoon at his home, 538 Madison-av., S.E., where he had been confined for several weeks. Death was due to apoplexy, Mr. Kelsey having had two strokes.
Mr. Kelsey was president of C.B. Kelsey Co., investment bankers, with offices in the Grand Rapids Trust building at the time of his death. Since Jan. 1, 1935, Mr. Kelsey had not been active in the business.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home, 538 Madison-av., S.E. The services will be conducted by Rev. Lewis B. Whittemore of Grace Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kelsey was a member. Mr. Kelsey's last resting place will be Graceland mausoleum.
Active bearers will be Leon W. Harrington, Earl W. Moore, Fred H. Meyer, James C. Everett, N. Rugee White and Neal VanOstenburg.
Honorary bearers will be Henry Idema, Clay Hollister, John W. Blodgett, Joseph H. Brewer, A.P. Johnson, W.B. Jarvis, A. Linn Murray of Auburn, Ind., Nathaniel Robbins of Grand Haven, Carroll E. Gray of New York city, Charles H. Bender, Frank M. Sparks, Frank Row, L.A. Cornelius, Judge Leonard D. Verdier, Eugene Richards, John G. Emery, Robert W. Irwin and Ralph Widdicomb.
Although born and reared on a farm, Mr. Kelsey developed a liking for figures and finance and largely through his own efforts worked his way from a farm boy to positions of prominence in the banking and utility fields. He began his financial career as errand boy and bookkeeper and improved his position by studying nights and Sundays.
BORN NEAR CASCADE.
Mr. Kelsey became the first bookkeeper of the Old Kent Savings Bank when it opened for business on Dec. 24, 1884. He promoted the organization of the Peoples Savings bank in 1890 and became its first cashier. He organized the Commercial Savings bank in 1903 and was its first president. He organized the American Public Utilities Co. in 1912 and was its first president.
Retiring from the utility field at the close of the World war, Mr. Kelsey's thoughts again turned to his first love, banking, and he organized the Home State bank in February, 1922, and became its president. Retiring from the banking business, he formed the investment house now bearing his name.
Born on a farm near Cascade on March 27, 1863, Mr. Kelsey never lost interest in agriculture. He prided himself on being a farmer, owning and operating a large farm near Jenison in Ottawa county. While his major interests since early manhood had been in finance and public utilities, Mr. Kelsey always showed a preference for disscusions of farm problems, nature subjects and golf. He gave a number of interviews in recent years on the farm problem.
OVERCAME OBSTACLES.
The financier gained considerable attention early in 1930 when he proposed a buy-a-bushel-of-wheat campaign as a practical method of breaking the backbone of the depression. He reasoned that national prosperity was linked with the price of wheat. He believed national prosperity would be quickly restored with the return of dollar wheat to the farmer. Mr. Kelsey was unsuccessful in interesting the federal farm board in his proposal and the scheme never was tested, but in recent years he had occasion to comment upon improvements in economic conditions which followed the rise in wheat prices.
Mr. Kelsey's career was considered remarkable by his friends who knew that he left the farm with only a country school education and overcame one obstacle after another. After serving a time as clerk in the Three Oaks postoffice at a salary of $5 per week, he taught rural schools in Berrien county for two years before removing to town in search of greater opportunities. He clerked in the Grand Rapids & Indiana freight depot for two years before he found an opening as a bookkeeper in the Old Kent Savings bank. He ran errands and swept out the bank while learning to keep the bank's books. He was advanced to teller as the bank grew and by 1890 he became sufficiently schooled in finance to promote the organization of the old Peoples Savings bank, serving as its cashier for 12 years.
PROMINENT IN UTILITY FIELD.
The Commercial Savings bank, organized in 1903, was his second promotion in the banking field.
Mr. Kelsey became interested in public utilities while in the employ of the Peoples Savings bank. Forming a partnership with Clarence H. Geist of Philadelphia, he acquired the Albion (Mich.) Gas Light Co., the Valparaiso (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the Wyoming Valley Gas & Electric Co., and the Dauphin County Gas & Electric Co., serving the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pa., the Northern Alabama Gas Co. at Muscle Shoals, the Michigan City (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the South Bend (Ind.) Gas Co., the East Chicago & Indiana Harbor Water Co. in Northern Indiana, the Lansing (Mich.) Gas Co., and other properties.
Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Geist finally split up these utility properties, and, Feb. 1, 1909, Joseph H. Brewer and Mr. Kelsey combined their operations as Kelsey, Brewer & Co., putting together utilities in Albion, Valparasio, Holland, Elkhart, Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and LaCross, Wis., Red Wing and Winona, Minn. They built a power dam on the Chippewa river in Wisconsin and constructed a power line to St. Paul, Minn.
HEAD BIG HOLDING FIRM.
These properties in June, 1912, were merged under the control of the American Public Utilities Co., which had an authorized capitalization of $40,000,000 common and $40,000,000 preferred stock. Mr. Kelsey was president of this large holding corporation until 1916, when he sold his stock in it to Paine, Webber & Co. of Boston.
Mr. Kelsey was interested in a number of private corporations and had extensive property holdings. He was active in the Association of Commerce, serving as its president three terms form 1913 to 1917. He also was the first president of the Grand Rapids Furniture Market association. After leaving the utility field he became a director of the Kent State bank.
Although a lifelong Republican, he never solicited public office. He was appointed Kent county fuel administrator during the World war by Gov. Albert E. Sleeper. He had no fraternal affiliations. He was a member of Kent Country club.
