Otto Kelsey
Encyclopedia
Otto Goodell Kelsey was an American lawyer and politician.
1861-64, and the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1867, 1873 and 1880) and Lucretia Parson (Bacon) Kelsey (d. 1868). He became a printer, then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and commenced practice in Geneseo, New York
.
He was a Republican member from Livingston County
of the New York State Assembly
from 1893 to 1902, and was Chairman of the Cities Committee. In 1902 he ran for County Judge of Livingston County, but was unexpectedly defeated. Subsequently his party friends forced Theodore P. Gilman
to resign the office of First Deputy Comptroller, and had Kelsey appointed to succeed. When Comptroller Nathan Lewis Miller was appointed to the New York Supreme Court
, Kelsey was appointed New York State Comptroller
to fill Miller's unexpired term, and was re-elected to the office in 1904.
On May 2, 1906, he was appointed by Governor Frank W. Higgins
to a three-year term as New York State Superintendent of Insurance, and resigned the comptrollership. Early in 1907, Governor Charles Evans Hughes
asked Kelsey to resign, but he refused. The governor then asked the New York State Senate
to remove Kelsey on the ground that "while honest he utterly lacks in force and initiative", but after a lengthy hearing in the Judicial Committee, Kelsey was upheld by a vote of 27 to 24 on May 3, 1907. Then Governor Hughes appointed Matthew C. Fleming a Special Commissioner to examine the Insurance Department, and on February 2, 1908, Fleming declared Kelsey "unfit for the office" in his report to the State Senate, but Kelsey was maintained in office by an even larger majority.
Eventually, Kelsey resigned from the Insurance Department to be re-appointed First Deputy Comptroller by Charles H. Gaus
on January 1, 1909, and acted as Comptroller after Gaus's death until the appointment, on November 11, of Clark Williams
to fill Gaus's unexpired term. A week later, Kelsey was forced to resign as First Deputy Comptroller.
He died after complications from a fall, and was buried in Geneseo, NY.
Life
He was the son of Charles S. Kelsey (a member of the Wisconsin State SenateWisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
1861-64, and the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1867, 1873 and 1880) and Lucretia Parson (Bacon) Kelsey (d. 1868). He became a printer, then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1875, and commenced practice in Geneseo, New York
Geneseo, New York
Geneseo is the name of a town and its village in Livingston County in the Finger Lakes region of New York, USA, outside of Rochester, New York. The town's population is approximately 9,600, of which about 7,600 live in the village...
.
He was a Republican member from Livingston County
Livingston County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 64,328 people, 22,150 households, and 15,349 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 24,023 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1893 to 1902, and was Chairman of the Cities Committee. In 1902 he ran for County Judge of Livingston County, but was unexpectedly defeated. Subsequently his party friends forced Theodore P. Gilman
Theodore P. Gilman
Theodore P. Gilman was an American banker and politician.-Life:He was the son of Winthrop Sargent Gilman and Abia Swift Lippincott Gilman. He graduated from Williams College in 1862, where he was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society, and graduated A.M. in 1865. He married Elizabeth Drinker Paxson...
to resign the office of First Deputy Comptroller, and had Kelsey appointed to succeed. When Comptroller Nathan Lewis Miller was appointed to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
, Kelsey was appointed New York State Comptroller
New York State Comptroller
The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
to fill Miller's unexpired term, and was re-elected to the office in 1904.
On May 2, 1906, he was appointed by Governor Frank W. Higgins
Frank W. Higgins
Frank Wayland Higgins was an American politician. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention, and a member of the New York State Senate from 1894 to 1902. He was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1903 to 1904, elected in 1902; and Governor of New York from 1905 to 1906,...
to a three-year term as New York State Superintendent of Insurance, and resigned the comptrollership. Early in 1907, Governor Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes
Charles Evans Hughes, Sr. was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican politician from New York. He served as the 36th Governor of New York , Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States , United States Secretary of State , a judge on the Court of International Justice , and...
asked Kelsey to resign, but he refused. The governor then asked the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
to remove Kelsey on the ground that "while honest he utterly lacks in force and initiative", but after a lengthy hearing in the Judicial Committee, Kelsey was upheld by a vote of 27 to 24 on May 3, 1907. Then Governor Hughes appointed Matthew C. Fleming a Special Commissioner to examine the Insurance Department, and on February 2, 1908, Fleming declared Kelsey "unfit for the office" in his report to the State Senate, but Kelsey was maintained in office by an even larger majority.
Eventually, Kelsey resigned from the Insurance Department to be re-appointed First Deputy Comptroller by Charles H. Gaus
Charles H. Gaus
Charles Henry Gaus was an American businessman and politician.-Life:...
on January 1, 1909, and acted as Comptroller after Gaus's death until the appointment, on November 11, of Clark Williams
Clark Williams
Myron Clark Williams was an American banker and politician.-Life:...
to fill Gaus's unexpired term. A week later, Kelsey was forced to resign as First Deputy Comptroller.
He died after complications from a fall, and was buried in Geneseo, NY.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kelm-kemmer.html Political Graveyard
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C06E0DF1030E132A25751C1A9629C946097D6CF The Rapid Transit Bill, mentioning Chairman Kelsey with wrong middle initial "C.", in NYT on April 12, 1901
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9402E6DA1F39E733A2575AC2A9649D946397D6CF Speculation about Gilman's imminent resignation, in NYT on December 29, 1902
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D07E4DB163AE733A25753C3A9649D946397D6CF Denial of Gilman's resignation in NYT on December 30, 1902
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=940CE2DF1339E333A25750C1A9679C946297D6CF The speculation about Gilman's resignation continues, in NYT on January 13, 1903
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F05E6D91030E733A25755C1A9679C946297D6CF Gilman resigned, in NYT on January 16, 1903
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F05E1D61531E733A25750C0A9639C946797D6CF Appointed Supt. of Insurance, in NYT on May 3, 1906
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E06E0D9153EE033A25753C2A9679C946697D6CF Kelsey at work, denying resignation, in NYT on January 20, 1907 (giving wrong middle initial "T.")
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B0CEED6153EE033A25750C1A9649C946697D6CF His fight to stay in office, in NYT on February 13, 1907 (giving wrong middle initial "T.")
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=940DEFDF133EE033A25750C0A9639C946697D6CF Vote in the state senate 27 to 24 for Kelsey, in NYT on May 3, 1907
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E00E2DC173EE233A25750C0A9679C946997D6CF The report on Kelsey's receivership at the Republic Savings and Loan Association, in NYT on January 3, 1908 (giving wrong middle initial "C.")
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C04E6D8173EE233A25750C0A9649C946997D6CF The Fleming Report, in NYT on February 3, 1908
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9905E6DC113EE233A25756C1A9649D946997D6CF His re-appointment, in NYT on December 15, 1908
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C00EFD91739E333A25756C2A9649D946997D6CF Kelsey with middle initial H., in NYT on December 25, 1908
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F02E7D6123EE733A25752C1A9679D946897D6CF Acting Comptroller between death of Gaus and appointment of successor, in NYT on November 11, 1909
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9907EFDE1239E733A25753C2A9679D946897D6CF His resignation, in NYT on November 20, 1909
- http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60D15F63858177A93C3AB1783D85F408385F9 Obit in NYT on August 21, 1934 (subscription required)
- "Gossip About People of Note" in Old newspaper, of 1906 with short bio of Kelsey
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nywyomin/wperrycem.htm His mother's burial record, from West Perry Cemetery, at RootsWeb
- http://www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/ib/99ib1.pdf Members of the Wisconsin Legislature