Morning journal and courier., 1889-04-22
DEATH OF GEORGE R. KELSEY.

Haven Passes Away-A Life Of Great
 Business Activity Ended-Long
 Prominent i'm American Buckle
 Manufacturing s-His Enterprise and
 Public Sp1rit-A sketch or HIS
 Career.
 Mir. George R. Kelsey, one of the leading men of West Haven for many years, died at his residence at eleven o'clock Saturday night, after lingering illness. MT. Kelsey had struggled bravely for years with an | insidious disease. He was first prestrated | with it six or seven years ago in the midst of | his varied important business undertakings and enterprises. He submitted to several | successive surgical operations by distinguish | ed surgeons with apparent benefit, though l the prostration was great and prolonged, and at one time appeared to be recovering, but ! the successive shocks to his system and long 1 endurance of pain had undermined his nat uraily tenaciously strong constitution and ! other physical difficulties consequent upon 1 the original complaint set in, rendering his | life one of much pain and suffering, mit1- gated only by occasional brief periods of cessation. During all, he exhibited rare courage and fortitude. In his death, West Haven loses one who probably, more than any other citizen, in it's history, had been conspicuous for business enterprise, sagacity and foresight and 1are executive powers. His enterprise contributed greatly to the growth of West Haven and increase of it's prosperity and was shown in manifold ways, all re- fecting upon him highly as business man and citizen of honor, and genuine ability. In his battle with disease he had the sincere sympathy of his townsmen and his death, except viewed as 8 relief from suffering will be mourned and deplored not only in West Haven, but in this city and other parts of the State.
 George R. Kelsey was born May 15, 1920, | in Upper Middletown, now Cromwell, Conn. His fathers name was Zebulon, whose an- cestors in direct line of three generations were named Israel. They were natives of that place and were hardy and vigorous peo- vid Edwards of Cromwell. Of her children who grew to adult years there were five sons and three daughters.
 When he was ten years of age his parents removed to Ohio and with their boys help cleared up many acres of heavy timber land for farming purposes. He remained with his parents eleven years, and during that time he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade.
 He returned to Middletown in 1842, and soon after his attention was called to the de- mand for clothing and suspendsr buckles, which, previous to this date, were all im- ported from England, France and Ger many.
 Mr. Kelsey began their manufacture in 1843, in a small way, at Middletown, with comparatively no capital, and performed all the work by hand. Other parties attempted the business about the same time, but yield- ed to the strong foreign competition, leaving the field to MT. Kelsey. He struggled with persistent energy for ten years to establish the business, and during that time met with reverses which would have crushed less reso lute men, being twice burned out. But by perseverance the business was re ablished, and by the introduction of new machinery and patented improvements in buckles, he succeeded in producing stock of such ex cellent quality that it entirely broke down importation. The field being thus cleared of foreign rivals, capitalists in this country be- came the new competitors.
 Of these only two three succeeded.
 With them MT. Kelsey united, with view to mutual protection; first with the Waterbury Buckle company in 1855, of which he accept ed the presidency and soon after took the direct management of the West Haven Buckle company, and held his interest in these two companies to the time of his death. Both have built up business and reputation worthy of American manufacturers.
 With 8 nominal capital of $17,000, the West Haven company under his manage ment for twenty seven years, paid dividends to it's stockholders of over $750, ,0O0; while the Waterbury company during the same time also paid large dividends.
 The American Buckle ar Cartridge com pany, in West Haven, is plant of Mir. Kel- sey's and was under his direct management, assisted by his two sons. With the increased wants which the progress of the times has created, buckles have become 8 convenient and indispensable article. Although now ap- piled to great variety of uses, their manu- fasture is comparatively recent.
 In the course of his business career, MT. Ko1o %c rav1fo in buckles and the machinery for their man ufacture. In the long coorse of laborious business career, he showed himself te be in 8 marked degree, zealous, energetic, upright, and faithful in all the relations of active life. Nor was he confined in his re- lations to the immediate field of business in- terests. The village of West Haven is pleasantly located and affords excellent fscil- ties for carrying on industries, and has re- sources capable of development, making it a desirable place of residence.
 Soon after settling in this village, Mir. Kelsey became interested in it's public well fare, and was ever largely identified with the enterprise and spirit of the place. In 1858 he represented the town of Orange in the general assembly.
 For several years he was town agent and first selectman for Orange. He did not devote himself permanently to politics, prefer ring the more eongenial occupation of his own business, which was also constantly cumulating.
 He was instrumental in insugurating and building the New Haven and West Haven horse railroad, leading from the old Green here through West Haven to Savin Rock. He also furnished largely the means for ac- complaining this enterprise, which has great ly benefited the villarge. bringing it rapidly forward and making it the most attractive suburb of New Haven. In his desire to make the horse railroad success, he pur- chased Savin Rock and largely of its sur- roundinss. He then built the Sea View House and several dwelling houses and sue ceeded in making it successful and well known watering place, visited by people from almost every State in the Union.
 MT. Kelsey was a zealous working member of the WestHaven Congregational church and society; has been on the standing committee than twenty years.
 He had not only struggled through de- pression and reverses in business, but had survived for years his long and dangerous prostration of health, from which his in domitable courage and will raised him up to prosecute anew to considerable extent the varied 1abors of an active and successful life, though this was done in the intervals of re- taxation from pain.
 MT. Kelsey married in 1S45, Virginia w., daughter of Captain Doty L.. Wright of Clin- ton, Conn. They have two daughters, Har riet v., the wife of Frank W. Kimberly of Sioux City, and George w., and two sons, Israel A. and Horatio G., who are associated with their father in business.
 The late MT. Kelsey in the latter part of his activity spent several winters in Florida and ran line of steamboats on St. John river and was engaged in other enterprises there. He also at one time ran an excursion n steamer from this city to Savin Rock. He built the Kelsey pier at Savin Rock, 400 feet long, which was destroyed by the ice two or three winters ago. It extended over the sand Hats to deep water on the Sound. MT. Kelsey about thirty years ago, was chiefly instrumental in getting up 6 grand Fourth of July celebration for West Haven, was . notably successful event an account 1 of which was published in the COURIER @ | short time ago with other "reminiscences. He l was also when young man and residing in | Middletown colonel of one of the States old 1 militia regiments. MT. Kelsey's life was full | ,f activity and enterprise and his memory will long live in connection within the his ;ory of West Haven.