JOHN KELSEY, one of the largest farmers of Macoupin county, is a native of Yorkshire, England. His birth place was sixteen miles from Doncaster, and about twenty from Hull, the nearest seaport town. His grandfather was a farmer. His father, whose name was also John Kelsey, learned the trade of a harness maker and saddler, and for a time carried it on at Epworth, England, but afterward went to farming. Mr. Kelsey was the youngest of four children, and was born January 12, 1824. The first ten years of his life were spent in England, and in the summer of 1834 the whole family emigrated to America, making the voyage from Hull to New York in a sailing vessel. From New York the family came by the Erie canal through New York State, and then across to the Ohio river, which they descended to its mouth, and then up the Mississippi to Alton, where they arrived August 20, 1834. At that time the country presented a widely different appearance from the present. The settlements were confined to the edges of the timber. In the immediate vicinity of their settlement schools had not yet been established, and there were few advantages in the way of getting an education. For parts of two winters Mr. Kelsey went to school on Smooth prairie, about two miles from the present town of Fosterburg, in Madison county. His father was a hard working and industrious man, and Mr. Kelsey was early initiated into the full meaning of the old precept that man should "eat his bread in the sweat of his face." He was accustomed to labor from boyhood, and learned those habits of industry and self-reliance which were of much service to him in after life. On growing up he showed the business capacity and judgment which have since been prominent traits of his character.

In the year 1842, when eighteen years of age, he began improving a tract of a hundred and ninety-six acres of wild land which his father had purchased for three dollars an acre in section three of township seven, range nine, Macoupin county. His piece of land forms the part of his present farm, on which stands the house and other improvements. He still had his home with his father in Madison county, and while improving the Macoupin county farm kept bachelor's quarters. The older children had married and left home, and his brother, next older than himself, died shortly after Mr. Kelsey began improving the farm in Brighton township. From 1842 Mr. Kelsey was mostly engaged in work on this farm to which his father having sold the Madison county farm, removed in June, 1854. His father died there on the 6th of December, 1874, nearly eighty-two years of age. He was a man of considerable energy and industry, honest in his dealings with his neighbors, and had many excellent traits of character. Mr. Kelsey's marriage occurred on th 24th of December, 1863, to Sarah Evans. She was born in Brighton township, a mile and a half southwest of Mr. Kelsey's present residence. Her father was John Evans, and her mother, whose maiden name was Mercy H. Loveland, was born in Rhode Island, May 23d, 1824.

Mr. Kelsey is one of the large farmers of the county, and is the owner of nine hundred and thirty-two acres of land, which, with the exception of sixty-five acres, lies in one body in the northern part of Brighton and the southern part of Shipman township. His farm is finely improved, has a large and commodious residence and excellent buildings. A full page illustration may be found elsewhere. It has good hedges and orchards, and all the requirements and conveniences of a first class farm. There are also three tenant houses on the premises. Most of this large farm he carried on until within two or three years; he has since rented out the greater portion, and has lived a life of greater ease and leisure. he and his father were associated together in financial affairs till the latter's death, and it was largely through Mr. Kelsey's business judgment and sagacity that their joint property was accumulated. With the exception of the one hundred and ninety-six acres which comprised the original tract, he has purchased this large and valuable farm from the results of his own labor, industry and business management. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey have been the parents of six children; Mercy, May, Mary Alice, John H. and James R., who are living and Nellie Atkinson and Leroy who are deceased. Nellie Atkinson was a twin to John H. and died December 1st, 1874, at the age of two years and eight months. Leroy, the next to the youngest child, died on the 4th of April, 1876, at the age of seven months and sixteen days.

In his political principles Mr. Kelsey was first a member of the whig party. His father, on coming to this country, became a whig, and Mr. Kelsey followed in his footsteps, casting his first vote for President