Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Nelson, John 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:12 pm

Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900

John Nelson

For a third of a century John Nelson has been a resident of Grundy county, and 
through the greater part of that period has been associated with its 
commercial interests, but is now living retired from the active cares of 
business life. Success is not a matter of genius or of chance, but results 
from earnest application steadfast purpose and unfaltering industry,—all of 
which are numbered among the characteristics of Mr. Nelson. It was those 
qualities which brought to him his comfortable surroundings and won him his 
present position among the substantial citizens of Morris.

Mr. Nelson came to Grundy county in 1866 from Belmont county, Ohio, where he 
was born March 4, 1819, upon a farm about two and one-half miles west of 
Wheeling, West Virginia. His parents, Robert and Mary S. (McGregor) Nelson, 
were of Scotch lineage. The former was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and 
the latter near Baltimore, Maryland.  The paternal grandfather of our subject 
was an early settler of Wheeling and a man of considerable prominence, his 
name appearing on the petition to the governor of Virginia for the 
incorporation of Wheeling as a village.  The parents of our subject were 
married in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1817, and there spent the residue of their 
days, the father developing a good farm in the midst of the wilderness and 
transforming the wild land into richly cultivated fields. Of the nine children 
in his family only two are now living, — John and Robert — the latter residing 
on the old homestead in the Buckeye state. These sons were the eldest of the 
family, and the younger members who are now deceased are Elizabeth, Mathew, 
Thomas, Alexander, Franklin, Margaret and James.

Upon the old homestead farm John Nelson spent his boyhood days, working in 
field and meadow through the summer months, while in the winter season he 
pursued his education in the public schools.  He assisted in the farm work 
until twenty-five years of age, when he went to Bridgeport, Ohio, and engaged 
in the lumber business, carrying on operations there in that line until 1866, 
when he sold his lumber-yard and came to Morris.  Here he resumed business in 
the same line, and was a successful lumber merchant of Grundy county until 
1887, when he retired to private life. During this period he was associated 
with several partners, and throughout his connection with the lumber trade he 
enjoyed a good business and met with prosperity. His business methods 
commended him to the confidence and respect of the public, and his name was a 
synonym for commercial integrity.

In Bridgeport, Ohio, Mr. Nelson was married, in 1856, wedding Helen Adams, who 
bore him a daughter, Gertrude L., and passed away in death in 1858. Soon after 
his arrival in Morris Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth T. 
Campbell, and there were born two daughters,—Mary C. and Emeline M. The latter 
is the wife of Dr. W. P. Walsh, of Morris.  Mrs. Nelson, a most estimable 
lady, was called to her final rest in 1890.

Mr. Nelson has never aspired to political honors, preferring to devote his 
energies to his business interests; yet he has always kept well informed on 
the issues and questions of the day, being thereby enabled to give an 
intelligent support to the political principles in which he believes are 
contained the best elements of government. He cast his first presidential vote 
for William Henry Harrison, and supported the Whig party until the 
organization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He has voted 
at fifteen presidential elections and has ever had the courage of his 
convictions. In early manhood he became a member of the Presbyterian church 
and has lived a consistent Christian life in harmony with his belief and 
professions. The sterling qualities of an upright character have brought to 
him the trust and friendship of many with whom he has come in contact, and he 
well deserves mention among the honored and representative citizens of his 
adopted country.

Additional Comments:
Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p564-565


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