Alphonso G. Kellam
Encyclopedia
Alphonso George Kellam was an officer in the American Civil War
, a lawyer, a politician, and one of the original justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court
.
After being educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
in Lima, New York
, Kellam arrived in Wisconsin about 1857 and studied law with a firm in Elkhorn, Wisconsin
. Admitted to the bar in 1859, he practiced in Delavan
until 1862, when he raised a company of infantry (Company D, 22nd Infantry) and became its captain. He was captured at the Battle of Thompson's Station
in March 1863 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Libby Prison
. In 1864 he was commissioned as a major and served as a staff officer during the Atlanta Campaign
and Sherman's March to the Sea
. Mustered out in June 1865, he resumed practice in Delavan. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly
1868-1870. In 1871 he moved to Hampton
, Iowa
, where he practiced law and became president of a local bank. In 1881 he moved to Chamberlain
in the Dakota Territory
, where he founded a bank and practiced law. After serving in the constitutional conventions of 1883, 1885, and 1889, he was elected to the South Dakota Supreme Court
in 1889 and again in 1893. Kellam resigned in 1896, and moved to Spokane, Washington where he again practiced law until his death in 1909.
Kellam was married in October 1865 to Clara Cole in Smithfield
, New York. They had one son, Fred W. Kellam, a lawyer in Spokane.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, a lawyer, a politician, and one of the original justices of the South Dakota Supreme Court
South Dakota Supreme Court
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment...
.
After being educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was the name of two institutions located on the same site in Lima, New York.The Genesee Wesleyan Seminary was founded in 1831 by the Genesee Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The plan for its establishment dates to 1829 when the Conference...
in Lima, New York
Lima, New York
Lima, New York refers to two locations south of the City of Rochester, New York in Livingston County, New York:*Lima , New York*Lima , New YorkNote that the names of both places are pronounced like the bean, not like the capital of Peru....
, Kellam arrived in Wisconsin about 1857 and studied law with a firm in Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Elkhorn is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. It is southwest of Milwaukee and northwest of Chicago. The population was 7,305 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Walworth County...
. Admitted to the bar in 1859, he practiced in Delavan
Delavan, Wisconsin
Delavan is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 8,463 at the 2010 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Delavan.-Economy:Delavan is home to the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and Andes Candies.-History:...
until 1862, when he raised a company of infantry (Company D, 22nd Infantry) and became its captain. He was captured at the Battle of Thompson's Station
Battle of Thompson's Station
The Battle of Thompson's Station was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on March 5, 1863 in Williamson County, Tennessee.In a period of relative inactivity following the Battle of Stones River, a reinforced Union infantry brigade, under Col. John Coburn, left Franklin to reconnoiter...
in March 1863 and spent time as a prisoner of war in Libby Prison
Libby Prison
Libby Prison was a Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It gained an infamous reputation for the harsh conditions under which prisoners from the Union Army were kept.- Overview :...
. In 1864 he was commissioned as a major and served as a staff officer during the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
and Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
. Mustered out in June 1865, he resumed practice in Delavan. He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
1868-1870. In 1871 he moved to Hampton
Hampton, Iowa
Hampton is a city in Franklin County, Iowa, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Franklin County...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, where he practiced law and became president of a local bank. In 1881 he moved to Chamberlain
Chamberlain, South Dakota
Chamberlain is a city in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,387 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brule County. Chamberlain is home to the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, which profiles the lives of nomadic Plains Indians...
in the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
, where he founded a bank and practiced law. After serving in the constitutional conventions of 1883, 1885, and 1889, he was elected to the South Dakota Supreme Court
South Dakota Supreme Court
The South Dakota Supreme Court is the highest court in the state of South Dakota. It is composed of a chief justice and four associate justices appointed by governor and selected from five different appointment districts. Justices face a nonpolitical retention election three years after appointment...
in 1889 and again in 1893. Kellam resigned in 1896, and moved to Spokane, Washington where he again practiced law until his death in 1909.
Kellam was married in October 1865 to Clara Cole in Smithfield
Smithfield, New York
Smithfield is a town in Madison County, New York, USA. The town is named after Peter Smith, an original land owner.The Town of Smithfield is located in the center of the county.- History :The region was first settled around 1797....
, New York. They had one son, Fred W. Kellam, a lawyer in Spokane.