Mr. Kelsey for many years was one of the outstanding golfers of the western Michigan area, despite the fact he did not compete often in tournament play and therefore his prowess did not gain outstanding publicity.
Mr. Kelsey for a score of years or more shot consistently in the 70's. During the last 18 months he many times broke 80 at the difficult Kent Country club course and his handicap is posted on the Kent records today at 7.
INSPIRED SENIOR ASSOCIATION.
He took pride in his association with the Michigan Senior Golf association and had held many high offices in this organization. In fact it was Mr. Kelsey's idea, born during a Michigan State Tournament at Kent Country club, that the senior golf association was formed. During the 1926 tournament when Carlton Wells of Ann Arbor and Buddy Hewitt of Lansing and a host of younger players from the Detroit area were performing in gala style, Mr. Kelsey noticed the vain effort of good golfers, handicapped by years, to stay in the competition with their younger opponents. He then wrote a rough draft of the Senior Golf association organization idea, submitted it to Charles H. Bennett, president of the Michigan State Golf league, who immediately approved it and then sprang the idea at the league banquet that same night at Kent Country club. The idea took hold at once and the following year the seniors held their first tournament: It ever since has been one of the most successful golf organizations in the country and the forerunner of many other similar senior associations.
Mr. Kelsey took pride in his golf and worked at it seriously. He wanted to play it well and he did. He played steadily at Kent during the summer and nearly every winter played the famous Bocaraton course on the east coast of Florida. Mr. Kelsey had held the senior golf association's state title.
LOVE THE OUTDOORS.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Kelsey was known as an expert fisher and hunter. He maintained the premises surrounding his home as a sort of miniature bird sanctuary.
He also was fond of reading and writing verse and in 1928 he sponsored the publishing of "THE BARDS' BOOK," a collection of poems by about 50 Grand Rapids persons, including two of his poems.
He was married on Oct. 11, 1888, to Mary Atwater, who died in August, 1915. He was married again on June 8, 1918, to Miss Catherine Schultz, who survives. He also leaves one daughter, Mrs. Charles McKay Robinson, and a granddaughter, Mary Anne McRae of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; also one sister, Mrs. Adda M. Sully of Hematite, Mo.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Sept. 18, 1935, Pg. 1, Col. 4, Art. 2 (Death Comes To C.B. Kelsey) and Pg. 2, Cols. 2-3, Art. 1 (Financier Dies - Includes PHOTO)
*****
WILL OF C.B. KELSEY IS FILED FOR PROBATE
The will of Charles B. Kelsey, banker and utility financier, who died last week, has been filed in probate court by Martin D. Verdier, who is named executor. The accompanying petition gives the nominal value of the estate at $1,000 or thereabouts. The inventory to be filed in the process of the probate court proceedings will disclose the real value.
The widow, Kathryn S. Kelsey, is the sole beneficiary of personal and realty, but special provision is made in the will for a life estate in the Market-st. property known as the SAVOY THEATER, ground lease of which Mrs. Kelsey now holds by assignment. The widow is to receive the income from the Market-st. property for life. At her death the income is to go to a daughter Anne Kelsey Robinson during her lifetime and after her to a granddaughter, Mary Ann McRae if she survives the daughter, otherwise it is to go to the heirs of the daughter. If the property in question is sold the proceeds are to be invested and the net income from investment of the proceeds treated in the same manner.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Sept. 24, 1935, Pg. 5, Col. 3, Art. 2 (Will of C.B. Kelsey is Filed for Probate)
************************~ooOoo~************************
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES, 1868-1925
Name: Charles B. Kelsey
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Oct 1888
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
Gender: Male
Age: 27y
Birth Date: 1861
Birthplace: Kent Co., Mich.
Father's Name: Samuel Kelsey
Mother's Name: Sarah J. Sawyer
Spouse's Name: Mary C. Atwater
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 28y
Spouse's Birth Date: 1860
Spouse's Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Spouse's Father's Name: Luman R. Attwater
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ann
*****
MICHIGAN MARRIAGE RECORDS, 1867-1952
Name: Chas B Kelsey
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 55
Birth Year: abt 1863
Birth Place: Cascade Twp, Michigan
Marriage Date: 8 Jun 1918
Marriage Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Samuel Kelsey
Mother: Sarah J Sawyer
Spouse: Katheryn F Schultz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birth Place: Wright Twp, Michigan
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Michael Schultz
Mother: Elizabeth Finkler
Record Number: 6717
*****
AUDUBON SOCIETY HEARS TALK BY C.B. KELSEY
A talk on bird life was given by C.B. Kelsey, former member of the board of Kent Scientific museum, at a meeting of the Audubon society at the museum Monday night. He told of the time when passenger pigeons were so plentiful in Michigan that one man caught 175,000 in a season. The passenger pigeon, he said, now is extinct because of wholesale slaughter. Mr. Kelsey described the sandhill crane, which he had observed in large numbers in Saskatchewan, and cormorants which he had caught in the Pacific.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Nov. 11, 1930, Pg. 15, Col. 6, Art. 4 (Audubon Society Hears Talk By C.B. Kelsey)
GRAND RAPIDS FINANCIER DIES AT HOME AFTER ILLNESS OF SEVERAL WEEKS.
HE ROSE FROM FARM BOY
WAS ORGANIZER OF BANKS AND PROMINENT IN PUBLIC UTILITY FIELD.
