Kelso, E. J.

E. J. KELSO, deceased, second son of Gen. Kelso, was born April 10, 1800, in Fairview Township, this county. He was brought to Erie a boy, and as his father was in the discharge of public trusts, he was early instructed in the modes and duties of official routine. It was with experience thus in advance acquired, that he accepted the position of Prothonotary and Register and Recorder, to which he was appointed by Gov. Shultze in 1824, upon the death of Thos. Wilson. These duties were ably and satisfactorily performed for about twelve years, when relieved by a change of administration in 1835. In 1836, he was appointed by President Jackson Collector of the port at Erie, to succeed Col. Thomas Forster, who then died, after filling the position of Collector for thirty-five years. Mr. Kelso thus made the second Collector of the port, and having been re-appointed by President Van Buren, held the office till 1841, when displaced by a change of parties. Since then he has held no office. For some years he was engaged in the forwarding business at Erie, wherein his large and early acquaintance was utilized. Mr. Kelso was married, in 1828, to Miss Malvina Atkins, of Buffalo, whose elegant tastes and genial manners, as evinced in her surroundings, will be kindly remembered by our readers. Mrs. Kelso died in 1871. The inheritor of a large landed property in and near Erie, and connected, as we have stated, with its public business, prominent as a citizen, and a leading politician, Mr. Kelso became widely known and was largely trusted. He was an earnest and conspicuous member of the Democratic party, shared in its triumphs, yet was as loyal to its teachings under adversity, as in its palmier days. To have filled his public positions satisfactorily, to the appointing power and to the people, to have been faithful to all these trusts; and to have laid down his functions without a stain upon his record, was the pleasing contemplation of Mr. Kelso during the evening of his life. He died Feb. 10, 1879, leaving two daughters— Emma S., married in 1865 to C.C. Eddy, a resident of Erie Co., Penn., they live on the old homestead; and Mary, at home, an intelligent young lady, and out of respect to her father and grandfather, this volume finds a place in her library. C.C. Eddy, Emma’s husband, was born in R.I., Jan. 27, 1829, son of Sylvester and Thamer H. (Luther) Eddy, natives of R.I., of English extraction. Mr. Eddy enlisted in the U.S. Navy in N.Y. in 1862, and in the same year was appointed Second Lieut. He served five years and six months on the U.S. steamer Michigan during the civil war. In 1878, he resigned his position, and embarked in the lumber business; is a Democrat in politics.