Biography of Charles A. Nelson, Waverly, Bremer County, Iowa ======================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for their private use as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, 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. Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 12, 2000. Questions, please Email: seawave8@hotmail.com ======================================================================= The following biography was obtained from the Waverly Public Library in a book entitled: The History of Bremer county, Iowa. Date of Publication was 1914. CHARLES A. NELSON There is probably no one in Bremer county who enjoys a higher reputation as a breeder of cattle and who has carried off more numerous prizes than Charles A. Nelson, the well known owner of the Cedar Side Dairy Farm, whose name is a household word in the dairy world of the great middle west and even the whole country. Mr. Nelson was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, January 2, 1858, a son of Charles Bingley and Maria (Mather) Nelson, both of New York state. The grandfather, Chalres Nelson, was also a native of New York, but the paternal branch of the family came originally from England, emigrating to America during colonial days. The ancestors of Mr. Nelson on both sides have been agriculturists for generations. Charles Nelson, the grandfather, died at the advanced age of eighty years. Charles Bingley Nelson, father of the subject of this review, was born in Wayne county, New York, October 10, 1825, and moved with his parents to Roscoe, Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1840. In 1861, realizing the danger threatening the Union, he enrolled on the 27th day of September to serve three years as private soldier in Company G, Fifteenth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers. He was elected sergeant by his company under John A. Gordon, captain, and when his term of service expired was honorably discharged February 23, 1865. On the following day he again enlisted for a term of three years and in ten days had raised a company of one hundred men. Governor Lewis of Wisconsin, recognizing his ability, commissioned him captain of Company H, Forty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, February 27, 1965. In this company he served until the close of the war, receiving his final discharge September 4, 1865. He participated in many of the most important battles, among which were, Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was twice promoted for gallant conduct in the face of the enemy, receiving his commission as second lieutenant at Island No. 10 and his commission as first lieutenant June 16, 1863. After his dicharge he went to Clarksville, Iowa, and located on a farm near the town. He was an enthusiast in his work as a farmer, striving by precept and example to elevate his chosen business and raise it above mere drudgery for the necessities of life. He was a breeder of Durham cattle and often showed his animals at the county fairs, exhibiting many winners which would carry off first prizes in their class. He raised also standard bred horses, Kentucky whips being his favorites. He became one of the most successful agriculturists of Burler county and enjoyed a wide reputation as a breeder of high class animals. To his initiative spirit and executive ability the farmers of Butler county owe the organization of the Famers' Mutual Fire Insurance company, which he aided in incorporating and in which he served as secratary for many years. In the thirty-seven years during which Charles Bingley Nelson resided in Butler county he occupied many position of trust and responsibility, discharing all official duties to the best of his knowledge and ability. For seven years he was postmaster of the town of Clarksville, retiring at the end of that time on account of ill health. Mr. Nelson was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to James husband returned she aided in the operation of the farm, facing with him all the hardships and privations which existed in pioneer times. She passed away in 1909 at the advanced age of eighty-two and her death was mourned, not only by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but by an extensive circle of friends who had known and loved her all their lives. Looking back, we can see how the love of God, like a scarlet thread, ran all through her successful life. It was the secret of her faithfulness as a wife, her loving tenderness as a mother and her enduring kindness as a friend. Mr. And Mrs. Charles Bingley Nelson became the parents of six children: Amy, Marion, Lillian, Caroline, Charles, of this review, and Wesley. Charles A. Nelson spent his schooldays in Butler county and remained at home assisting his father with the work and becoming acquainted with thorough methods of farming and stock-raising until he was twenty-two years of age, when he began his independent career. He bought a farm in Butler county, upon which he followed mixed methods, raising grain, and also keeping some dairy cows. From 1880 until 1893 he continued upon this property with constantly increasing success, but in the latter year removed to Bremer county, where he bought the Stockwell far on the Cedar river, one mile north of Waverly. He continued to keep cattle upon this place, but it was about eleven year ago, in 1902, that he took up the scientific breeding of high-class stock for dairying purposes, of which he has since made such an extraordinary success. His farm is one of the finest in the county, wll sheltered and bordered by the river, which runs around one-half of its circumference. The comfortable residence and substantial, modern barns bespeak the prosperity and carful methods of the owner. There are also dairy houses and all the essential machinery and implements. The farm is now widely known as the cedar Side Dairy Farm and as such enjoys a reputation far exceeding the boundaries of Bremer county. Shortly after 1902, after giving close attention to the breeding of high-class stock, Mr. Nelson began to exhibit at the county fairs, becoming an entrant at these exhibits in 1906. He has continued ever since to exhibit, having made in 1910 his first display at the state fair. He is now the proud possessor of various prizes. In 1910, at Waterloo, his young herd won most of the honors which were offered at that exhibition. The year previous his cash prize money at that show amounted to thirty-five dollars, while in 1910 he carried off prizes aggregating over six hundred dollars. Mr. Nelson usually keeps forty to fifty head of the highest class of Holsteins and the reputation of his cattle is such that his name has become widely known in the dairy world. In 1913, at the Iowa State Fair, which was open to the world, Mr. Nelson won the grand prize for the banner Holstein cow. He is able, up-to-date in all his methods and thoroughly scientific in attaining results and keeps in touch with all the latest improvements and discoveries which are made in regard to the improvement of cattle breeding. It is, therefore, but natural that he enjoys such a high reputation and his work along this line cannot only be considered as a means of individual success, but merits higher encomiums for the standards which he sets in this county and for the example which he gives for other to follow. On the 15th of September, 1881, in Waverly, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Caroline c. Stockwell, of Belvidere, Illinois, a daughter of W. L. Stockwell, who moved to Iowa in 1868 and in this state successfully followed agricultural pursuits. Mr. Stockwell was born in Windom county, Vermont, December 28, 1827, his parents being Lot and Nancy (Talbot) Stockwell. With them he moved to Livingston county, New York, in 1835, and after eight years came west to Boone county, Illinois, where the mother died in 1858 and the father in 1863. W. L. Stockwell married on the 3d of May, 1854, Miss Tripp, a daughter of James d. and Angeline (Maxon) Tripp. In 1868 they moved to Bremer county, Iowa, and on his farm north of Waverly, Mr. Stockwell passed away February 24, 1902. Mr. And Mrs. Nelson have one daughter, Elizabeth, the widow of Dr. Walter McHenry. Mr. Nelson has ever taken an active part in advancing stock raising interest and has been the principal factor in the formation and continuation of the live stock county fair, which is usually held at Waverly. He is at present one of the board of directors. He is also a member of the Holstein Dairying Association, the Cedar Valley Testing Association, and the national Holstein Dairying Association. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church, as were their forbears, and they are deeply interested in all church work. Their home is beautiful and well furnished and there both he and his wife extend a warm-hearted hospitality to their many friends. The farm has upon it a number of pleasant groves and all in all is one of the most attractive properties in the section. Mr. Nelson is the owner of an automobile and in his spare hours delights to drive along the country roads, not only finding recreation but also gathering experience on these trips. Although he has never been active politically, he is deeply interested in public welfare and, being modern and progressive in all his views, ever helps along worthy enterprises which give promist of benefiting the county. He is one of the successful men of Waverly district, but is as much admire for the high qualities of his mind and character as for the material success which he has attained. Transcribed by Barb Braun, February 18, 2000. Any questions, please Email: seawave8@hotmail.com