Charles Bert Kelsey, ex-farm boy who worked his way to national prominence in the banking and public utility industries, died Tuesday afternoon at his home, 538 Madison-av., S.E., where he had been confined for several weeks. Death was due to apoplexy, Mr. Kelsey having had two strokes.
Mr. Kelsey was president of C.B. Kelsey Co., investment bankers, with offices in the Grand Rapids Trust building at the time of his death. Since Jan. 1, 1935, Mr. Kelsey had not been active in the business.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home, 538 Madison-av., S.E. The services will be conducted by Rev. Lewis B. Whittemore of Grace Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kelsey was a member. Mr. Kelsey's last resting place will be Graceland mausoleum.
Active bearers will be Leon W. Harrington, Earl W. Moore, Fred H. Meyer, James C. Everett, N. Rugee White and Neal VanOstenburg.
Honorary bearers will be Henry Idema, Clay Hollister, John W. Blodgett, Joseph H. Brewer, A.P. Johnson, W.B. Jarvis, A. Linn Murray of Auburn, Ind., Nathaniel Robbins of Grand Haven, Carroll E. Gray of New York city, Charles H. Bender, Frank M. Sparks, Frank Row, L.A. Cornelius, Judge Leonard D. Verdier, Eugene Richards, John G. Emery, Robert W. Irwin and Ralph Widdicomb.
Although born and reared on a farm, Mr. Kelsey developed a liking for figures and finance and largely through his own efforts worked his way from a farm boy to positions of prominence in the banking and utility fields. He began his financial career as errand boy and bookkeeper and improved his position by studying nights and Sundays.
BORN NEAR CASCADE.
Mr. Kelsey became the first bookkeeper of the Old Kent Savings Bank when it opened for business on Dec. 24, 1884. He promoted the organization of the Peoples Savings bank in 1890 and became its first cashier. He organized the Commercial Savings bank in 1903 and was its first president. He organized the American Public Utilities Co. in 1912 and was its first president.
Retiring from the utility field at the close of the World war, Mr. Kelsey's thoughts again turned to his first love, banking, and he organized the Home State bank in February, 1922, and became its president. Retiring from the banking business, he formed the investment house now bearing his name.
Born on a farm near Cascade on March 27, 1863, Mr. Kelsey never lost interest in agriculture. He prided himself on being a farmer, owning and operating a large farm near Jenison in Ottawa county. While his major interests since early manhood had been in finance and public utilities, Mr. Kelsey always showed a preference for disscusions of farm problems, nature subjects and golf. He gave a number of interviews in recent years on the farm problem.
OVERCAME OBSTACLES.
The financier gained considerable attention early in 1930 when he proposed a buy-a-bushel-of-wheat campaign as a practical method of breaking the backbone of the depression. He reasoned that national prosperity was linked with the price of wheat. He believed national prosperity would be quickly restored with the return of dollar wheat to the farmer. Mr. Kelsey was unsuccessful in interesting the federal farm board in his proposal and the scheme never was tested, but in recent years he had occasion to comment upon improvements in economic conditions which followed the rise in wheat prices.
Mr. Kelsey's career was considered remarkable by his friends who knew that he left the farm with only a country school education and overcame one obstacle after another. After serving a time as clerk in the Three Oaks postoffice at a salary of $5 per week, he taught rural schools in Berrien county for two years before removing to town in search of greater opportunities. He clerked in the Grand Rapids & Indiana freight depot for two years before he found an opening as a bookkeeper in the Old Kent Savings bank. He ran errands and swept out the bank while learning to keep the bank's books. He was advanced to teller as the bank grew and by 1890 he became sufficiently schooled in finance to promote the organization of the old Peoples Savings bank, serving as its cashier for 12 years.
PROMINENT IN UTILITY FIELD.
The Commercial Savings bank, organized in 1903, was his second promotion in the banking field.
Mr. Kelsey became interested in public utilities while in the employ of the Peoples Savings bank. Forming a partnership with Clarence H. Geist of Philadelphia, he acquired the Albion (Mich.) Gas Light Co., the Valparaiso (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the Wyoming Valley Gas & Electric Co., and the Dauphin County Gas & Electric Co., serving the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pa., the Northern Alabama Gas Co. at Muscle Shoals, the Michigan City (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the South Bend (Ind.) Gas Co., the East Chicago & Indiana Harbor Water Co. in Northern Indiana, the Lansing (Mich.) Gas Co., and other properties.
Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Geist finally split up these utility properties, and, Feb. 1, 1909, Joseph H. Brewer and Mr. Kelsey combined their operations as Kelsey, Brewer & Co., putting together utilities in Albion, Valparasio, Holland, Elkhart, Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and LaCross, Wis., Red Wing and Winona, Minn. They built a power dam on the Chippewa river in Wisconsin and constructed a power line to St. Paul, Minn.
HEAD BIG HOLDING FIRM.
These properties in June, 1912, were merged under the control of the American Public Utilities Co., which had an authorized capitalization of $40,000,000 common and $40,000,000 preferred stock. Mr. Kelsey was president of this large holding corporation until 1916, when he sold his stock in it to Paine, Webber & Co. of Boston.
Mr. Kelsey was interested in a number of private corporations and had extensive property holdings. He was active in the Association of Commerce, serving as its president three terms form 1913 to 1917. He also was the first president of the Grand Rapids Furniture Market association. After leaving the utility field he became a director of the Kent State bank.
Although a lifelong Republican, he never solicited public office. He was appointed Kent county fuel administrator during the World war by Gov. Albert E. Sleeper. He had no fraternal affiliations. He was a member of Kent Country club.
