Matilda Elvira Kelsey
1836-1919
1836 19 Feb. Matilda Elvira Kelsey is born to Samuel Alexander Pagan “Alex” Kelsey and his wife, Jennette Averett Kelsey in Hamilton County, Illinois. An alternative birthplace is McLean, Hamilton, Illinois. (FGS)
Matilda is the 6th child and 4th daughter in a family which eventually grows to include 10 children, 6 of whom would live to adulthood. Her siblings at the time of her birth include: Thomas Monroe 10, Diana Elizabeth 8, Hamilton who died as an infant in 1829, Elennor (Ellen) Jennett 5, and Cecelia Eliza 2. (FGS)
Her parents, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee respectively, had joined the LDS Church in 1835, the year before Matilda’s birth. Her father supports the family as a blacksmith and farmer.
1837 Family moves to Caldwell County Missouri.
1838 2 August Brother, John Averett Kelsey is born at Caldwell County. (FGS)
1842 Family moves to Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois to gather with the Saints. Father, Alex, works as a blacksmith.
28 Nov. Sister, Sarah Pirena Kelsey is born at Nauvoo and lives 2 days.(FGS)
1844 27 Feb. Sister, Mary Melissa is born at Nauvoo, but dies March 1st. (FGS)
27 June LDS Prophet, Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum are murdered at Carthage Jail, Hancock County, Illinois.
1845 7 October Brother, Samuel Alexander Kelsey is born at Nauvoo, but dies Nov. 8th. (FGS)
1846 12 Jan. Father, Alex, is endowed in the Nauvoo Temple.
(History of A.S. P. Kelsey, by Christine Shumway Solomon Walser in Averitt Lines and Related Families)
Family moves to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Alternative location is down River to Quincy, Illinois. (Walser)
Matilda is baptized. (TIB)
1847 14 Aug. Sister, Elennor Janett (16) marries Levi Walton Everton. (FGS)
1848 8 March Sister, Diana Elizabeth (20) marries Nicholas Hendrickson. (FGS)
1850 3 June Brother, Thomas Monroe (24) marries Sarah Arinda Everton. (FGS)
27 Aug. Family is residing in the Quincy South Ward, Adams, Co. Illinois.
Census returns show:
Samuel Kelsey 44 Md Blacksmith S. C.
Janett “ 41 Md Tenn.
Cecelia E. 17 Female Ill.
Matilda A. 14 Female Ill.
John A. 12 Male Ill.
(U. S. Federal Census, 1850. Illinois, Adams County, Quincy South Ward, Dwelling #273; Household # 316)
1852 Family moves to Utah Territory with the Henry Bryant Manning Jolly Wagon Train. Matilda is 16.
The Kelsey family settles at Little Cottonwood where Alex works as a blacksmith. (Histories)
Silas Richards leaves a journal account of the establishment of the Little Cottonwood settlement from 1849 through the time the Kelseys live there:
“I lost little time in locating my family on the Little Cottonwood Creek twelve miles south of Salt Lake City, where I bought a small improvement for $150.00 or two yoke of oxen and $30.00 in merchandise. We raised our tent on the premises on November 4th in a snowstorm… I labored all winter fencing and making other improvements… In 1850 our little settlement doubled in number and we built a comfortable adobe schoolhouse, and I taught the first school year 30 to 35 scholars and continued to do it for several winters. “In 1853, in consequence of Indian depredations and trouble, I thought it to be expedient for us to build a fortification and live inside the walls. We selected the site for the village, forty rods square, one & a half miles down the creed from my place. We built a wall of rock, clay and adobe twelve feet high around the sides and twenty- three families lived in adobe houses. We called our town Union. In 1854 we built a large adobe school house in the center; to be used for school and meeting purposes…” (Richards, Silas, “Journal of Silas Richards,” in Our Pioneer Heritage. Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Vol. 15, pgs. 112, 113)
1854 26 Nov. Sister, Cecelia Eliza (21) marries Orson Burlingame.
1855 16 April Sister Cecelia (22) dies. Matilda is 19.
