Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-11
ANCESTRAL HOMESTEAD.
whiting Estate Century in Possession
of One Family.

OF One Family.
It is very rare thing in our changing
American life, that n house remains
hundred years in the possession and oc-
cupancy of the same family Such. hoW-
ever Is the case of the Kelsey homestead
in whiting. VI. The land was pirchas-
ed by the grandfather of the present
owner and has passed from parent to
son ever since This homestead was
probably bull in 1871 by Mr. Justin.
It has n large cellar with double wall.
The house Is two and one half storys in
height. substantially built. Ezra Kelsey
came from Killngworth, Conn, in 1907
and bargained with the said Justin for
the farm of 1876 acres with the house and
other buildings for the sum of s2,5OOo0
cash in hand tho deed reads. The
present owner has the old deed in his
possession. It was written the 4th day
of May. 1907, recorded the 18th. witnessed
by one Ebenezer Wheelock and Amos
Stone.
Ezra Kelsey also Purchased a large
tract OF land on the west side Of the road
of Bengah Justin, son of Gashum. The
deed was given May 90. 1907. Tho last
day of May he returned to his homo in
Connecticut disposed of his property
there and returned to Whiting in August
His family consisted of his wife and nine
children the oldest child 81 the young
est two years of age. They arrived in
Whiting August 10. They brought their
household goods up the Hudson in q
sloop to Albany, thence f. a packet-boat
to whitehall. The remainder OF the way
thov came with = team. Ezra Kelsey rode
on horse back and around his neck he
wore n black silk handkerchief, as that
was the custom in those days. Conceal
ed in the handkerchief was a large sum
of money.
The children consisted Of six daughters
and three sons. They all lived TO ma
turity The oldest daughter, Phoeba,
owing to i'll health. never married. lived
and died in town. Rebecca married
Ashel Hubbard. Jr., settled in the north
part of the town. Clara married Calvin
Hubbard. brother Of Ashel; Mary mar
ried Deacon Benjamin Casey Of Corn
wall: Charlotte married Deacon George
Flower of Parrishvile, N. Y, and went
there to live: Eliza. the youngest. mar
ried Horace Needham OF Whiting and
went to Parrishville where the two sis
tiers lived and died. Among the inter-
estng facts recalled Ezra Kelsey was a
Revolutionary soldier, served with dis
tinction through the war, was honora bly,
discharged received n pension several
years before he died. His death accur-
red March 20, 1876, aged SC years. He was
buried beside his wife and sister, Mary,
in Whiting cemetery. His youngest son,
| Henry. kept the homestead and farm. In
| 1861, he made repairs on the house, re-
| moved the gambrel roof putting a more
modern one in its place. He also re-
| moved the old style chimneys with brick
| oven and fire places. Henry Kelsey died
| September IS, 1869, aged CO years. His
wife died thirteen months before and
| they are buried in the family lot in Whit
| ing.
March 26, 1871. Calvin b. Kelsey. his
| son, came into possession Of the home
stead and farm. In the time he has
| owned It he has made extensive repairs
| on the house inside and out, also the
barns. built n new horse barn and tool
| house, set out shade trees, young
orchard and all kinds of fruit. In past
years he did a thriving business with
fine wool sheep and has always kept a
dairy. At present he has fine herd.
| The home is one of the most slightly
| locations in town with fine view of tho
| Adirondack mountains on the west
| Green mountains on the east. Three
years ago his health failed So he has
| not been able to do hard work. His
son Sanford J. Kelsy come home and
| has managed his fathers farm and
business successfully. In this history
| four generations have been represented
| While peace and plenty thus abound
How can the children know
| The hardships the fathers found
| One hundred years ago?
Ye gardens all your blooms prepare.
| Ye orchards all your fruits,
| Ye springs your sweetest waters
| bear,
| Earth yield your daintiest roots
In memory of the stalwart men
Who laid the forest low.
And wrssted homes from woods and
| fens
| A hundred years ago!
| A wild, unbroken solitude
BY foot of man untrod.
The grand primeval forest stood,
Fresh from the hand of God.
Our grand sires came with axe and
| plow.
| They felled the forest tree;
| Where fruitful fields are smiling now
They broke the stubborn lea.
They lay foundations firm and broad
| They builded sure and slow;
We reap rich harvests where they
| sowed
| hundred years ago!
| They built the homes, they till the
| soil
Their hocks they watched and fed