Mr. Kelsey for many years was one of the outstanding golfers of the western Michigan area, despite the fact he did not compete often in tournament play and therefore his prowess did not gain outstanding publicity.
Mr. Kelsey for a score of years or more shot consistently in the 70's. During the last 18 months he many times broke 80 at the difficult Kent Country club course and his handicap is posted on the Kent records today at 7.
INSPIRED SENIOR ASSOCIATION.
He took pride in his association with the Michigan Senior Golf association and had held many high offices in this organization. In fact it was Mr. Kelsey's idea, born during a Michigan State Tournament at Kent Country club, that the senior golf association was formed. During the 1926 tournament when Carlton Wells of Ann Arbor and Buddy Hewitt of Lansing and a host of younger players from the Detroit area were performing in gala style, Mr. Kelsey noticed the vain effort of good golfers, handicapped by years, to stay in the competition with their younger opponents. He then wrote a rough draft of the Senior Golf association organization idea, submitted it to Charles H. Bennett, president of the Michigan State Golf league, who immediately approved it and then sprang the idea at the league banquet that same night at Kent Country club. The idea took hold at once and the following year the seniors held their first tournament: It ever since has been one of the most successful golf organizations in the country and the forerunner of many other similar senior associations.
Mr. Kelsey took pride in his golf and worked at it seriously. He wanted to play it well and he did. He played steadily at Kent during the summer and nearly every winter played the famous Bocaraton course on the east coast of Florida. Mr. Kelsey had held the senior golf association's state title.
LOVE THE OUTDOORS.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Kelsey was known as an expert fisher and hunter. He maintained the premises surrounding his home as a sort of miniature bird sanctuary.
He also was fond of reading and writing verse and in 1928 he sponsored the publishing of "THE BARDS' BOOK," a collection of poems by about 50 Grand Rapids persons, including two of his poems.
He was married on Oct. 11, 1888, to Mary Atwater, who died in August, 1915. He was married again on June 8, 1918, to Miss Catherine Schultz, who survives. He also leaves one daughter, Mrs. Charles McKay Robinson, and a granddaughter, Mary Anne McRae of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; also one sister, Mrs. Adda M. Sully of Hematite, Mo.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Sept. 18, 1935, Pg. 1, Col. 4, Art. 2 (Death Comes To C.B. Kelsey) and Pg. 2, Cols. 2-3, Art. 1 (Financier Dies - Includes PHOTO)
*****
WILL OF C.B. KELSEY IS FILED FOR PROBATE
The will of Charles B. Kelsey, banker and utility financier, who died last week, has been filed in probate court by Martin D. Verdier, who is named executor. The accompanying petition gives the nominal value of the estate at $1,000 or thereabouts. The inventory to be filed in the process of the probate court proceedings will disclose the real value.
The widow, Kathryn S. Kelsey, is the sole beneficiary of personal and realty, but special provision is made in the will for a life estate in the Market-st. property known as the SAVOY THEATER, ground lease of which Mrs. Kelsey now holds by assignment. The widow is to receive the income from the Market-st. property for life. At her death the income is to go to a daughter Anne Kelsey Robinson during her lifetime and after her to a granddaughter, Mary Ann McRae if she survives the daughter, otherwise it is to go to the heirs of the daughter. If the property in question is sold the proceeds are to be invested and the net income from investment of the proceeds treated in the same manner.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Sept. 24, 1935, Pg. 5, Col. 3, Art. 2 (Will of C.B. Kelsey is Filed for Probate)
************************~ooOoo~************************
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES, 1868-1925
Name: Charles B. Kelsey
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Oct 1888
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
Gender: Male
Age: 27y
Birth Date: 1861
Birthplace: Kent Co., Mich.
Father's Name: Samuel Kelsey
Mother's Name: Sarah J. Sawyer
Spouse's Name: Mary C. Atwater
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 28y
Spouse's Birth Date: 1860
Spouse's Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Spouse's Father's Name: Luman R. Attwater
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ann
*****
MICHIGAN MARRIAGE RECORDS, 1867-1952
Name: Chas B Kelsey
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 55
Birth Year: abt 1863
Birth Place: Cascade Twp, Michigan
Marriage Date: 8 Jun 1918
Marriage Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Samuel Kelsey
Mother: Sarah J Sawyer
Spouse: Katheryn F Schultz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birth Place: Wright Twp, Michigan
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Michael Schultz
Mother: Elizabeth Finkler
Record Number: 6717
*****
AUDUBON SOCIETY HEARS TALK BY C.B. KELSEY
A talk on bird life was given by C.B. Kelsey, former member of the board of Kent Scientific museum, at a meeting of the Audubon society at the museum Monday night. He told of the time when passenger pigeons were so plentiful in Michigan that one man caught 175,000 in a season. The passenger pigeon, he said, now is extinct because of wholesale slaughter. Mr. Kelsey described the sandhill crane, which he had observed in large numbers in Saskatchewan, and cormorants which he had caught in the Pacific.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Nov. 11, 1930, Pg. 15, Col. 6, Art. 4 (Audubon Society Hears Talk By C.B. Kelsey)
DEATH COMES TO C.B. KELSEY
GRAND RAPIDS FINANCIER DIES AT HOME AFTER ILLNESS OF SEVERAL WEEKS.
HE ROSE FROM FARM BOY
WAS ORGANIZER OF BANKS AND PROMINENT IN PUBLIC UTILITY FIELD.