1856 6 Feb. Matilda (almost 20) marries William Wilson Morrell (25) as a polygamist wife. Sealing is recorded in Temple Index Bureau.
William is the son of Cyrus Wilson Morrell and his wife, Mary Worley Morrell. He was born in Sciota Co., Ohio on May 8, 1830. He works as a blacksmith, carpenter and lumberman at Little Cottonwood. (Bill Eckersell, 1984 correspondence)
William’s first wife, Sarah Jane Richards Morrell, is the daughter of the founder of the Little Cottonwood settlement, Silas Richards. William married Sarah Jane in 1850. At the time of his marriage to Matilda, a son, Silas Wilson Morrell, is 5 years old.
1856 26 July Sarah Jane Morrell gives birth to daughter, Sarah Ellen Morrell at Fort Union, Salt Lake County, Utah Territory.
1857 23 Feb. Brother, John Averett (21) marries Emma Woodcock.
4 March From the Richard’s Journal: “Moved to Union and began making garden and planting fruit trees. 26th; Went to the city with Wm W. Meguire and wives, Wm W. Morrell and wives, C Williams and wife, Marion H Brady and Keziah Frances [Silas’ 16 year old wife of 2 years], and they all got their endowments.” (Richards Journal, pg. 115)
26 March Matilda and Sarah Jane are endowed and sealed to William in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Richards Journal, .g 115)
7 Nov. Daughter, Cecelia Eliza Morrell is born at Union Fort, Salt Lake Co. Utah Territory. (FGS)
1858 13 Dec. Sarah Jane gives birth to a daughter, Mary Francis Morrell at Union Fort. (FGS)
1859 22 March From the Richards Journal: “General order given for the Saints to move south because of our enemies. I accordingly prepared diligently for the move, packing a great amount of flour in boxes and barrels. One of my son-in-laws, Wm. W. Morrell, has gone southwest several hundred miles with a select exploring party to search out a county… I had their families with me the same as my own…June 5; An agreement of peace having been entered into we began our return move to our homes, and on the 12th had comp- leted our return with our families and stock…” (Richards Journal, pg. 116)
1859 22 Aug. Daughter Elenor Janette Morrell is born at Union Fort, Salt Lake, Utah Territory. Matilda is 23 years old.
26 Sept. Sarah Jane’s infant daughter, Mary Francis Morrell dies.
1860 30 May Matilda withdraws from her marriage to William Wilson Morrell and has the Temple Sealing cancelled. (See divorce certificate)
1860 Matilda and her daughters leave Cottonwood and move north to Smithfield, Cache County with her parents.
Census records catch the family in August, before Alex leaves for the Midwest to bring Elenor Everton and her family west.
US Census, Utah Territory, Cache County, Brigham City Post Office show:
Samuel Kelsey/55/ farmer Jeanett Kelsey /51
Matilda E. Kelsey/ 24
Sam A. Kelsey / 22
Celia E. Kelsey/ 3
Ellen __ Kelsey /1
Fall Family winter at the “old Fort.”
“Smithfield. Located in Cache county, is eight miles north of Logan. Smithfield was settled in October of 1859 by Seth Langton and by Robert and John Thornley… The original pioneers were joined by additional settlers who were primarily from Salt Lake and Davis Counties in the spring of 1860. The first settlement was located approximately on-half mile west of the present site and was originally called Summit, because of its location on Summit Creek. The town was surveyed in March 1860 by the territorial surveyor, Jessie Fox…
“In July 1860 the settlers were attacked by a band of Shoshone Indians and when the skirmish was over, two white men had been killed. The settlers moved closer together and eventually sixty-eight houses were constructed in fort lines. For protection the men worked in groups whenever they left the fort…Crops were planted, including wheat, oats, corn, squash, sugarcane, beans, carrots, peas, parsnips, potatoes, and flax. A few fruit trees were also planted…” (Linda Thatcher, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/Smithfield)
1861 Alex opens a blacksmith shop at Smithfield. It is believed to be the first in the area.
1862 April Matilda (25) marries Samuel Taylor (32).
Samuel Taylor was born 15 Jan. 1830 in Woodhouse, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He is the son of George Taylor and his wife, Hannah Swinland Taylor. Samuel joined the LDS Church around 1850-1852. He married his first wife, Mary Jane Crosby in 1852 at Woodhouse. They appear to have been active in the Church during those years. When he left England in the spring of 1859, his wife and 3 sons stayed behind. Another son was born that spring. His family eventually parted ways. (See Samuel Taylor History)
Samuel works at carpentry and brickmasonry.
