NELSON, William H., b. 1856: 1905 Bio, San Miguel County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/sanmiguel/bios/nelsonwh.txt --------------------------------------- Donated June 2004 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- William H. Nelson It is to prominent families of Virginia who lost heavily through the Civil war that William Nelson, of Norwood, San Miguel county, owes his origin, he having been born in that state in 1856, the son of J.K. and Sarah Nelson, who were also native there and descended from an ancestry long resident in the commonwealth. In 1868 the family moved to Kansas and they were among the first settlers on the Osage reservation. Their son received only such education as their time and circumstances allowed, owing to their migratory life, and when he was fourteen began life for himself on the plains where he passed two years. In 1872 he came to Colorado and located in Park county where he drove an overland stage for two years. He was then eighteen years old, and, desiring a more settled and less hazardous occupation, moved to Lake county and went to work at his trade as a carpenter of which he had previously acquired some knowledge, and also engaged in the stock industry. In 1877 he crossed the range into the Gunnison country with stock, making the first trail into Pitkin Park and locating a ranch around the site of the present town of Parlin. On this ranch he lived until the railroad was constructed through this region when he sold it to the company, and in 1880 he moved to San Miguel county, locating first in Gupsum valley on the Dolores river, where he took up a homestead which he still owns. He has also acquired a large amount of other property and has a considerable herd of fine cattle and a large band of superior horses. In 1898 he took up residence permanently at Norwood and there he built a beautiful residence which he is now living in. In 1903 he was appointed postmaster at Norwood, thus keeping up his interest in the public life of the community which began his advent into this section. He was one of the county commissioners in the county, serving two terms of three years each. He was also a delegate to the first convention held in Gunnison county. In fraternal relations he is an interesting member of the Masonic fraternity, and has for many years taken an active part in the proceedings of his lodge. At Chillicothe, Missouri, in December, 1885, he was married to Miss Susie Minor, a daughter of P.H. Minor, a prominent farmer and stock-grower of that section of the country, where she was born and reared. They have three children, John M., Preston H. and Wesley R. Mr. Nelson is one of the real pioneers of this state and saw the beginning of civilization where he has lived and contributed substantially to its progress and development, being an important factor in helping to settle the country and bring its resources into the channels of trade and make them known to the commercial and industrial world. The people around him value his efforts in this behalf and hold him in the highest esteem on every hand. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.