Bio of Moon, Rev. Nelson (b.1818) Wabasha Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. 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. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge ========================================================================= This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884. Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book: http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some of the bios on her pages. Moon, Rev. Nelson, was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1818. His parents were of New England birth. His mother's maiden name was Abigail Wallingford, and his father's Christian name was Barney. From nine to sixteen years of age he dwelt with William R. Porter, a Baptist deacon, in Macedon, New York, receiving all his schooling during that time in the common school. He then went to Canandaigua and was employed in chairmaking. His health being injured by this occupation, he went to Kirtland, Ohio, where he dwelt nearly two years. Here, at the age of nineteen, he was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal church by immersion. His mother was a faithful Presbyterian and had him baptized at the age of seven. The teachings of his foster-father led him to insist on immersion, but he has since become convinced that this is not essential. In 1838 he settled at Lyons, Wisconsin, and after dwelling there nine years, during which he was licensed as an exhorter, he removed to Vermillion county, Illinois, and was there licensed to preach. In 1855 he came to Olmsted county, this state, and was soon compelled to take up land in order to sustain his family. He organized the first class in Rochester in the fall of this year. For two years he labored at Oronoco, Pine Island, Mantorville, Greenwood Prairie, Center Grove, Wasioji, and numerous other points where there was hope of doing good. He was ordained, by Bishop Simpson, at the first organization of the state conference, and Center Grove was his first circuit point. After residing on a farm in New Haven for nine years he took up his residence in Chester, where he has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. Here he dwelt till the fall of 1883, when he moved to Lake City. He has labored as a local preacher and has officiated at a large number of funerals. He was married at East Troy, Wisconsin, May 14, 1841, by Rev. James McKean, a brother-in-law of the bride, to Mrs. Casandra Chenowith, nee Hunter. She was a faithful Christian wife and mother, enduring all the hardships of a pioneer minister's wife without a murmur, and went to her reward April 9, 1882. She became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at a very early age. The second child of this union, Charles W., died August 9, 1864, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, four days before he was eighteen years old, having served nine months in the Union army. The others were christened and reside as here given: Mary A. (Mrs. D. K. J. Clark), Bigstone Center, Minnesota; Emma (Mrs. W. A. Stevens), Lake City; William P., Bigstone; Frank W., Bigstone; Owen H., Fargo, Dakota; Carrie I. (Mrs. C. A. Robinson), Chester. Mr. Moon and family saw some severe experiences in early years. During the first winter they were surrounded by Sioux Indians, and he traded a watch that cost him a cow for a watch-dog to protect his family in his absence. Becoming short of provisions, he traded another watch that he had for a rifle, with which he shot seven deer. To secure potatoes and feed his horse he was obliged to sell his buggy. Late in the fall of 1855, in trying to cross the Zumbro on the ice to reach an appointment at Rochester, he broke through and narrowly escaped with his life. One day in the following winter a couple set out from some distance away to find his cabin, in order to be married. Losing their way, they did not arrive till dead of night. The hut consisted of a single room. Mr. Moon got up and joined the twain in the presence of his family, who remained in bed, and they went their way rejoicing.