Charles Bert Kelsey, ex-farm boy who worked his way to national prominence in the banking and public utility industries, died Tuesday afternoon at his home, 538 Madison-av., S.E., where he had been confined for several weeks. Death was due to apoplexy, Mr. Kelsey having had two strokes.
Mr. Kelsey was president of C.B. Kelsey Co., investment bankers, with offices in the Grand Rapids Trust building at the time of his death. Since Jan. 1, 1935, Mr. Kelsey had not been active in the business.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home, 538 Madison-av., S.E. The services will be conducted by Rev. Lewis B. Whittemore of Grace Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kelsey was a member. Mr. Kelsey's last resting place will be Graceland mausoleum.
Active bearers will be Leon W. Harrington, Earl W. Moore, Fred H. Meyer, James C. Everett, N. Rugee White and Neal VanOstenburg.
Honorary bearers will be Henry Idema, Clay Hollister, John W. Blodgett, Joseph H. Brewer, A.P. Johnson, W.B. Jarvis, A. Linn Murray of Auburn, Ind., Nathaniel Robbins of Grand Haven, Carroll E. Gray of New York city, Charles H. Bender, Frank M. Sparks, Frank Row, L.A. Cornelius, Judge Leonard D. Verdier, Eugene Richards, John G. Emery, Robert W. Irwin and Ralph Widdicomb.
Although born and reared on a farm, Mr. Kelsey developed a liking for figures and finance and largely through his own efforts worked his way from a farm boy to positions of prominence in the banking and utility fields. He began his financial career as errand boy and bookkeeper and improved his position by studying nights and Sundays.
BORN NEAR CASCADE.
Mr. Kelsey became the first bookkeeper of the Old Kent Savings Bank when it opened for business on Dec. 24, 1884. He promoted the organization of the Peoples Savings bank in 1890 and became its first cashier. He organized the Commercial Savings bank in 1903 and was its first president. He organized the American Public Utilities Co. in 1912 and was its first president.
Retiring from the utility field at the close of the World war, Mr. Kelsey's thoughts again turned to his first love, banking, and he organized the Home State bank in February, 1922, and became its president. Retiring from the banking business, he formed the investment house now bearing his name.
Born on a farm near Cascade on March 27, 1863, Mr. Kelsey never lost interest in agriculture. He prided himself on being a farmer, owning and operating a large farm near Jenison in Ottawa county. While his major interests since early manhood had been in finance and public utilities, Mr. Kelsey always showed a preference for disscusions of farm problems, nature subjects and golf. He gave a number of interviews in recent years on the farm problem.
OVERCAME OBSTACLES.
The financier gained considerable attention early in 1930 when he proposed a buy-a-bushel-of-wheat campaign as a practical method of breaking the backbone of the depression. He reasoned that national prosperity was linked with the price of wheat. He believed national prosperity would be quickly restored with the return of dollar wheat to the farmer. Mr. Kelsey was unsuccessful in interesting the federal farm board in his proposal and the scheme never was tested, but in recent years he had occasion to comment upon improvements in economic conditions which followed the rise in wheat prices.
Mr. Kelsey's career was considered remarkable by his friends who knew that he left the farm with only a country school education and overcame one obstacle after another. After serving a time as clerk in the Three Oaks postoffice at a salary of $5 per week, he taught rural schools in Berrien county for two years before removing to town in search of greater opportunities. He clerked in the Grand Rapids & Indiana freight depot for two years before he found an opening as a bookkeeper in the Old Kent Savings bank. He ran errands and swept out the bank while learning to keep the bank's books. He was advanced to teller as the bank grew and by 1890 he became sufficiently schooled in finance to promote the organization of the old Peoples Savings bank, serving as its cashier for 12 years.
PROMINENT IN UTILITY FIELD.
The Commercial Savings bank, organized in 1903, was his second promotion in the banking field.
Mr. Kelsey became interested in public utilities while in the employ of the Peoples Savings bank. Forming a partnership with Clarence H. Geist of Philadelphia, he acquired the Albion (Mich.) Gas Light Co., the Valparaiso (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the Wyoming Valley Gas & Electric Co., and the Dauphin County Gas & Electric Co., serving the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pa., the Northern Alabama Gas Co. at Muscle Shoals, the Michigan City (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the South Bend (Ind.) Gas Co., the East Chicago & Indiana Harbor Water Co. in Northern Indiana, the Lansing (Mich.) Gas Co., and other properties.
Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Geist finally split up these utility properties, and, Feb. 1, 1909, Joseph H. Brewer and Mr. Kelsey combined their operations as Kelsey, Brewer & Co., putting together utilities in Albion, Valparasio, Holland, Elkhart, Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and LaCross, Wis., Red Wing and Winona, Minn. They built a power dam on the Chippewa river in Wisconsin and constructed a power line to St. Paul, Minn.
HEAD BIG HOLDING FIRM.
These properties in June, 1912, were merged under the control of the American Public Utilities Co., which had an authorized capitalization of $40,000,000 common and $40,000,000 preferred stock. Mr. Kelsey was president of this large holding corporation until 1916, when he sold his stock in it to Paine, Webber & Co. of Boston.
Mr. Kelsey was interested in a number of private corporations and had extensive property holdings. He was active in the Association of Commerce, serving as its president three terms form 1913 to 1917. He also was the first president of the Grand Rapids Furniture Market association. After leaving the utility field he became a director of the Kent State bank.
Although a lifelong Republican, he never solicited public office. He was appointed Kent county fuel administrator during the World war by Gov. Albert E. Sleeper. He had no fraternal affiliations. He was a member of Kent Country club.
