Benjamin Kelsey
Encyclopedia
Benjamin or Ben Kelsey was an early American pioneer of California
with his brothers Andy and Sam Kelsey. He was a founder, often with one or more of his brothers, of several settlements in California.
He was born in Kentucky, in 1813. He and his wife Nancy Kelsey
arrived in Alta California
in the Bartleson–Bidwell Party in 1841. In 1844, he brought a party of immigrants including his father David and brother Samuel from Oregon on the Siskiyou Trail
to Sutter's Fort
.
With his brothers he participated in the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, which ended Mexican
control of California and established the California Republic
. He also served with his brothers in the California Battalion
under Col. John C. Fremont
and were honorably discharged at Los Angeles or San Gabriel in the early part of 1847.
In 1848, during the California Gold Rush
Ben took fifty Pomo
men from his brother Andrew's rancho near Kelseyville, on Rancho Lupyomi
, to the Sierra foothills in a gold mining venture, establishing a mining camp called Kelsey Diggings
. Once at the diggings, Ben decided it was more profitable to sell all the company’s supplies to other miners and then ill with malaria, he headed back to his home at Sonoma. The Pomo workers, forced to camp near a hostile group of local Indians and suffering from malaria and starvation, were left on their own. Only one or two are thought to have survived. This mistreatment of the Pomo and that of Andrew and his partner later provoked the Bloody Island Massacre
.
After recovering from malaria, Ben used his profits to buy sheep which he drove to the mines and used that money to set up a trading post in the Sacramento Valley but lost his investment when he became ill. In September 1850 Ben and his brother Samuel came to Union in Humbolt County
. He purchased land there and built a house on it. His brother Samuel purchased property directly south of Ben and also owned a smaller parcel. However both eventually lost their properties, Ben to mortgage foreclosure and Samuel to a default on a note.
Ben returned with his family to Sonoma for a short time, then moved to Oregon. In 1859, he moved his family to Mexico, and then to Texas in 1861. There his wife and children survived an attack by Comanche, one of his daughters survived being scalped but suffered mental illness afterward. In 1865 his family was back in California near Fresno, where his mentally ill daughter died. It was at this time he and his sons were accused of being members of the Mason Henry Gang
. Suspicion may have fallen on him because his brother Samuel had been accused of being a leader among the secessionists in San Bernardino
at the start of the American Civil War
.
In later years, he moved on to Inyo County during the time of the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake
, working in the Cerro Gordo Mines
, and finally lived in Los Angeles. Ben Kelsey died February 19, 1889, at the age 76, at Los Angeles. He was buried at Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
with his brothers Andy and Sam Kelsey. He was a founder, often with one or more of his brothers, of several settlements in California.
He was born in Kentucky, in 1813. He and his wife Nancy Kelsey
Nancy Kelsey
Nancy Roberts Kelsey was the first white woman to visit Utah, and she was the first to cross the Sierra Nevada mountains, arriving in California on November 25, 1841.With those words Nancy Kelsey began a journey across country no white woman had ever made...
arrived in Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
in the Bartleson–Bidwell Party in 1841. In 1844, he brought a party of immigrants including his father David and brother Samuel from Oregon on the Siskiyou Trail
Siskiyou Trail
The Siskiyou Trail stretched from California's Central Valley to Oregon's Willamette Valley; modern-day Interstate 5 follows this pioneer path...
to Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
.
With his brothers he participated in the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, which ended Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
control of California and established the California Republic
California Republic
The California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic, is the name used for a period of revolt against Mexico initially proclaimed by a handful of American settlers in Mexican California on June 14, 1846, in Sonoma. This was shortly before news of the Mexican–American War had reached the area...
. He also served with his brothers in the California Battalion
California Battalion
The first California Volunteer Militia was commonly called the California Battalion was organized by John C. Fremont during the Mexican-American War in Alta California, present day California, United States.-Formation:...
under Col. John C. Fremont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
and were honorably discharged at Los Angeles or San Gabriel in the early part of 1847.
In 1848, during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
Ben took fifty Pomo
Pomo people
The Pomo people are an indigenous peoples of California. The historic Pomo territory in northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point...
men from his brother Andrew's rancho near Kelseyville, on Rancho Lupyomi
Rancho Lupyomi
Rancho Lupyomi was a Mexican land grant in present day Lake County, California given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Salvador Vallejo and his brother Juan Antonio Vallejo. Rancho Lupyomi encompassed present day Clearlake. Rancho Lupyomi was one of three land grants in Lake County...
, to the Sierra foothills in a gold mining venture, establishing a mining camp called Kelsey Diggings
Kelsey, California
Kelsey is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It is located north of Chili Bar, at an elevation of 1923 feet ....
. Once at the diggings, Ben decided it was more profitable to sell all the company’s supplies to other miners and then ill with malaria, he headed back to his home at Sonoma. The Pomo workers, forced to camp near a hostile group of local Indians and suffering from malaria and starvation, were left on their own. Only one or two are thought to have survived. This mistreatment of the Pomo and that of Andrew and his partner later provoked the Bloody Island Massacre
Bloody Island Massacre
The Bloody Island Massacre occurred on an island called in the Pomo language, Bo-no-po-ti or Badon-napo-ti , at the north end of Clear Lake, Lake County, California on May 15, 1850. It was a place where the Pomo had traditionally gathered for ceremonies...
.
After recovering from malaria, Ben used his profits to buy sheep which he drove to the mines and used that money to set up a trading post in the Sacramento Valley but lost his investment when he became ill. In September 1850 Ben and his brother Samuel came to Union in Humbolt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
. He purchased land there and built a house on it. His brother Samuel purchased property directly south of Ben and also owned a smaller parcel. However both eventually lost their properties, Ben to mortgage foreclosure and Samuel to a default on a note.
Ben returned with his family to Sonoma for a short time, then moved to Oregon. In 1859, he moved his family to Mexico, and then to Texas in 1861. There his wife and children survived an attack by Comanche, one of his daughters survived being scalped but suffered mental illness afterward. In 1865 his family was back in California near Fresno, where his mentally ill daughter died. It was at this time he and his sons were accused of being members of the Mason Henry Gang
Mason Henry Gang
Mason Henry Gang 1864-1865, a bandit gang that posed as Confederate partisan rangers but acted as outlaws, committing robberies, thefts and murders in the southern San Joaquin Valley, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Santa Clara County, and in counties of Southern California.- Mason and Henry as...
. Suspicion may have fallen on him because his brother Samuel had been accused of being a leader among the secessionists in San Bernardino
San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California is a large city in the Inland Empire Metropolitan Area of Southern California.San Bernardino may also refer to:-Landforms:*San Bernardino , a torrent that flows through the Italian province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola...
at the start of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
In later years, he moved on to Inyo County during the time of the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake
1872 Lone Pine earthquake
The Great Lone Pine earthquake was one of the largest earthquakes to hit California in recorded history. The quake struck on March 26, 1872 and its epicenter was near Lone Pine, California in Owens Valley...
, working in the Cerro Gordo Mines
Cerro Gordo Mines
The Cerro Gordo Mines were a collection of mines located in the Inyo Mountains, in Inyo County, California. Mining operations were undertaken from 1866 until 1957, producing high grade silver, lead, and zinc ore. Some ore was smelted on site, however the remote location led to larger scale...
, and finally lived in Los Angeles. Ben Kelsey died February 19, 1889, at the age 76, at Los Angeles. He was buried at Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.