Captain Joseph C. Kelso    

KELSO, CAPTAIN JOSEPH C., was born on the 19th of July, 1835, on his father’s farm (then only a clearing of twenty-five acres), on one of the Redbank hills, three miles southwest of Brookville, Pa. Thus the first fifteen years of his life were spent in a small, rude log cabin, and by force of circumstances he was early made acquainted with the labor of clearing and fencing land, and erecting better buildings. He also worked at lumbering in the winter seasons in order to pay taxes, make improvements, and other necessary expenses. He worked on his father’s farm (with the exceptions of a few short terms at a common school) until there was about one hundred acres cleared, and he then moved to another farm which he partly cleared and fenced, replacing the little log cabins with good farm buildings.

By close application he had obtained a fair common school education, and taught school a few terms, but has always said that for the same wages he would prefer to cut saw-logs. At the breaking out of the war of 1861-5, he was a member of Captain R. R. Brady’s company of uniformed militia, the "Brookville Guards," but owing to party prejudice, he did not at first see the necessity of going to war, and therefore did not turn out with the first three months volunteers. But the development of events soon convinced him that duty called him to the line which separated the government and its destroyers. Accordingly, he was one of the first to enlist in Captain Dowling’s company, which afterwards became B, One, Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. The fact that he made his will before going to the front, is sufficient evidence that he fully realized the gravity of the situation. At the first organization of the company, Captain Dowling gave him the appointment of fifth sergeant. He afterwards was promoted through every rank to captain. He is one of those to whom were awarded the bronze medal known in the First Division, Third Corps, Army of the Potomac as the "Kearney cross."

Having no wealthy or influential friends to secure for him unmerited promotion, his advancement was slow but sure, and never envied by others. The "Captain," as he is called, is a man of strong convictions, and pure and honest motives, intentions, and desires. It is admitted on all hands that he "has done the State some service," and is not unworthy of the respect shown him by his fellow citizens. He was in the army four years, and carries four scars on his person which are the remains of wounds received in battle, yet he thinks that the glorious Union is worth all it has cost, and on this subject says: "I thank God that I am a sovereign citizen of the best government in the world, and that as a citizen soldier I have had the honor of helping to sustain it. It has done much for me and I would not hesitate a moment to defend it against foes without or within, if it were again in danger." He resides on his farm on Redbank Creek, six miles below Brookville, and although having some reputation as a warrior, he is now striving to be at peace with his Maker, and to be a promoter of peace and good will amongst men.

History of Jefferson County : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Syracuse, N.Y.: D. Mason & Co. 1888   Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors.  View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file!  Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com.