Mr. Kelsey for many years was one of the outstanding golfers of the western Michigan area, despite the fact he did not compete often in tournament play and therefore his prowess did not gain outstanding publicity.
Mr. Kelsey for a score of years or more shot consistently in the 70's. During the last 18 months he many times broke 80 at the difficult Kent Country club course and his handicap is posted on the Kent records today at 7.
INSPIRED SENIOR ASSOCIATION.
He took pride in his association with the Michigan Senior Golf association and had held many high offices in this organization. In fact it was Mr. Kelsey's idea, born during a Michigan State Tournament at Kent Country club, that the senior golf association was formed. During the 1926 tournament when Carlton Wells of Ann Arbor and Buddy Hewitt of Lansing and a host of younger players from the Detroit area were performing in gala style, Mr. Kelsey noticed the vain effort of good golfers, handicapped by years, to stay in the competition with their younger opponents. He then wrote a rough draft of the Senior Golf association organization idea, submitted it to Charles H. Bennett, president of the Michigan State Golf league, who immediately approved it and then sprang the idea at the league banquet that same night at Kent Country club. The idea took hold at once and the following year the seniors held their first tournament: It ever since has been one of the most successful golf organizations in the country and the forerunner of many other similar senior associations.
Mr. Kelsey took pride in his golf and worked at it seriously. He wanted to play it well and he did. He played steadily at Kent during the summer and nearly every winter played the famous Bocaraton course on the east coast of Florida. Mr. Kelsey had held the senior golf association's state title.
LOVE THE OUTDOORS.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Kelsey was known as an expert fisher and hunter. He maintained the premises surrounding his home as a sort of miniature bird sanctuary.
He also was fond of reading and writing verse and in 1928 he sponsored the publishing of "THE BARDS' BOOK," a collection of poems by about 50 Grand Rapids persons, including two of his poems.
He was married on Oct. 11, 1888, to Mary Atwater, who died in August, 1915. He was married again on June 8, 1918, to Miss Catherine Schultz, who survives. He also leaves one daughter, Mrs. Charles McKay Robinson, and a granddaughter, Mary Anne McRae of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; also one sister, Mrs. Adda M. Sully of Hematite, Mo.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Sept. 18, 1935, Pg. 1, Col. 4, Art. 2 (Death Comes To C.B. Kelsey) and Pg. 2, Cols. 2-3, Art. 1 (Financier Dies - Includes PHOTO)
*****
WILL OF C.B. KELSEY IS FILED FOR PROBATE
The will of Charles B. Kelsey, banker and utility financier, who died last week, has been filed in probate court by Martin D. Verdier, who is named executor. The accompanying petition gives the nominal value of the estate at $1,000 or thereabouts. The inventory to be filed in the process of the probate court proceedings will disclose the real value.
The widow, Kathryn S. Kelsey, is the sole beneficiary of personal and realty, but special provision is made in the will for a life estate in the Market-st. property known as the SAVOY THEATER, ground lease of which Mrs. Kelsey now holds by assignment. The widow is to receive the income from the Market-st. property for life. At her death the income is to go to a daughter Anne Kelsey Robinson during her lifetime and after her to a granddaughter, Mary Ann McRae if she survives the daughter, otherwise it is to go to the heirs of the daughter. If the property in question is sold the proceeds are to be invested and the net income from investment of the proceeds treated in the same manner.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Sept. 24, 1935, Pg. 5, Col. 3, Art. 2 (Will of C.B. Kelsey is Filed for Probate)
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MICHIGAN MARRIAGES, 1868-1925
Name: Charles B. Kelsey
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Oct 1888
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
Gender: Male
Age: 27y
Birth Date: 1861
Birthplace: Kent Co., Mich.
Father's Name: Samuel Kelsey
Mother's Name: Sarah J. Sawyer
Spouse's Name: Mary C. Atwater
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 28y
Spouse's Birth Date: 1860
Spouse's Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Spouse's Father's Name: Luman R. Attwater
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ann
*****
MICHIGAN MARRIAGE RECORDS, 1867-1952
Name: Chas B Kelsey
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 55
Birth Year: abt 1863
Birth Place: Cascade Twp, Michigan
Marriage Date: 8 Jun 1918
Marriage Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Samuel Kelsey
Mother: Sarah J Sawyer
Spouse: Katheryn F Schultz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birth Place: Wright Twp, Michigan
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Michael Schultz
Mother: Elizabeth Finkler
Record Number: 6717
*****
AUDUBON SOCIETY HEARS TALK BY C.B. KELSEY
A talk on bird life was given by C.B. Kelsey, former member of the board of Kent Scientific museum, at a meeting of the Audubon society at the museum Monday night. He told of the time when passenger pigeons were so plentiful in Michigan that one man caught 175,000 in a season. The passenger pigeon, he said, now is extinct because of wholesale slaughter. Mr. Kelsey described the sandhill crane, which he had observed in large numbers in Saskatchewan, and cormorants which he had caught in the Pacific.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Nov. 11, 1930, Pg. 15, Col. 6, Art. 4 (Audubon Society Hears Talk By C.B. Kelsey)
GRAND RAPIDS FINANCIER DIES AT HOME AFTER ILLNESS OF SEVERAL WEEKS.
HE ROSE FROM FARM BOY
WAS ORGANIZER OF BANKS AND PROMINENT IN PUBLIC UTILITY FIELD.
