Robert F. Kelton [1825]

Robert F. Kelton, like his father Robert, served in the military. At 17, Robert was a private in Captain Richard Williams' Company of the Montgomery County (Texas) Militia, serving in the Somerville campaign and expedition that captured Laredo. Robert served "honorably and faithfully" from about October 1 to December 1, 1842. He received a pension of $45 from the State of Texas on December 12, 1850.[1] In 1847, Robert F. Kelton was constable of precinct 1 of Montgomery County.

Robert and Eliza Tolbert were married at the home of William Tolbert, Eliza's brother, in Montgomery County on April 27, 1848. In the 1850 census, he listed his profession as a clerk.[2] Robert owned one slave in October 1850[3].

Robert apparently died when he was 27 in 1854, though nothing is known of the circumstances. Eliza and Elijah Lindley were married on August 20, 1855. They later moved to Burleson County, where Robert and Eliza's two children, Molly and Bob Kelton, were reared with the three children of Eliza's second marriage.[4]

Robert Franklin, son of Robert F. and Eliza Kelton

Robert Franklin (Bob) Kelton grew up with his Lindley stepbrothers and stepsisters, the children of Eliza and Elijah Lindley. By 1877, Bob was a struggling farmer in Caldwell, Burleson County.[5] On December 13, 1877, Bob, 24, and Florence Alabama Holt, 18, were married in Burleson County. Florence, daughter of Calvin Roger and Oney Bow Holt, was born in the Chriesman community in northern Burleson County. The Keltons moved to Callahan County, where they settled in the ranching of community of Eula by 1880.[6] Bob's sister, Molly, and her husband Steve Wilkinson in 1880 also came to live in Callahan County.[7] In 1904, Steve and Molly moved to Lubbock where they were in the cattle business.[8]

Bob and Florence had six children -- William Steven (Bill), Robert F. (Frank), Albert R. (Rod), Sam H., Bess and Bobbie. In 1887, he was a member of the County Commissioners Court in Callahan County.[9] He died in 1888 of a fever at the age of 35, when his oldest child, Bill, was 10.

Two of the Kelton children -- Rod and Bess -- remained in or near Callahan County while the other children moved on to West Texas.

Rod and his wife Beulah began ranching in Belle Plain in 1925. Rod served two terms on the Callahan County Commissioners Court. They eventually moved from the ranch and started the Kelton Flower Shop in Baird, which was in operation for many years.[10]

Bess married Jess Robertson and they lived in Sweetwater, where he owned and operated restaurants.[11]

Sources

[1] The certificate of "Public Debt of the late Republic of Texas" and sworn statements by Captain Richard Williams are contained in the Texas State Archives in Austin.

[3] "Montgomery County, Texas 1850 Slave Schedule," The Herald, Montgomery County Historical and Genealogical Society, Volume 10, Number 2, Summer 1987, p. 73.

[4] Ed Kelton, The Descendents of Robert and Catherine Kelton (Plano, Texas: Ed Kelton, 1989), p. B-21.

[5] Letter from Robert F. Kelton to Dick Lindley, his stepbrother. See complete letter in The Descendents of Robert and Catherine Kelton, p. B-34.

[6] Robert, Florence and W.S. appear in the 1880 census for Callahan County, and Robert was taxed in October of that year in Callahan County.

[7] Hicks A. Turner, Editor, I Remember Callahan: History of Callahan County, Texas (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co, 1986), p. 346.

[8] Their home was located near the present site of Mackenzie State Park. Taken from the undated obituary from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal for "Miss Delia" Wilkinson, a "prominent resident of Lubbock for many years," who died at age 68; article supplied by Willard Kelton.

[9] From the "Official Directory," The Tecumseh Banner, Callahan County, Texas, Nov. 17, 1887.

[11] Leah Edwards, "The Keltons" from Nolan County Historical Commission, First 100 Years: Nolan County, Texas (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1985), p. 243.


