Frances Kelso, Who Died in 1931, Was Pioneer of Worth County

The week of October 28th, 1931 was a sad week for Worth County. Rev. N.O. Williams died suddenly while undergoing treatment in St. Joseph; he was the pastor of the Grant City Christian Church at the time. Fred Boll, a well known farmer, was hauling lumber home and collapsed and died. L.J. Whaly, a prominent resident of Gentry County who was also well known in Worth County, and who was big into boy scouts, accidentally shot and killed himself while hunting rabbits. And then one of the pioneers of Worth County, Mrs. Frances Kelso, who lived in the county for 56 years, from 1876 to 1931, passed away.

Frances Kelso was a member of the Grant City Presbyterian Church and the P.E.O. Sisterhood. Such was the respect that people had for her that businesses in Grant City were closed during the services to honor her. She married Judge Alexander Kelso in Grundy County on September 26th, 1875, and moved to Grant City immediately afterwards, where she was a member of the Grant City Presbyterian Church.

She recounted to her grandchildren stories of the Civil War, through which she lived. She was devoted to her church and the Ladies Guild, an organization of the Presbyterian Church.

She was well known for her hospitality; her home was always open to her many friends along with civic and religious affairs.