Charles Bert Kelsey, ex-farm boy who worked his way to national prominence in the banking and public utility industries, died Tuesday afternoon at his home, 538 Madison-av., S.E., where he had been confined for several weeks. Death was due to apoplexy, Mr. Kelsey having had two strokes.
Mr. Kelsey was president of C.B. Kelsey Co., investment bankers, with offices in the Grand Rapids Trust building at the time of his death. Since Jan. 1, 1935, Mr. Kelsey had not been active in the business.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the home, 538 Madison-av., S.E. The services will be conducted by Rev. Lewis B. Whittemore of Grace Episcopal church, of which Mr. Kelsey was a member. Mr. Kelsey's last resting place will be Graceland mausoleum.
Active bearers will be Leon W. Harrington, Earl W. Moore, Fred H. Meyer, James C. Everett, N. Rugee White and Neal VanOstenburg.
Honorary bearers will be Henry Idema, Clay Hollister, John W. Blodgett, Joseph H. Brewer, A.P. Johnson, W.B. Jarvis, A. Linn Murray of Auburn, Ind., Nathaniel Robbins of Grand Haven, Carroll E. Gray of New York city, Charles H. Bender, Frank M. Sparks, Frank Row, L.A. Cornelius, Judge Leonard D. Verdier, Eugene Richards, John G. Emery, Robert W. Irwin and Ralph Widdicomb.
Although born and reared on a farm, Mr. Kelsey developed a liking for figures and finance and largely through his own efforts worked his way from a farm boy to positions of prominence in the banking and utility fields. He began his financial career as errand boy and bookkeeper and improved his position by studying nights and Sundays.
BORN NEAR CASCADE.
Mr. Kelsey became the first bookkeeper of the Old Kent Savings Bank when it opened for business on Dec. 24, 1884. He promoted the organization of the Peoples Savings bank in 1890 and became its first cashier. He organized the Commercial Savings bank in 1903 and was its first president. He organized the American Public Utilities Co. in 1912 and was its first president.
Retiring from the utility field at the close of the World war, Mr. Kelsey's thoughts again turned to his first love, banking, and he organized the Home State bank in February, 1922, and became its president. Retiring from the banking business, he formed the investment house now bearing his name.
Born on a farm near Cascade on March 27, 1863, Mr. Kelsey never lost interest in agriculture. He prided himself on being a farmer, owning and operating a large farm near Jenison in Ottawa county. While his major interests since early manhood had been in finance and public utilities, Mr. Kelsey always showed a preference for disscusions of farm problems, nature subjects and golf. He gave a number of interviews in recent years on the farm problem.
OVERCAME OBSTACLES.
The financier gained considerable attention early in 1930 when he proposed a buy-a-bushel-of-wheat campaign as a practical method of breaking the backbone of the depression. He reasoned that national prosperity was linked with the price of wheat. He believed national prosperity would be quickly restored with the return of dollar wheat to the farmer. Mr. Kelsey was unsuccessful in interesting the federal farm board in his proposal and the scheme never was tested, but in recent years he had occasion to comment upon improvements in economic conditions which followed the rise in wheat prices.
Mr. Kelsey's career was considered remarkable by his friends who knew that he left the farm with only a country school education and overcame one obstacle after another. After serving a time as clerk in the Three Oaks postoffice at a salary of $5 per week, he taught rural schools in Berrien county for two years before removing to town in search of greater opportunities. He clerked in the Grand Rapids & Indiana freight depot for two years before he found an opening as a bookkeeper in the Old Kent Savings bank. He ran errands and swept out the bank while learning to keep the bank's books. He was advanced to teller as the bank grew and by 1890 he became sufficiently schooled in finance to promote the organization of the old Peoples Savings bank, serving as its cashier for 12 years.
PROMINENT IN UTILITY FIELD.
The Commercial Savings bank, organized in 1903, was his second promotion in the banking field.
Mr. Kelsey became interested in public utilities while in the employ of the Peoples Savings bank. Forming a partnership with Clarence H. Geist of Philadelphia, he acquired the Albion (Mich.) Gas Light Co., the Valparaiso (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the Wyoming Valley Gas & Electric Co., and the Dauphin County Gas & Electric Co., serving the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pa., the Northern Alabama Gas Co. at Muscle Shoals, the Michigan City (Ind.) Gas & Electric Co., the South Bend (Ind.) Gas Co., the East Chicago & Indiana Harbor Water Co. in Northern Indiana, the Lansing (Mich.) Gas Co., and other properties.
Mr. Kelsey and Mr. Geist finally split up these utility properties, and, Feb. 1, 1909, Joseph H. Brewer and Mr. Kelsey combined their operations as Kelsey, Brewer & Co., putting together utilities in Albion, Valparasio, Holland, Elkhart, Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and LaCross, Wis., Red Wing and Winona, Minn. They built a power dam on the Chippewa river in Wisconsin and constructed a power line to St. Paul, Minn.
HEAD BIG HOLDING FIRM.
These properties in June, 1912, were merged under the control of the American Public Utilities Co., which had an authorized capitalization of $40,000,000 common and $40,000,000 preferred stock. Mr. Kelsey was president of this large holding corporation until 1916, when he sold his stock in it to Paine, Webber & Co. of Boston.
Mr. Kelsey was interested in a number of private corporations and had extensive property holdings. He was active in the Association of Commerce, serving as its president three terms form 1913 to 1917. He also was the first president of the Grand Rapids Furniture Market association. After leaving the utility field he became a director of the Kent State bank.
