Lorenzo A. Kelsey

Who was Lorenzo A. Kelsey?

Lorenzo A. Kelsey was the mayor of Cleveland in 1848.

Kelsey was born to Eber and Lucy Ann Leete Kelsey in Port Leyden, New York, where he was locally educated. He later moved to Youngstown to work in the lumber industry. Kelsey and his wife, Sophia Smith, from Windsor, Connecticut, moved to Cleveland in 1837, after which he became the manager of the Cleveland House Hotel. After managing the hotel, Kelsey became captain of the USS Chesapeake and later the General Harrison. In 1848, Kelsey ran as a Democratic dark horse candidate due to his lack of political experience and defeated Charles Bradburn and Milo Hickox for the title of mayor. Kelsey returned to the hotel business in 1849 until his retirement. Kelsey died in Cleveland and was buried in the Erie Street Cemetery, until his remains were moved to Lake View Cemetery in 1903.

Kelsey and Sophia Smith had 7 children: Edgar, Eugene, Antoinette, Theodore, Ada Helen, Josephine H., and Edgar A.