Nelson Ulery 1837-1923

ULERY, MATTHEWS, MITCHELL, MCKIBBON, BEESON, SMITH

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 11/21/2010 at 07:33:04

Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Thursday 11-29-1923] p. 7

PIONEER SETTLER OF LISCOMB DEAD

NELSON ULERY, 86, DIES AT ODD FELLOWS HOME, MASON CITY

LIVED ON ONE FARM SIXTY-NINE YEARS

---Came to Iowa Shortly After Settlement of Marshall County and Helped Build First Log Cabin on Liscomb Prairie---

---Spent Life on Place Settled by Father---

Nelson Ulery, aged 86, one of the pioneer settlers of Marshall county who for sixty-nine years lived on the farm in Liscomb township, purchased by his father in 1854, died Wednesday at the Odd fellows home in Mason City of ailments due to his advanced years. Mr. Ulery had been failing in health for months and was brought to St. Thomas hospital, this city, early summer. He was taken to the Mason City home Nov. 14. The life story of Nelson Ulery is that of an early Marshall county settler who came in the decade following the first settlement. He was the oldest son of Levi and Marry Matthews Ulery, who, with their family of seven children, came to Iowa in 1854 from Knox county, Ohio. The family left Ohio in the spring but did not reach Marshalltown until Nov. 4. - - First Cabin on Prairie - - On their overland trip the family suffered the privations experienced by the early travelers to the new west. All the possessions of this family were carried in two wagons, one driven by the father, and the other by the son, Nelson, then a boy of 17. Two cows and two extra horses were brought along. The journey was greatly delayed when two horses were poisoned at a spring and died and a third animal was made sick and unable to continue the journey for some time. Kindly farmers gave the travelers a temporary home during their misfortunes. The elder Ulery carried on his person the money with which to buy an Iowa farm, but when he reached Marshalltown, he found all the desirable timbered land had been taken. He purchased a prairie tract and built the first log cabin on Marshall county’s prairies. - - Settled at Bethel Grove - - The family chose land a mile east of the present Bethel Grove settlement and the cabin was erected just across the road from the old Bethel church. The elder Ulery died six years after the arrival of the family and the son became the head of the home. Mr. Ulery was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Nov. 17, 1837. He was married to Miss Orilla E. Mitchell, Nov. 12, 1863. - - Native of Pennsylvania - - Surviving Mr. Ulery are a daughter, Mrs. J. F. McKibbon, of Albion, and two sons, John Ulery, of Albion, and Eugene Ulery, of Stillwater, Minn. Two sisters, Mrs. B. A. Beeson, of Des Moines, and Mrs. S. B. Smith, of Liscomb, and two brothers Madison Ulery, of Ogden, and William Ulery, of Whittier, Calif., also are living. Mr. Ulery was a member of the Bethel Grove Church of Christ and of Liscomb lodge, No. 242, I. O. O. F. The body will be brought here tonight, following a funeral service at 10 o’clock this morning at the Odd Fellows home. It will be taken to Liscomb Friday and the service will be held at the Bethel Grove church at 2 o’clock that afternoon. Burial will be in the Bethel Grove cemetery.