Ashford Harvey Nelson

BOND, BRUCE, EYERLY, HAGEY, HOLCOMB, JACKSON, NELSON

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 09:36:43

A. Harvey Nelson, a farmer and stockman residing on section 20, Jackson township, is a native of Madison county, Indiana, born August 4, 1851. His parents, William A. and Mary (Hagey) Nelson, were born respectively in Virginia, August 17, 1827, and in Pennsylvania, May 17, 1831. The father accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana in 1835, the family settling in the timber, where four men made a clearing and built a cabin, which was their first home in the Hoosier state. They resided in Indiana until 1867 and the homestead, which comprised one hundred and forty acres, yielded good crops annually. William A. Nelson was sheriff of his county for two terms and justice of the peace for many years, and also held the office of township trustee. While living in Indiana he was a member of the New Light church. In 1867 he removed to Knox county, Illinois, but two years later took up his residence in Mercer county, that state, where he purchased eighty acres of land in 1873. The first spring that he resided there he was elected road commissioner. On the 17th of January, 1876, he removed to Stuart, Adair, county, Iowa, and resided upon a farm in that locality until 1883. He was an extensive raiser of Poland China hogs, which he sold on the market at a good profit, and was progressive in all that he did. He was independent and courageous in support of his convictions. He passed away on the 19th of October, 1908, having survived his wife for twenty years, her demise occurring April 26, 1888, in Adair county. To them were born eight children, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth.

A. Harvey Nelson received his formal schooling in Indiana and Illinois and through assisting his father with the farm work gained valuable knowledge of agricultural methods and practices. He has never followed any other occupation and has never been in the employ of anyone besides the members of his family. He began farming upon rented land in Illinois and on leaving that state removed to Adair county, Iowa, where he lived for three years. He then went to the vicinity of Redfield, Dallas county, where he lived for four years, and in 1881 purchased the farm in Jackson township, Madison county, which has since been his home, his period of residence here covering thirty-four years. He owns three hundred and eighty-two acres of land and his place is provided with all of the equipments of the twentieth century farm. He raises, feeds and ships hogs; buys, sells and ships cattle; and also raises horses, finding the stock business very profitable. He is now well-to-do and derives much satisfaction from the knowledge that all that he has is the result of his own labor and good management.

In 1875 Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Amanda C. Jackson, a native of Warren county, Illinois, and a daughter of Harrison and Roxina (Holcomb) Jackson, the former born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 27, 1820, and the latter in Ohio, February 8, 1821. Mr. Jackson began life a poor man and at the Time of his Marriage his home was a one-room house which was practically destitute of Furniture. In 1849 he and his family removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, but shortly afterward went to Knox county, Illinois, where they lived for two years. They next went to Warren county, that state, where Mr. Jackson became a landowner and accumulated a competence. He was a democrat but confined his political activity to the exercise of his right of franchise. He found his great pleasure in his home life and devoted his entire time and energy to the improvement of his land. He was a pioneer of Warren county and did his share in the development of that section. He passed away on the 20th of May, 1899, and his wife died on the 28th of November, 1893. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Nelson is the seventh. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson eight children have been born: Bertha, became the wife of rank Bruce, a farmer of Wall, South Dakota, and died leaving three children, Marion, Leon, and Helen; Orville, born April 29, 1878, is a farmer and stockman, owning land in Taylor county, Iowa, and has three children, Lyle, Ivan and Horace; William Harrison, a farmer, stock-raiser and landowner of Clearfield, South Dakota, who was born November 8, 1879, is married and has two children, Gleda and Violet; Mabel is the wife of Charles Eyerly, a farmer of Crawford township, by whom she has four children, Nelson, Nellie, Clifford and Reva; Grover Cleveland, born July 8, 1885, is a farmer of Roswell, South Dakota; Floyd Jackson, born February 7, 1889, is a farmer and landowner of Jackson township and has a daughter, Opal; Anna L., is the wife of Ray Bond, a farmer of Jackson township; and Earl, born April 2, 1894, is at home.

Mr. Nelson has been a democrat since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and is active in the counsels of the party. He is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M. of Winterset. When the Patrons of Husbandry, or the Grange, was a growing organization he and his wife were quite active therein and both held office. He realized early in life that in this country success can be gained by the exercise of sound judgment and close application to work, and he determined to become a successful farmer and stockman. He attained his ambition and is today ranked among the substantial agriculturist of his country, while his honorable business methods and his upright life have gained him the sincere respect of his fellowmen.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.