California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

THEODORE A. KELSEY. For fifty-seven years a resident of California, Theodore A. Kelsey, of 
Ventura, was one of the pioneers in the field of bean-growing in this part of the state, although 
he now devotes himself to walnut-growing on his finely improved ranch of sixty-five acres, 
located near Saticoy. Mr. Kelsey commenced his career as a harnessmaker, but subsequent 
journeyings gave him the opportunity to see the advantages of ranch and farm life, and the 
greater part of his career has been devoted to activities connected with the cultivation of the 
soil.
Mr. Kelsey was born at Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey, in April, 1845, and is a son of J. 
B. and Delia Kelsey. His father came to California in 1859, by way of Panama, but after living 
four years at San Francisco returned to his home in New Jersey, where he passed the remainder 
of his life. Theodore A. Kelsey commenced his education in the public schools of Rockaway, 
which he attended until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he accompanied his father 
on the long trip to California. After locating here he became a student at the grammar school 
at Oakland, which is now the University of California, and at the end of one year gave up his 
studies to enter the employ of the firm of W. H. Baxter & Company, harness manufacturers, as 
an apprentice to the trade. He rose rapidly in the confidence of his employers, and in 1864 was 
sent to Owens River, California, to look over some mining interests for the company. After nine 
months he returned to San Francisco and resumed the following of his trade, but in 1866 was 
again sent out by the company to look after its interests, which this time consisted of its sugar 
plantations in Nicaragua. This business consumed __ years, when he returned to the United 
States, and, having decided to go into business for himself, opened a harness shop at Oakland, 
of which he was the pro- prietor for four years. Mr. Kelsey then disposed of his holdings and 
came to Ventura County, where he secured employment on a ranch while looking over the 
country with a view to settling. This property was near Saticoy, and Mr. Kelsey, becoming 
favorably impressed with conditions here, formed a partnership with his brother, J. B. Kelsey, 
and rented the Montalvo tract, consisting of 500 acres, which they conducted until 1876. They 
then gave up that land and bought the Jack Hill place, near Montalvo, consisting of 300 acres. 
Merely as an experiment, they planted twenty acres in lima beans, the rest being set out to 
general produce. The first experiment proved successful, and in the following year they devoted 
the entire 300 acres to beans and an additional moo acres that they rented, but there was but 
little profit at that time in the bean industry, as hand hooks were the only method of cutting, 
while the beans had to be tramped by horses. A part of their crop they disposed of at 3 cents 
per pound, but the best they could get for the balance was 2 cents per pound, and eventually 
the brothers decided that this was not a paying crop. In 1881 they disposed of their land and 
rented the Blackburn place, consisting of 316 acres, which they farmed for nine years. In the 
meantime Theodore A. Kelsey had bought 65 acres near Saticoy, which he now has planted in 
walnuts, a crop which he has made a decided success. His ranch has modern improvements of 
every kind, and a beautiful home, situated in the center of the walnut grove, makes the place 
doubly attractive. Mr. Kelsey is known as a good business man, honorable in his dealings and 
faithful to his engagements, and as a citizen who assists all movements making for the 
betterment of his community. He is a republican in his political views.
In August, 1876, Mr. Kelsey was married at San Francisco, to Miss Sophia Earle, and to this 
union there have been born six children : C. Earle, who is manager of his father's ranch ; Mrs. 
Mabel Rugg, a widow, who is now teaching music and resides with her parents ; Addie, who is 
the wife of Ernest Duval, of Kingsburg, California ; Rita, who is the wife of W. J. Garman, of 
Saticoy ; Inez, now Mrs. Ernest Beam, of Saticoy; and Theodore H., aged nineteen years, who is 
assisting his father and brother in the work of the home ranch.