Kelsey, Texas
Encyclopedia
Kelsey is an unincorporated area
in Upshur County
, Texas
, United States
that was the longest-lasting settlement founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the state. Now a ghost town
, it has been called the "mother colony" of Latter-day Saint colonies in Texas.
, but had not succeeded—settled near Hopewell in Upshur County. In 1898, Edgar purchased land in what would become Kelsey.
By 1901, there were nine Latter-day Saint families in Kelsey. On August 4, 1901 a Sunday School
of the church was organized at Kelsey. This same year, James G. Duffin, president
of the Southwest States Mission
of the church, received approval from the First Presidency
for the building up of this settlement. In 1902, Abraham O. Woodruff
and Duffin laid out the townsite for Kelsey.
A post office
was established at Kelsey in 1902. By 1906, Kelsey had about 400 inhabitants.
In 1907, the Kelsey School District was formed. In 1911, a two-story brick schoolhouse was built. The first gymnasium in East Texas, named Bennion Hall after mission president Samuel O. Bennion
, was completed at Kelsey in 1929.
By 1910 the population had risen to 527. In 1923, the population peaked at 750. Families gathered to Kelsey from throughout the southern United States and even on rare occasions from other parts of the United States.
Kelsey was a stop on the Marshall and East Texas Railroad. The railroad built a branch line
to Kelsey to facilitate the loading of such products as strawberries, cantaloupe
s and corn
that were grown in the community.
During the 1930s, Kelsey farmers provided food to the oil workers in Kilgore
and Gladewater, Texas
. In 1943, the school in Kelsey was closed and after that students were bussed to Gilmer, Texas
. In 1951, a new church was built in Kelsey.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Upshur County
Upshur County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,291 people, 13,290 households, and 10,033 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 14,930 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that was the longest-lasting settlement founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the state. Now a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, it has been called the "mother colony" of Latter-day Saint colonies in Texas.
History
The origins of Kelsey go back to 1898. John Edgar—who had tried to settle in Mesa, ArizonaMesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, but had not succeeded—settled near Hopewell in Upshur County. In 1898, Edgar purchased land in what would become Kelsey.
By 1901, there were nine Latter-day Saint families in Kelsey. On August 4, 1901 a Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
of the church was organized at Kelsey. This same year, James G. Duffin, president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the Southwest States Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of the church, received approval from the First Presidency
First Presidency (LDS Church)
The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...
for the building up of this settlement. In 1902, Abraham O. Woodruff
Abraham O. Woodruff
Abraham Owen Woodruff , born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was also the son of LDS Church president Wilford Woodruff...
and Duffin laid out the townsite for Kelsey.
A post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established at Kelsey in 1902. By 1906, Kelsey had about 400 inhabitants.
In 1907, the Kelsey School District was formed. In 1911, a two-story brick schoolhouse was built. The first gymnasium in East Texas, named Bennion Hall after mission president Samuel O. Bennion
Samuel O. Bennion
Samuel Otis Bennion was a member of the First Council of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1933 until his death.-Biography:...
, was completed at Kelsey in 1929.
By 1910 the population had risen to 527. In 1923, the population peaked at 750. Families gathered to Kelsey from throughout the southern United States and even on rare occasions from other parts of the United States.
Kelsey was a stop on the Marshall and East Texas Railroad. The railroad built a branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
to Kelsey to facilitate the loading of such products as strawberries, cantaloupe
Cantaloupe
"Rockmelon" redirects here, for the band see Rockmelons. See also Cantaloupe .Cantaloupe refers to a variety of Cucumis melo, a species in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes nearly all melons and squashes. Cantaloupes range in size from...
s and corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
that were grown in the community.
During the 1930s, Kelsey farmers provided food to the oil workers in Kilgore
Kilgore, Texas
Kilgore is a city in Gregg and Rusk Counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the home of Kilgore College, and was also the childhood home of famous classical pianist Van Cliburn...
and Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater is a city in Gregg and Upshur Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 6,228 at the 2010 census. U.S. Highway 80 traverses the city....
. In 1943, the school in Kelsey was closed and after that students were bussed to Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer, Texas
Gilmer is also the name of a county in West Virginia.Gilmer is a town in and the county seat of Upshur County, Texas, United States. It is best known for being the birthplace of popular music singer Johnny Mathis. The population was 4,799 at the 2000 census...
. In 1951, a new church was built in Kelsey.
External links
- Christopher Long, "Kelsey, Texas", The Handbook of Texas Online