1863 26 Jan. Son, Joseph Hamilton Taylor is born at Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory. Matilda is 26.
1864 30 Sept. Son Charles Thomas Taylor is born at Smithfield, Cache County, Utah. Matilda is 27.
1865 28 Oct. Matilda and Samuel Taylor are sealed in the Endowment House. Their two boys are also sealed to them. (FGS)
Also sealed to Samuel that day is Mary Ann Ramsden Taylor whom Samuel has taken as a second wife. She immigrated with her sister Marinda in 1863 from England. (See Samuel Taylor History)
1866 27 Dec. Daughter, Diana Matilda Taylor is born at Smithfield, Cache County, Utah Territory. Matilda is 29.
1869 19 May Matilda (33) is granted a divorce and has the temple sealing to Samuel Taylor cancelled. She returns to the Morrell name.
8 Oct. Matilda’s parents, Alex and Jennett Kelsey are sealed.
24 Dec. Daughter Elenor Janette is baptized. (Ellen H. Homer’s family group sheet)
1870 U. S. Census, Smithfield, Utah returns show:
Kelsey Samuel (Alex), 65, Blacksmith from S. Carolina Kelsey, Jennette, 61, Keeping house from Tennessee Morrill, Matilda, 34, no occupation from Illinois Morrill, Celia E., 12, at school from Utah Morrill, Jenet, 10, at school from Utah Morrill, Taylor, 7. At home from Utah Morrill, Charles, 5, at home from Utah Diana, 3, at home from Utah
1873 23 Nov. Daughter, Cecelia Eliza (16) marries Samuel Cole Swanner (21) son of Samuel Swanner and Mary Ann Cole Swanner. Samuel was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa. They marry at Smithfield.
1875 Matilda works in the Martin Harris household in Clarkston, Utah. (Bill Eckersell, “History of Diane Matilda Taylor Eckersell” no date)
Believed to be Matilda.
1878 28 Nov. Daughter Elenor Janette (19) marries William F. Harper.
1880 7 June Federal Census Records for Smithfield, Cache, Utah show Matilda living with her parents: Individual Race Sex Age Relationship Occupation Birth F Birth MBirth Kelsey Samuel WM 75 Head Blacksmith S.C. Ireland SPenn Kelsey Jennet WF 71 Wife Keeping House Tenn. Virg. Ken. Kelsey Matilda WF 44 Divorced Keeping House Illinois Kelsey, Joseph T. WM 17 Son Herder Utah Kelsey, Charles T WM 15 Son Utah Kelsey, Diana M WF 13 Daughter Utah
1883 August Matilda and three remaining children, Joe 23, Charlie 18 and Diana 16, leave Smithfield for Snake River Country, in eastern Idaho.
8 August Group arrives in Rexburg. (See attached DUP History for more details.)
1884 9 July Matilda and all of her siblings are sealed to their parents, Alex (79) and Jennett (75).
