My Genealogy Hound

WM. F. NELSON came to Nebraska in the spring of 1877 and settled in Antelope township, Franklin county. He was born in Michigan, February 26, 1844, and is the eldest of a family of seven children born to Thomas Nelson and Emma L. Perry. His father is a native of England, having been brought to America by his parents when a lad eight years of age. He resided most of his life in Michigan, and there married Emma L. Perry, daughter of Ira Perry, of the State of New York. In earlier years he followed the trade of a carpenter, and afterwards farmed. He moved to Nebraska, and resided in this state till the death of his wife, which occurred in 1889, when he sold out and went to New York, where he lives with a married daughter. Only two of the seven children of this marriage live in Nebraska - these being Richard I., who resides near Lincoln, and William F., the subject of this sketch.

William F. Nelson was reared in his native place, growing up on the farm and receiving only a limited education. He resided in Michigan till he got well along in his teens, and then went to Wisconsin, where he remained for nine years. Returning to Michigan, he married, and then, in 1877, coming to Nebraska, he settled, as already noted, in Antelope township, Franklin county, where he took a pre-emption claim, which he afterwards changed to a homestead, filing on the northeast quarter of section 22, township 4, range 14 west. When Mr. Nelson came to the county, he had a small team, his household goods and $30 in money. With these he began the solution of the problem of living on the frontier, amid the hardships and privations that then surrounded the settlers. He had many ups and downs, and met with many discouragements which would have overcome weaker natures than his. But he has succeeded through it all, and is to-day in a fairly prosperous condition. While looking sharply after his own affairs, he has been active in promoting the welfare of the community where he resides, having filled a number of local offices, and standing out prominently at all times for the enforcement of the laws and the fostering of a spirit of morality, education and sobriety.

Mr. Nelson married Miss Eliza A. Lockwood, daughter of John Lockwood, a native of New York, but now of California. To this union have been born a family of four children, as follows— Jennie A., William E., Stephen D. and Eugene A.

In politics Mr. Nelson is a democrat, standing squarely for the men and measures of his party on all occasions.