Christmas and history at the Kellow House

CRESCO - The Kellow House will be in full festive swing this year in celebration of Christmas! The historic 1800’s home will be decked out head-to-toe in christmas trees and vintage decorations on Friday, November 29, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday, November 30 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Guests will be able to climb the servant’s staircase and explore the Kellow House during guided tours. Restoration projects have worked to restore the home back to its original glory, with fundraising efforts continuing. A free-will donation will be accepted and the funds will go towards the many repairs still needed to keep the home safe and taken care of. Be sure to stop by and check out the fun and unique historical site that is the Kellow House!

 

~ A Timeline of the Kellow Family ~ 

 

William Kellow Jr. Cresco Merchant and owner of the  “Kellow House” 

By Janice Strike

 

William Kellow Sr. and his wife, Maria Rawle Kellow and their four oldest children came to America in 1852 from Cornwall in England. They crossed the Atlantic in a sailing ship and because of “adverse winds” they spent over 40 days on the ocean. William Jr. who was a baby during the Atlantic crossing said, “The family settled in Indiana where the only 'luxury' they had was fever and ague.” (information from the CPD 1966 Centennial Edition)

William Kellow Jr. said he was four when the family moved to Howard Co., Iowa in 1856. He recalled riding the train as far as McGregor and from there riding on the stagecoach to “Matt Cole’s place” south of New Oregon which was the stopping place for the “Walker Stage Line.” Ezra Cole took them by oxen to Vernon Springs where the family lived in a little “shanty” until fall when they moved to the 160 acre farm which his father preempted that summer. It was located about a mile west of Cresco. Herman (Ike) and Bootie Kapler lived there previous to Campsite. William was a stonemason as well as a farmer and built a stone house with the stone coming from a quarry over by Lime Springs. (Bootie Kapler says they took the house down in 1974 and it was about 120 years old. There were newspapers under an oilcloth like wallpaper that helped date the house.) (information from the CPD 1966 Centennial Edition and BLM record)

•William Sr. and Maria were the parents of seven children Maria, Joseph, May, William Jr., Sammuel, Mary and another child that died. The four oldest living children were born in England.

•William Kellow Jr., as a teen got a job working for a general store in Cresco and walked to work as he reported listening to cowbells in the distance and hearing the frogs croak at Pollywog lake (area between where Immanuel Lutheran Church and Highway Nine are located today and east to Beadle Park).

•In 1873, William Kellow Jr. opened his own store.

•In 1875, he married Charlotte (Lottie) Carter in Berlin, WI. She was born in Phoenix, New York 5/6/1856. On some of the census records, it indicates that she worked in the store.

•1878 The Kellows had a girl, Allie May who died in infancy.

•1883 Lottie Kellow sang a solo for the “Scotch Sociable” given by the ladies of the Congregational Church Aid Society.

•1886 Lottie Kellow accompanied on the piano for others entertaining at the Lyric Hall.

•On May 7, 1887, William Jr. and Lottie had a son, Lynn. When Lynn grew up, he joined his parents in the business with the store then known as William Kellow and son.