For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 740
AUSTIN NELSON....Among the highly estimated citizens of Orono township Austin Nelson deserves mention in a work of permanent interest relating to Muscatine county and its people. He was born in this county, June 22, 1868, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth ( Adams ) Nelson, the father having been born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and the mother in Bedford county, Pennsylvania. They were married in the east in 1845 and nine years later came to Iowa, settling upon a farm in Muscatine county. Mrs. Nelson departed this life April 11, 1887, and in 1890 Mr. Nelson removed to Columbus Junction, Iowa, where he remainded for a short time, then taking up his residence in Muscatine. He died in 1900. There were six children in their family, two of whom died in infancy, the others being : Florence, now deceased ; Dora, the widow of H. V. McKee, of Denver, Colorado ; Eva, now the wife of Charles Mickey, of Omaha, nebraska ; and Austin, the subject of this review.Austin Nelson was educated in the public schools of Muscatine county, and as he grew to manhood became well acquainted with all the details of farm work. He remained at home assisting his father until eighteen years of age and then began farming on his own account, renting land for several years. He also worked by the month, and, having acquired sufficient capital, he bought land in Orono township, which he proceeded diligently to develop. He now owns a beautiful farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 20 and 21. He carries on general farming and spares no pain to secure the best result from his labor. He is very thorough in what he undertakes and has brought his farm to a high state of cultivation, having now one of the model places of the township.
On the 17th of February, 1903, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy Heath, who was born in Orono township, September 27, 1872, a daughter of William and Dicy ( Idle ) Harper, both of whom were born in Champaign county, Ohio. They were married in their native state and later removed to Indiana, subsequently settling on a farm in Muscatine county. The father retired in 1889 and passed away June 7, 1904. The mother was called from earthly scenes March 1, 1905. Their remains were interred in Conesville cemetery. Mr. Harper was very successful as a farmer and became the owner of three hundred and ten acres of land in this county. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harper, two of whom died in infancy, the others being : Mildred, now the wife of Albert McCullough, of Columbus Junction, Iowa ; Julia, the wife of Fred Thomas, of Howard Kansas ; and Nancy, now Mrs. Austin Nelson, who has been twice married, her first husband being Heath, of Indiana. Their wedding was celebrated June 26, 1890, and they became the parents of four children : Ida May, born March 9, 1892, who is now the wife of Vernie Forbes of Louisa county, Iowa ; Sylvia D., born September 28, 1893, now living at Howard, Kansas ; Nettie E., born July 14, 1896, living at home ; and William H., born September 28, 1898, also living at home. One child, Harold, has come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson, his natal day being January 12, 1904.
Mr. Nelson is a man of good business judgment and possesses in an unusual degree the respect and confidence of his neighbors and friends which he has richly deserved by his industrious and useful life. Religiously, he is identified with the Reformed church, and politically, he gives his support to the democratic party and has served most acceptably as constable for four years. Fraternally, he is a member of Lodge No.4382, Modern Woodmen of America at Conesville.
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