"A native of Louisiana, Kelso represented Rapides Parish in the constitutional conventinon of 1868 and served in the state Senate, 1868-1876. In the mid-1970s he alwo sorked at the New Orleans custom house. Kelso was co-owner of the New Orleans 'Louisianian' and an incorporator of the Mississippi River Packer Company, organized by P. B. S. Pinchback, but he was listed in the 1870 census as owning no property. Kelso supported the Louisiana Unification movement of 1873. He was forced to flee the state for Arkansas during the violent election campaign of 1876. In 1880, Kelso was employed at the New Orleans custom house.
Source: Jones, Louisiana Legislature, 31-32; Vincent, Black Legislators; information provided by Richard L. Hume.