Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 494 - 496 

JOSEPH A. NELSON. The representatives of the farming and stock-raising interests of Sedgwick County acknowledge this gentleman as one of the most important factors who aided in bringing this section of the State of Kansas to its present enviable condition. He is a man of more than ordinary business capacity, intelligent and well-informed, and at once upon becoming a resident here identified himself with the progress and best interests of the people. There is seldom written the history of a great work without usually a close allusion to the antecedents of the man who was chiefly instrumental in its inauguration and completion, and we accordingly glance with interest back to the history of those from whom our subject drew his origin.

            Mr. Nelson was born in Vigo County, Ind., Dec. 26, 1828. His parents, James and Susanna (Cruse) Nelson, both deceased, were natives respectively of South Carolina and Kentucky. They were among the earliest pioneers of Vigo County, where they spent the remainder of their days, the mother dying in 1865, and the father in 1871. Seven of the eight children comprising the parental household are still living. Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of John Copeland; Letitia married Henry Lovell, and both are living in Vigo County; William P.'s residence is unknown; James E. is residing in this county, also Mary, the wife of J. T. Watson; John F. remains in Indiana; Joseph A. is the subject of this sketch. James Nelson, the father, accumulated a good property, cultivating a large extent of land, and being one of the prominent business men and citizens of Vigo County.

            Our subject spent his boyhood and youth on the farm where he was born, and attended the district school during the winter season until nearing manhood. From that time he was employed at farming and carpentering until thirty-one years of age, and on the 9th of July, 1859, occurred one of the most important events in his life, namely, his marriage, which took place in Davis County, Ky., the bride being Miss Sarah J. Hantsford, a native of that county, and born Aug. 12, 1841. Mrs. Nelson was the daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Cruse) Hantsford, natives of Kentucky. Her mother had been twice married, and there remain living eight of her nine children. Mary A., the eldest, is the wife of David Lee, of Davis, Ky., and the others— Sarah J., Thomas W.; Beatrice, the wife of Alexander Jones; Elizabeth, the wife of Elijah Atherton; James B.; Mary B., the wife of Jacob Dame, and John—are all residents of the Blue Grass State.

            To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson there have been born three children: Thomas H., March 3, 1862; John, Feb. 7, 1867, and James, Sept. 22. 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, in the spring of 1862, less than a year after their marriage, removed from Indiana to Douglas County, Ill., where Mr. N. purposed engaging in farming. The exigencies of war, however, necessitating another call for troops, Mr. Nelson laid aside his personal plans and interests, and on the 8th of March following enlisted in Company G, 28th Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the 13th Corps, Army of the Mississippi. Shortly after entering the ranks Mr. Nelson became ill, and spent a large proportion of his time in the hospital, having been stricken with paralysis about June 9, 1865. The last few months he was in Memphis, seeing very little of active service, and received his discharge at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in August, 1865.

            Mr. Nelson soon after his retirement from the service returned to his old tramping ground in Illinois, and from there, in 1870, crossed the Mississippi and came directly to this county. He occupied himself at farming until the year following, and then pre-empted a quarter of section 5, in Salem Township, upon which he settled and commenced to do battle with the uncultivated soil. He was obliged to build from the foundation, there being no house, barn or out-buildings on his place, neither a fence nor fruit tree. The period of seventeen years during which he has labored industriously a good share of time, has effected a wonderful transformation. The fine modern homestead eliminated from the sterile tract of country is the admiration of the passerby, and indicates to what good purpose the proprietor has adapted his time and means. He is still in possession of the original pre-emption claim, which has far more to him than a moneyed value, as it is the scene of both his struggles and triumphs. It is conceded by all that Mr. Nelson has the finest fruit orchard in Sedgwick County. His fine walnut grove of two acres is the admiration of all who have the pleasure of seeing it.

            Mr. Nelson at an early stage of his residence here, and as soon as the township began to make any progress toward settlement, became prominent in public affairs and was first elected Trustee in 1872. This office he held three years, and in 1875 was elected County Commissioner, in which capacity he served two years. In 1883 he was again elected to this office, serving three years and receiving the marked approval of his constituents. He votes the straight Republican ticket, and belongs to the G. A. R., at Wichita. To those projects which have been inaugurated for the building up of the township, and the best interests of the people, Mr. Nelson has ever lent his cheerful and ready assistance. Religiously, he is a Universalist.

            The first election in what was then known as Waco Township, but is now Salem, was held in 1871. The township then comprised towns 28 and 29 east and west, respectively. Two precincts were provided for the voters, one being located at what was then known as Babcock's and Parmley's Ranch on the Cowskin, near the present residence of T. B. Cartwright, and the other at the farm of C. M. Tyrrell on section 21. What was then known as Waco Township, it was proposed to divide, and a petition to this effect was presented by Watson Tyrrell and others. The south half was called Watson Township, and in a short time afterward the portion now known as Ohio Township drew off, and has since retained that name. In 1873 a petition was got up to change the name of Watson Township to that of Salem, which carried and the latter name has been retained.

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