MARTIN COUNTY, NC - OBITUARY - John Randolph Nelson, 1930. ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non- commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Elizabeth Ross ======================================================================== Obituary, The ENTERPRISE, Williamston, Martin Co., NC, Friday, September 5, 1930. "Aged Civil War Veteran Dies in This County John R. Nelson Laid to Rest Near Robersonville Last Friday Afternoon: Mr. John R. Nelson, 87 years old, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Ross, in Robersonville, early last Thursday morning following an illness of several months' duration. In spite of poor health, Mr. Nelson was fairly active about his home, near Robersonville, until a few weeks ago when he went to live with his daughter. In his death the fast-fading Gray Line in this county is narrowed down to four, Mr. Nelson being older than any member of the remaining group. Up until shortly before the end, the age Civil War Veteran displayed a spirit that characterized a beautiful and noble life. Patiently and without murmur he awaited death. It was in the early part of the war that Mr. Nelson, then a young man of only 18 years, volunteered for service in the Southern Armies, and it was in Company E of the North Carolina Regiment that he faced his first duties as a drummer. Only a few months passed however, when he placed aside his drum to shoulder one of the heavy muckets common to the soldier of that day. Wounded in the arm in a battle near Kinston, Mr. Nelson was forced from service for a while, but he was back with the active troops before the close and took part in the last fight at Bennettsville,* near Greensboro. His experiences and hardships during the struggle would, no doubt, require countless pages, but they were behind and his started his homeward journey to start life anew. Takiing the plow handles, he accepted his part in the reconstruction readily, and during his life as a farmer he firmly established a warm friendship with his fellowman. Mr. Nelson married Miss Agnes Moore,* who lived near Flat Swamp Church, on November 24, 1870. They raised 11 children. Mrs. Nelson died only a few years ago. The children are Mrs. Lydia Coburn, Blackstone, Va.; Bob Nelson, Grifton; Charlie and Sam of Newport News; Ollie, Williamston; Mrs. Nannie Coburn, Mrs. Fannie Alford, and Mrs. Hattie Ross, of Robersonville; Luther, Parmele; and Heber, of Robersonville. There are 40 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. The funeral was held in the Robersonville Primitive Baptist Church, of which he had long been an ardent and faithful member, last Friday afternoon by Elders Rogerson and Cowin. Interment was made in the family plot on the home farm, where he had lived all his life." _________ * Notes: An earlier article on Civil War veterans, also in the Enterprise, stated that his last battle was at Bentonville, near Goldsboro. His wife's name is incorrect. Agnes was, before her marriage, Nancy Agnes Rebecca Andrews, dau. of Wallace Andrews and Nancy Chance of Martin Co., NC, as proven by Bible records.