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Below is a family biography included in the book, The History of Clark County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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N. Nelson, M. D., a prominent physician and Baptist minister, was born at Mocksville, in Rowan (now Davie) County, N. C., September 23, 1816. His parents, Ebenezer and Frances (Burgess) Nelson, were natives of Rowan County, N. C., and Albemarle, Va., and born July 24, 1777 and 1782, respectively. After their marriage in North Carolina they came to Marion County in 1828, and entered land near Palmyra. The mother died in 1833, and the father survived her until 1846. The father was a cabinet-maker and carpenter, but engaged in farming chiefly. Our subject was educated in Marion County principally, and at the age of twenty-three began teaching school. During his pedagogue days he began reading medicine, and afterward practiced, together with farming and other business. He received his medical education in the St. Louis Medical College, located at Philadelphia, Marion County, and began practice, and also devoted several years to his favorite study, theology. He was ordained as a minister in March, 1865, and since then has been preaching. In February, 1866, he moved to Gilead, in Lewis County. He there took a medical partner, Dr. Frame, that he might continue preaching also. He moved to his present farm in November, 1871, and is still engaged in his professions, and in farming. His wife, Lucetta Morehead, was born in 1822, in Fauquier County, Va., and came to Missouri in 1835. She was married December 24, 1840, and her death occurred December 25, 1864. She was the mother of seven children. In November, 1871, Virginia Lillard, a native of Culpeper County, Va., became his wife. She was born January 20, 1835, and the following year her parents came to Missouri. Her children are deceased. Our subject’s children are Morehead, Mary F. (the wife of Dr. J. P. Frame), Elizabeth (the wife of J. T. Hall), John H., James T., William F. and George L. Our subject is very prominent, both as a physician and a minister, and in his evangelical work has built up two churches in Clark County, and one in Lewis. Politically he is a Democrat, and first voted in 1840 for that party. Our subject’s family, excepting the eldest son, are members of the Baptist Church. He served in the Florida war of 1837-38.

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This family biography is one of 232 biographies included in the Clark County, Missouri portion of the book,  The History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri published in 1887.  For the complete description, click here: Clark County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Clark County, Missouri family biographies here: Clark County, Missouri Biographies

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