15 Oct. Daughter Diana (17) marries James McPhail Eckersell (22).
1885 17 Nov. Matilda’s boys may have been kicking up their heels: “Bishop’s Courts were common and supplemented civil law and order. On November 17, 1885, President William F. Rigby preferred charges against a group of boys ‘for breaching the peace in the Rexburg Ward by rolling and kicking a can (coal oil tank) on the public streets, and yelling and shouting in an uproarious manner; breaking open the door of the harness shop of T.C. Lutz & Co. on Main Street.’ “The mischievous boys were: Joe and Charlie Taylor, Joe and Garrett Dalle, Charles Edlefsen, John Ricks, Al Lutz, Mark Rigby and John and Alex McCulloch. The boys ‘confessed their wrongs and promised to do better in the future.’ President Rigby proposed the boys ‘be forgiven on the condition that the pay the assessed damages which amounts to six dollars.’ The proposal was unanimously accepted, since, they surely reasoned, youthful exuberance was a part of life.” (Crowder, David L. Rexburg, the First One Hundred Years, pg.47) Is it worth noting that Joe was 25, Charlie 20, and the others ranged in age from 25 to 23 and drinking was probably involved?
1886 Daughter Cecelia Swanner and family move to Rexburg.
1887 11 April Mother, Jennette Averett Kelsey (78) dies at Smithfield and is buried there. She had been dealing with issues now associated with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease.
27 Dec. Son, Charles Thomas Taylor (23) marries Sarah Jane Cabble, (18). The daughter of James and Elizabeth Bunker Cabble, Sarah Jane was born in Salt Lake City.
1890 Federal Census: Unavailable
1891 31 Dec. Daughter, Elenor Janette Harper (32) dies of complications associated with childbirth and is buried at Smithfield leaving a husband and 3 children. Two children later drown.
1894 21 March Father, S. Alex P. Kelsey (89) dies at Smithfield and is buried there. (FGS)
1896 Utah gains statehood.
1900 2 June Census returns show Matilda Taylor, 64, living on First West street in Rexburg with her son, Joseph Taylor, 37, a day Laborer. (1900 Federal Census, Idaho, Fremont County, Rexburg Precinct #1, Rexburg Village )
1901 Son Charles looses 3 children in 4 months between Jan and April. (Elaine Hatch, 2001, FGS and photograph))
Matilda with Charles, wife, Sarah Jane and their remaining children: Joseph Warren, Matilda and Arthur Samuel.
1901 22 Nov. Daughter Cecelia Eliza Swanner (44) dies of pneumonia and is buried at Heyburn, leaving a husband and 8 children. Her daughter dies 2 years later. (Dorothy Eckersell Kennington, 2008)
1902 3 May Son Joseph Hamilton Taylor (39) marries Grace E. Melliman, a teacher who came west from Texas and was serving as the Superintendant of Public Schools in the area.
Some family accounts say he met Grace while he was in the service. (DEK, 2008)
Joe and Grace Taylor
1902 23 Aug. Son, Charles T. Taylor (39) dies of scarlet fever or diphtheria and is buried at Burton leaving a widow and 3 children. He is preceded in death by 5 children. A son is also born the following spring.
1906 13 July Ex-husband, Samuel Taylor (75), a rancher in Marysville, dies and is buried in the Pineview Cemetery east of Ashton, Idaho.
1907 14 Jan. Ex-husband, William Wilson Morrell (77) dies and is buried at Fremont, Wayne County, Utah.
1910 2 June Son, J. H. Taylor (47) dies and is buried in Rexburg. (Sawmill accident?)
Matilda and grandson Howard Eckersell
1919 25 July Matilda Elvira Kelsey (83) dies at Rexburg and is buried 2 days later in the Rexburg Cemetery. She is survived by her last child, daughter Diana Matilda Taylor Eckersell of Rexburg.
Sources:
Crowder, David L. Rexburg, Idaho: The First One Hundred Years, 1883-1983, Caxton Printers, Caldwell, Idaho, 1983.
Eckersell, Bill, personal interviews.
Hatch, Elaine Taylor, correspondence.
Kennington, Dorothy Eckersell, personal interviews.
Richards, Silas, “Journal of Silas Richards,” Our Pioneer Heritage, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Vol. 15.
Thatcher, Linda, http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/s/SMITHFIELD.
United States Federal Census Records, 18860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 accessed through Ancestry.com and the LDS family History Research Center.
Walser, Christine Shumway Solomon, “History of S. A. P. Kelsey”, Averitt Lines and Related Families.
From Kathy Hamblin