Stories Thomas Kelton [1652] Fernando Cortez Kelton Kelton Family Items See the Kelton House James Kelton Robert Kelton [1724] William Kelton Dr. Leslie Kelton Robert Kelton David Kelton Robert Kelton [1786] O.P. Kelton Mark A. Kelton Robert F. Kelton Benjamin F. Kelton Australia See also Heritage page		Robert F. Kelton, like his father Robert, served in the military. At 17, Robert was a private in Captain Richard Williams' Company of the Montgomery County (Texas) Militia, serving in the Somerville campaign and expedition that captured Laredo. Robert served "honorably and faithfully" from about October 1 to December 1, 1842. He received a pension of $45 from the State of Texas on December 12, 1850.[1] In 1847, Robert F. Kelton was constable of precinct 1 of Montgomery County. Robert and Eliza Tolbert were married at the home of William Tolbert, Eliza's brother, in Montgomery County on April 27, 1848. In the 1850 census, he listed his profession as a clerk.[2] Robert owned one slave in October 1850[3]. Robert apparently died when he was 27 in 1854, though nothing is known of the circumstances. Eliza and Elijah Lindley were married on August 20, 1855. They later moved to Burleson County, where Robert and Eliza's two children, Molly and Bob Kelton, were reared with the three children of Eliza's second marriage.[4] Robert Franklin, son of Robert F. and Eliza Kelton Robert Franklin (Bob) Kelton grew up with his Lindley stepbrothers and stepsisters, the children of Eliza and Elijah Lindley. By 1877, Bob was a struggling farmer in Caldwell, Burleson County.[5] On December 13, 1877, Bob, 24, and Florence Alabama Holt, 18, were married in Burleson County. Florence, daughter of Calvin Roger and Oney Bow Holt, was born in the Chriesman community in northern Burleson County. The Keltons moved to Callahan County, where they settled in the ranching of community of Eula by 1880.[6] Bob's sister, Molly, and her husband Steve Wilkinson in 1880 also came to live in Callahan County.[7] In 1904, Steve and Molly moved to Lubbock where they were in the cattle business.[8] Bob and Florence had six children -- William Steven (Bill), Robert F. (Frank), Albert R. (Rod), Sam H., Bess and Bobbie. In 1887, he was a member of the County Commissioners Court in Callahan County.[9] He died in 1888 of a fever at the age of 35, when his oldest child, Bill, was 10. Two of the Kelton children -- Rod and Bess -- remained in or near Callahan County while the other children moved on to West Texas. Rod and his wife Beulah began ranching in Belle Plain in 1925. Rod served two terms on the Callahan County Commissioners Court. They eventually moved from the ranch and started the Kelton Flower Shop in Baird, which was in operation for many years.[10] Bess married Jess Robertson and they lived in Sweetwater, where he owned and operated restaurants.[11] Sources [1] The certificate of "Public Debt of the late Republic of Texas" and sworn statements by Captain Richard Williams are contained in the Texas State Archives in Austin. [2] Listed in Census of 1850 for Montgomery County. *[3] "Montgomery County, Texas 1850 Slave Schedule," The Herald, Montgomery County Historical and Genealogical Society, Volume 10, Number 2, Summer 1987, p. 73.* *[4] Ed Kelton, The Descendents of Robert and Catherine Kelton* (Plano, Texas: Ed Kelton, 1989), p. B-21. [5] Letter from Robert F. Kelton to Dick Lindley, his stepbrother. See complete letter in The Descendents of Robert and Catherine Kelton, p. B-34. [6] Robert, Florence and W.S. appear in the 1880 census for Callahan County, and Robert was taxed in October of that year in Callahan County. [7] Hicks A. Turner, Editor, I Remember Callahan: History of Callahan County, Texas (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co, 1986), p. 346.** [8] Their home was located near the present site of Mackenzie State Park. Taken from the undated obituary from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal for "Miss Delia" Wilkinson, a "prominent resident of Lubbock for many years," who died at age 68; article supplied by Willard Kelton. *[9] From the "Official Directory," The Tecumseh Banner, Callahan County, Texas, Nov. 17, 1887.* *[10] I Remember Callahan, p. 127.* *[11] Leah Edwards, "The Keltons" from Nolan County Historical Commission, First 100 Years: Nolan County, Texas* (Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., 1985), p. 243. Other Information Robert F. Kelton [1825] Register Robert Franklin Kelton [1852] Register**

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		©2002 by Edward F. Kelton.
		New Page on January 25, 1996

*Robert F. Kelton, son of Robert*

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