Carl John Ludvig (John Louis) KJELSBERG was one of six brothers born in Haugesund to Oluf Fredrik KJELSBERG and Henriette Jandine JANSEN. He arrived in South Australia in 1880 as a crewman on John Rennie, and in Sydney, NSW as a passenger on the Birksgate.

Carl married Mary Ann GREEN in Canterbury, NSW in 1888, and they had eight children, four of whom died young.

Mary Ann died in 1941 at 46 Percival St, Leichhardt, and Carl in 1945 at the same address.