"HISTORY OF OWEN COUNTY 1884"
CHARLES BLANCHARD, EDITOR.  CHICAGO:  F. A. BATTEY & CO. PUBLISHERS.  1884.
F. A. BATTEY.  F. W. TEPPLE

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP IN OWEN CO., IN.
PAGE 924

JOHN NELSON, once a pioneer farmer and influential citizen
of this county was born April 5, 1821 in Ohio and is the
third of the five children of John and Hannah (Woods) 
Nelson, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of
Ohio. The father of our subject emigrated from Ireland 
when he was sixteen years old and came to this county in
1825, where our subject received some education, afterward
making his onward way unaided and being at his death the
possessor of 400 acres of improved land. 
February 16, 1843 he married Miss Mary Jackson, who left
at her death eight children-- John W. (deceased), Louisa,
Anderson, Hannah, Leonard B (deceased), Ira (deceased), 
Isabel and an infant. 
Five years afterward, Mr Nelson married Mrs. Annie Kelsey
a native of Saratoga, NY, who had four children by her 
former husband; this union was graced by three children-
Elizabeth, Frederick, and Harriet(deceased). Mr Nelson
passed from earth June 1, 1880. He was an honored Freemason
an active member of the Protestant Methodist Church, an
earnest supporter of the Republican party and a liberal
gentleman and highly regarded citizen. Mrs. Nelson, a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church is now managing
the farm and succeeding admirably in the enterprise.
She was born October 27, 1829.

DATA ENTRY: Debbie Jennings