James and Jane McCormick Kelso and their eight children lived in this house from 1858 to 1879. In 1862, James Kelso left his family and stationery business to accept a commission as a Union Army officer. He raised a company of 101 men from the Shippensburg area, which entered service on August 4, 1862, as Company D of the 130th Pennsylvania Volunteers. The company fought heavily at Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. During its nine months of service, it lost eight men, two to disease and six to combat injuries. After being mustered out on May 21st, 1863, James Kelso and Company D's surviving men returned home. One month later, when the Confederate army occupied Shippensburg, they looted the Union officer's home, taking money, valuables, and furnishings, though the Kelso family was otherwise unharmed. At Fredericksburg, Kelso refused a promotion so he could continue serving with the men from Shippensburg, honoring his promise to recruits' parents that he would either fall with them or return home with them. George J. McLean, fatally wounded at Fredericksburg, was one of eight volunteers enlisted by Kelso who did not return.