Lincoln County, West Virginia Biography of GEORGE WASHINGTON NELSON This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: ********************************************** ***The submitter does not have a connection*** ********to the subject of this sketch.******** ********************************************** This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. 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. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 565-566 Lincoln GEORGE WASHINGTON NELSON. The "good roads" move- ment is gaining impetus with each day and is here to stay. The increase in the use of automobiles has been a potent factor in awakening the people all over the country to the necessity and importance of improving the roads, and there is scarcely a community which has not felt the effects of this urge. One of the first requisites for permanent improve- ment is the securing of the services of an expert engineer, and Lincoln County has taken a wise step in the right direc- tion in selecting for this important work George Washing- ton Nelson, a very substantial man who thoroughly under- stands his calling, and who as county engineer in charge of the roads of this region is doing a remarkable work. George Washington Nelson was born at Chatham, Vir- ginia, July 29, 1875, a son of George W. and Mary (Scol- lay) Nelson, natives of Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia, the former coming of English origin and the latter being of Scotch descent. Both families were estab- lished in Virginia during its Colonial epoch, and their mem- bers were connected with its development. When war was declared between the North and the South George W. Nel- son cast his lot with the Confederacy, and while serving as a captain in the Hanover Artillery had the misfortune to be captured by the Union forces and confined at Fort Pu- laski and later at Johnston Island and Fort Delaware until the close of the war. A man of high educational attain- ments, he was a professor in the Episcopal School at Alex- andria, Virginia, later becoming a sub-professor in the theo- logical seminary at Alexandria, and, finally entering the ministry, became a rector of the Episcopal Church at War- renton, Virginia, where he remained for twenty-three years, or until his death. George Washington Nelson attended the public schools of Virginia, the Cleveland High School at Markham, Vir- ginia, the Military Academy at Warrenton, Virginia, and then for two years was a student at the Virginia Polytech- nic School, which he left in 1895. He then went on a United States coast and geostatie survey for three years, leaving this in 1898 to enlist for service during the Spanish-Ameri- can war. Following his honorable discharge from the army Mr. Nelson was on a preliminary survey and location for the Southern Railroad for two years, on 160 miles of road be- tween Bergin and Jellico, Kentucky. He then went as a student with the Westinghouse Company in the shops to learn the electrical end of engineering, and was with this corporation from 1901 to 1903. Following his completion of this course Mr. Nelson was for a year assistant engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, leaving it to become lo- cating engineer for the Raleigh & Western Railroad. For a year he was draftsman for the Seaboard Air Line Rail- road, and for another year was transit man for the South- ern Railroad. The subsequent year he was with the At- lanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railroad as assistant engi- neer on construction. For another year he was with the Cape Pear Lumber Company's railroad as locating engineer. From 1909 to 1912 he was engineer for the Blue Creek Coal & Land Company, the Elk River Coal & Lumber Com- pany and the New River Colliery Company; from 1913 to 1914 he was with the Boone County Coal Corporation; from 1914 to 1916 he was a member of the firm of Ewing & Nelson, engineers, but in the latter year went with the White Ash Coal Company at Alco, West Virginia, as su- perintendent for a year, leaving it in 1917 to become en- gineer and superintendent of construction for the 0. Crane Company. During the two years he was with this concern he built four miles of railroad and located twenty-two miles for the road. In 1919 he came to Lincoln County as assist- ant engineer on the construction of roads in the county, and held that position for a year, and then was engaged in lo- cating the road between Mullens and Amegan, Wyoming County. In February, 1921, he was made county engineer of Lincoln County, and is still holding that office. He is unmarried. Mr. Nelson has been a communicant of the Episcopal Church from his youth. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the American Association of Engineers. A quiet, hard-working man, Mr. Nelson goes about his work with characteristic efficiency, always know- ing just what he wants to accomplish and the best way to do it. His record for accomplishment in his calling is un- blemished, and under his capable supervision the roads of Lincoln County will soon be placed in excellent condition.