Kelsay Family Cemetery - Roanoke, TX
N 33° 01.033 W 097° 14.099
14S E 664858 N 3654578
The Kelsay Family Cemetery is a small, inactive family cemetery of eight burials, the last of which was the ashes of James Merriman Kelsay in 2008.
Waymark Code: WMKA7W
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 03/08/2014
Views: 2
Other than the headstone for James Merriman Kelsay, besides possible fieldstones, there are no headstones for anybody here: They were removed at some point, according to the folks in Roanoke. There are only two signs inside the fenced cemetery, and the newest says:
Kelsay Family Cemetery
William Royal Kelsay was born June 20, 1810 in Cayuga County, New York and grew up in Clinton County, Ohio. He was the great-grandson of Robert Bruce Kelsay, the first Kelsay to come to America in 1734. Although born in Dromore, Ireland in 1711, Robert Kelsay was of Scottish descent.
William Kelsay served as a lieutenant in the Blackhawk War of 1832 and was by trade a shoe manufacturer, stone mason, and farmer. He married Eliza Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1841. Kelsay brought his family to Denton County, Texas in 1853, at a time when it was still common to see buffalo roaming the area. His preemption certificate to these 160 acres was signed by Governor Sam Houston on February 18, 1861, a month before being forced to resign from office due to his opposition to secession, an opinion Kelsay shared.
Five Kelsay children lived to maturity:
Curtis William 1838-1922
Quitera Edith (Burnett) 1839-?
Robert Bruce 1846-1926
Margaret Eliza (McCoy) 1848-1920
Walter Fenix, born on this land, 1854-1917
Buried here are:
William Royal Kelsay, died July 10, 1867
Eliza Smith (Kelsay), died April 2, 1900
Atlantic Smith 1773-1860, mother of Eliza Smith, born at sea and came to Texas in a covered wagon at the age of 80.
William Royal, 1870, son of Curtis William Kelsay
John Robert, 1876, son of Curtis William Kelsay
Curtis Houston, 1880, son of Curtis William Kelsay
Ula Emma, 1875, daughter of Robert Bruce Kelsay
The descendants of William Royal Kelsay have preserved this cemetery throughout the years, and it is still actively used by the family. In 2008 the ashes of James Merriman Kelsay were interred here.
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The second sign was placed here in 1996, and the newest sign is based on it:
The Kelsay Family Cemetery
William Royal Kelsay - Born June 20, 1810, Cayuga Co. New York. Great-grandson of Robert Bruce Kelsay, the first of our line to come to America, in 1734. Robert Bruce was born in 1711, in Dromore, Ireland, but we were not Irish, but Scots.
William Royal grew up in Clinton Co., Ohio, served as lieutenant in the Blackhawk War in 1832, Lafayette, Indiana. Married April 13, 1837 to Eliza Smith, born Cincinnati, Ohio March 3, 1819. By trades a shoe manufacturer, stone mason, and farmer. Move to Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1841. Brought his family here to Denton Co. in 1853. His pre-emption certificate to this property, 160 acres, was signed by Governor Sam Houston on Feb. 18, 1861, shortly before his forced resignation.
These children grew to maturity: Curtis William Kelsay 1838-1922 - Died Wise Co. Quitera Edith Kelsay Burnett 1839- . Robert Bruce Kelsay 1846-1926 Died Jack Co. Margaret Eliza Kelsay McCoy 1848-1920 Died Ft. Worth. Walter Fenix Kelsay 1854-1917 died Quanah, Texas, born on this land. William Royal Kelsay died July 10, 1867, and lies here with Eliza. Others buried here include: Atlantic Smith, Eliza's mother, born at sea in 1773, she came to Texas in a covered wagon at the age of 80, and died after the census of 1860. This land took a hard toll on Kelsay children: William Royal Kelsay, 1870, Curtis's son; John Robert Kelsay, 1876, Curtis's son; Ula Emma Kelsay, 1875-1876, Robert Bruce's daughter; Curtis Houston Kelsay 1880, Curtis's son.
This plaque was dedicated in 1996 by William Royal Kelsay's descendants, including his great-grandson and historian, Royal Edward Kelsay, Jr. of Jack Co, born 1930, proud grandfather of our ancestor's namesake, William Royal Kelsay, born August 5, 1981, Multnomah Co, Oregon.
Yes, we spell it with an ay, and we're
most displeased with those who forget it.
Wm. R. Kelsay Abstract No. 705
Surveyed Dec. 16, 1854
REK, Jr. June 8, 1996 Errare humanum est
[Note the upside down T in "est"...there's a great sense of humor here.]
City, Town, or Parish / State / Country: Not listed
Approximate number of graves: Not listed
Cemetery Status: Not listed
Cemetery Website: Not listed
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