Although a lifelong Republican, he never solicited public office. He was appointed Kent county fuel administrator during the World war by Gov. Albert E. Sleeper. He had no fraternal affiliations. He was a member of Kent Country club.
Mr. Kelsey for many years was one of the outstanding golfers of the western Michigan area, despite the fact he did not compete often in tournament play and therefore his prowess did not gain outstanding publicity.
Mr. Kelsey for a score of years or more shot consistently in the 70's. During the last 18 months he many times broke 80 at the difficult Kent Country club course and his handicap is posted on the Kent records today at 7.
INSPIRED SENIOR ASSOCIATION.
He took pride in his association with the Michigan Senior Golf association and had held many high offices in this organization. In fact it was Mr. Kelsey's idea, born during a Michigan State Tournament at Kent Country club, that the senior golf association was formed. During the 1926 tournament when Carlton Wells of Ann Arbor and Buddy Hewitt of Lansing and a host of younger players from the Detroit area were performing in gala style, Mr. Kelsey noticed the vain effort of good golfers, handicapped by years, to stay in the competition with their younger opponents. He then wrote a rough draft of the Senior Golf association organization idea, submitted it to Charles H. Bennett, president of the Michigan State Golf league, who immediately approved it and then sprang the idea at the league banquet that same night at Kent Country club. The idea took hold at once and the following year the seniors held their first tournament: It ever since has been one of the most successful golf organizations in the country and the forerunner of many other similar senior associations.
Mr. Kelsey took pride in his golf and worked at it seriously. He wanted to play it well and he did. He played steadily at Kent during the summer and nearly every winter played the famous Bocaraton course on the east coast of Florida. Mr. Kelsey had held the senior golf association's state title.
LOVE THE OUTDOORS.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr. Kelsey was known as an expert fisher and hunter. He maintained the premises surrounding his home as a sort of miniature bird sanctuary.
He also was fond of reading and writing verse and in 1928 he sponsored the publishing of "THE BARDS' BOOK," a collection of poems by about 50 Grand Rapids persons, including two of his poems.
He was married on Oct. 11, 1888, to Mary Atwater, who died in August, 1915. He was married again on June 8, 1918, to Miss Catherine Schultz, who survives. He also leaves one daughter, Mrs. Charles McKay Robinson, and a granddaughter, Mary Anne McRae of Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; also one sister, Mrs. Adda M. Sully of Hematite, Mo.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Wed., Sept. 18, 1935, Pg. 1, Col. 4, Art. 2 (Death Comes To C.B. Kelsey) and Pg. 2, Cols. 2-3, Art. 1 (Financier Dies - Includes PHOTO)
*****
WILL OF C.B. KELSEY IS FILED FOR PROBATE
The will of Charles B. Kelsey, banker and utility financier, who died last week, has been filed in probate court by Martin D. Verdier, who is named executor. The accompanying petition gives the nominal value of the estate at $1,000 or thereabouts. The inventory to be filed in the process of the probate court proceedings will disclose the real value.
The widow, Kathryn S. Kelsey, is the sole beneficiary of personal and realty, but special provision is made in the will for a life estate in the Market-st. property known as the SAVOY THEATER, ground lease of which Mrs. Kelsey now holds by assignment. The widow is to receive the income from the Market-st. property for life. At her death the income is to go to a daughter Anne Kelsey Robinson during her lifetime and after her to a granddaughter, Mary Ann McRae if she survives the daughter, otherwise it is to go to the heirs of the daughter. If the property in question is sold the proceeds are to be invested and the net income from investment of the proceeds treated in the same manner.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Sept. 24, 1935, Pg. 5, Col. 3, Art. 2 (Will of C.B. Kelsey is Filed for Probate)
************************~ooOoo~************************
MICHIGAN MARRIAGES, 1868-1925
Name: Charles B. Kelsey
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 11 Oct 1888
Event Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
Gender: Male
Age: 27y
Birth Date: 1861
Birthplace: Kent Co., Mich.
Father's Name: Samuel Kelsey
Mother's Name: Sarah J. Sawyer
Spouse's Name: Mary C. Atwater
Spouse's Gender: Female
Spouse's Age: 28y
Spouse's Birth Date: 1860
Spouse's Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Spouse's Father's Name: Luman R. Attwater
Spouse's Mother's Name: Ann
*****
MICHIGAN MARRIAGE RECORDS, 1867-1952
Name: Chas B Kelsey
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age: 55
Birth Year: abt 1863
Birth Place: Cascade Twp, Michigan
Marriage Date: 8 Jun 1918
Marriage Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Samuel Kelsey
Mother: Sarah J Sawyer
Spouse: Katheryn F Schultz
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 37
Birth Year: abt 1881
Birth Place: Wright Twp, Michigan
Residence Place: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Father: Michael Schultz
Mother: Elizabeth Finkler
Record Number: 6717
*****
AUDUBON SOCIETY HEARS TALK BY C.B. KELSEY
A talk on bird life was given by C.B. Kelsey, former member of the board of Kent Scientific museum, at a meeting of the Audubon society at the museum Monday night. He told of the time when passenger pigeons were so plentiful in Michigan that one man caught 175,000 in a season. The passenger pigeon, he said, now is extinct because of wholesale slaughter. Mr. Kelsey described the sandhill crane, which he had observed in large numbers in Saskatchewan, and cormorants which he had caught in the Pacific.
THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, Grand Rapids, Mich., Tues., Nov. 11, 1930, Pg. 15, Col. 6, Art. 4 (Audubon Society Hears Talk By C.B. Kelsey)
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