Muscogee-Dougherty County GaArchives News.....Nelson, Thomas M. 1965
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Naomi McFadden naomi@ctc.com.na June 23, 2004, 11:55 pm

Columbus Ledger Columbus, Georgia March 1 1965
OUR TOWN

Virginia's Fine Gift To City

 BY W. C. WOODALL

   Very early in the history of this community, at some time before 1838, 
Major Thomas M. Nelson moved to Columbus from Virginia. A man of distinction, 
he left his impress, broad and generous, on this city; and a rich human 
legacy as expressed in the personnel of several of our leading families.
Coming with him to Columbus were his son and three lovely' daughters, 
known as "the three graces.
   One of the daughters, Evelyn Page Nelson, married Robert Carter, a 
leading citizen and highly respected druggist. Another, Maria Byrd Nelson, 
married William Woolfolk, one of our foremost pioneer citizens who built 
the beautiful home still standing in Wynnton. And Rosalie Nelson became the 
bride of Dr. Francis 0. Tichnor, beloved physician and author of the 
immortal "Little Giffen of Tennessee." Seldom has any one citizen been 
privileged to make such a rich contribution to the civic and social life 
of this community as was Major Nelson.
   Major Nelson acquired a lovely home in what we afterward called Carter 
Place, and this was known as the Nelson-Carter home. It was torn down 
just a year or two ago, to make way for new construction.
Mrs. Worsley's book, "Columbus on the Chattahoochee," gives us this 
charming glimpse of the Nelson home and estate: "The estate, comprising 
a hundred acres, more or less, had a spacious and lovely house with wide 
porches on two sides, the hipped roof supported by Doric columns. It housed 
a gracious family, whose roots were all in the Old Dominion. On all sides 
were the old-fashioned box-bordered flower gardens, wonderful magnolias, 
flowering shrubbery, and broad acres extending to the east.   "The home 
was one of those said to have been constructed in 1838 by Matthew Evans, 
the most popular builder of -the day, for his brother-in-law, Augustus Howard. 
Evans had built many homes for the members of his wife's family, the Howards. 
This one soon passed to the Nelsons and Carters. 
   The following is quoted, in Mrs. Worsley's book, from a yellowed sheet 
belonging to one of Major Nelson's descendants in Columbus: "His Master's 
silver shone upon the table, massive, and much of it engraved with the Nelson 
Coat-of-arms. Nothing could seem more valuable to Lewie than this silver, which 
was rubbed daily with his own hands. Spreading his blanket out, he collected it 
carefully, wrapped it up, carried it to Gen. Washington's tent, and delivered 
it to his Master. All were touched by the loyalty of the servant and the quiet 
dignity of the old Virginia gentleman."
   From the same source, these interesting facts are derived: Mrs. Robert 
Carter often took "Little Giffen" (a house guest of Dr. and Mrs. Ticknor, at 
Torch Hill), to her home in Wynnton and let him lie on the porch in the sun 
during his convalescence. 'He was a lovable, interesting boy, and Mrs. Carter 
was particularly touched, due to the fact that her three sons, Thomas M. 
Carter, 18, Robert Elliott Carter, 17, and William Carter, 15, were all away, 
in the Confederate Army."
   During the war, Thomas M. Nelson, Jr.; organized the famous Nelson's 
Rangers, of which many prominent young men of Columbus were members. Before the 
war ended, he was promoted to colonel, and was killed at Tupelo, Miss., in 1863.
   In the back of Robert Carter's drugstore (west side of Broad on 1100 block), 
Mr. Carter and Major Nelson, his father-in-law, kept their books, which they 
had brought with them from Virginia, and which they shared with their friends. 
Mrs. Worsley reported: "This was the nucleus of the first Columbus library." 
Mrs. Robert Carter was the first president of the Ladies Memorial Association. 
She held that office for 35 years, her death. Again quoting from Mrs.
Worsley: "Major Thomas M. Nelson was a grandson of Secretary Thomas Nelson. He 
was the son of one of the three officers who rescued their father at the battle 
of' Yorktown in the American Revolution, and so inherited the historic silver 
brought from the famous old Nelson house. Part of this silver was in turn 
inherited by thc Robert Carters of Columbus, and is their treasured possession.
Major Nelson was born in Williamsburg, Va., in 1782, and serveed with 
distinction in the War of 1812 as an officer in the U. S. Army. His father was 
John Nelson, of Oak Hill, in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, a first cousin of 
General Thomas Nelson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 
No Date on this article nor where it is located

A Bit of History concerning the Nelson Silver.

   Secretary Thos. Nelson, second son of Thos. Nelson (called "Scotch Tom," 
progenitor of the Nelson family, in Virginia), was confined by gout at his home 
in Yorktown, when Washington and his army commenced the bombardment of that 
town. 
   At that time, Secretary Nelson was seated at his dinner-table.
   His three sons, officers in the Revolutionary Army, were anxious to deliver 
their father from his perilous position, with no friends near him except his 
faithful negro servants. They could not shield their old master from shot and 
shell. One of the butlers who served him, was shot, and killed by a shell from 
the bombardment, which had just begun.
   At that moment the three sons came, with a flag of truce, to escort their 
father to a place of safety. Lewie Parker, the second-butler, was allowed to 
follow them, Cornwallis giving him permission to take with him such things as 
he himself should need.  His master's silver shone upon the table, massive, and 
much of it engraved with the Nelson Coat of Arms. Nothing could seem more 
valuable to Lewie than this silver, which was, rubbed daily with his own hands. 
Spreading his blanket out, he collected it carefully, wrapped it up,
carried it to Gen. Washington's tent, and delivered it to his master.
   One of the French officers who was in Washington's tent, Count De 
Chastillieux, describes the scene.
   All were touched by the loyalty of the servant, and the quiet dignity of 
this old Virginia gentleman.
   A feudal devotion existed in those days between master and servant, and for 
a great many years afterwards, its traditions were carried out in many happy 
homes Virginia and in other Southern States.
   The silver is still extant, and a small specimen is herewith sent by one of 
the descendants of Secretary Nelson. 

 





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