Joseph Obanion Nelson

     Joseph O. Nelson
(Transcribed by James F. Thoma)

Joseph O. Nelson, a progressive citizen and well known farmer of Kelly Township, was born in Texas, Aug. 6, 1867. He is a son of Decatur and Isabella (Stephens) Nelson. Decatur Nelson was born in Virginia, Dec. 12, 1831, and died in Cooper County, Nov. 10, 1903. He came to Cooper County with his parents when he was nine years of age. When the Civil War broke out he went to Texas and entered the Confederate Army there, and served nearly four years until the war closed. Isabella (Stephens) Nelson was a member of a Cooper County pioneer family. She was born on the site of the present town of Bunceton long before Bunceton was thought of. She was a daughter of Joseph Stephens, Sr., a native of Wythe County, Va., who settled in the locality where Bunceton now stands in November 1817. Isabella (Stephens) Nelson died in 1886. She was one of 24 children born of two unions who all lived to man and womanhood, except three, who died in infancy. Her mother being Miss Catherine Dickenson; nine children belong to that union. To Decatur and Isabella (Stephens) Nelson were born two children: Mrs. Mollie C. Francis, who now resides in Texas and Joseph 0., the subject of this sketch.

Joseph O. Nelson was educated in the public schools at Glen Dale, Clarksburg College, and Otterville College, and since leaving school has been engaged in farming. He has lived on the place which he now owns in Kelly Township for 30 years. He first purchased 42 1/4 acres and later added 90 acres more. His farm is located five miles south of Bunceton. It is well improved, with a good residence, new barn and other improvements of a high order. The water supply for the place is obtained from a well 110 feet deep, and is pumped by a gas engine.

Mr. Nelson was first married in April 1887, to Miss Ids May Tilton, a daughter of Samuel Tilton, of Tipton, Mo. One son was born to this union, Newton, who lives at Tipton. Mrs. Nelson died in 1888. April 22, 1890, Mr. Nelson was married to Alice C. Kelly, a daughter of John and Nancy Kelly. John Kelly who was a native of Ireland was a railroad man and worked on the construction of the Missouri Pacific railroad through Tipton and also M. K. & T. through Clifton City. He died in Kansas City, July 9, 1906. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Jones, died in 1872, when Mrs. Nelson was about two years of age. Mrs. Nelson was reared by her grandparents Samuel and Susan Jones, who resided near Otterville. Samuel Jones was a native of Kentucky, born Nov. 3, 1826, and came to Missouri about 1835, settling near Otterville where he kept the post office which was Elkton in the forties before Otterville was founded. His wife was born in Page County, Va., in 1832, and died in July, 1893. Mrs. Nelson was educated in the public schools of Cooper County, Otterville College and the Pilot Grove College. She was a student at the latter institution in 1883 when W. F. Johnson, the editor of this work, was a teacher there.

To Joseph O. Nelson and wife have been born five children as follows: Isabella, born March 1, 1891, was educated in Bunceton High School, Missouri State University, The Gem City Business College, Quincy, Ill., and is now a teacher at the Laura Speed Elliot High School, Boonville; Richard Truman, born Nov. 27, 1897, resides at home; Ernest Decatur, born March 3, 1900; Edgar Eurico, born Feb. 6, 1902; Armstead Mason, born Aug. 26, 1910.

The Nelsons are one of the well known and representative families of Cooper County and Mr. Nelson is a progressive and public spirited citizen. He is a cousin of Hon. W. L. Nelson, United States Congressman from the Eighth Missouri District and of Lady Maxwell of England.¹


Joseph was born at Denton Co., Tx., on 6 August 1867. He married Ida Mae Tilton on 2 May 1888. He married Alice Catherine Kelly at Cooper Co., Mo., on 22 April 1890. Joseph Obanion Nelson died on 30 April 1947 at Otterville, Cooper Co., Mo., at age 79.