New-York tribune., 1873-12-26
SAMUEL WOODS NELSON.

beautiful monument bearing ths inscription
JANE EIIZABETH,
wife of
Kenneth G.. White,
and daughter of
Samuel and Catharne X Nelson
Born April 5th 1929,
Died Dee. 4th, 1852
The above are all children Of Judge Nelson John
Woods Nelson being the offspring OF the Judges first
marriage and the others OF his second.
No other two names, probably, have given so much
fame to Cooperstown as Cooper and Nelson And yet
these men but types Of grand old circle that
lived and Hourshed here from thirty TO fifty years ago
the memory whom is still with those familiar
with the history OF the place. From here John A. DIX
went TO fiji the post of Adiutan nGenera of the State,
having gun his married life in this village. IL s said
that first public speech made here Ia addressing
the Sunday-school of Christ Church Here Thurlow
Weed learned the printers trade, and from here he
migrated TO Albany TO establish and conduct The Ere
ING Journal and shape the politics OF the State FOR
third Of q century. Col. Wm. J.. Stone. afterwards
editor OF The Commercial Advertiser, was printers
devil this town. These samples Of those who here
started i'll fe but those who filed out their MES Work
here and who ornsmeDted the bench the BAR and
other professions. with whom Cooper and Nelson
were cotemporary and who made up the society
of which the village boasts. equally
notable Among these recall the Hon Wm!H Averill.
the early friend of Seward, and at one time power IN
the Wing party in this State; lawyer Of Distinction
who died last Summer at the advanced age OF ~ years
Mr. Aver was o noted whist player. and his encounters
at that game with sam starkwesher another eminent
member OF the bar and famous bon piraut were motor
ous IS years ago. The Hon George A. starkweather,
SANS brother also a lawyer OF emnenee, represented
tho district in Congress one term, during the
Tyler administration. Mr.. starkweather. now over 50
years old is still living though for few years past
citizen of Wisconsin, spending the present Winter at
his early home. One Of his sons married Judge Nelson's
youngest daughter, and resides in Brooklyn Judge
rhnd daI uunl1e of AT
an advanced age up the time of his death worthy
filing seat on the Supreme Court bench. His vacancy
occasioned by his death filed by the appointment
OF Schuyler Crippen, then q knsnan by marriage or
Cooper; he subsequently, elected for full term and
served under the old law as Judge OF the Court OF Ap
peas Judge Crippen died in 1871 at the age OF o and
il is attering commentary the virtue Of the gene
ration TO which he belonged that despite his long prse
tce at the bar and his service the bench he left SO
meager an estate that IL has not been able yet TO
mark his grave even with simple slab. Col John II.
Prentiss was of the leading Of those days In
1905 Col prentiss at work foreman In The Estnng
Post Office in NewYorE In the Fall of that year he
moved 10 Cooperstown and soon aftorward established
The Fretmans Journal which ne conducted for upward
Of %oyears as an organ OF the JefersOnan
Democracy. In this Office he employment to Thur
low Weed and Col Stone, ana Others who have become
eminent in profession. Gov. Clinton appointed Mr.
Prentiss colonel OF militia. and made him DIVISION
Inspector on the staff of the COmmandern-Chief,
and hence the title that followed him through
life. lie served the district in Congress for two terms
during the administration of President Van Buren, He
died in 1861 at the age OF II years At the time OF his
death he was President OF the BanK'of Coopersown.
Dr. John Russell father of the present Mrs. Nelson,
An eminent physician OF the village in the early part OF
the present century, and represented the district in
Congress He and Dr. Fuller his coiempOrary,
we're as esmsbe in their private lives as they were
eminent in their profession. DIR. George Pomeroy the
first druggist of the village, came here In 1901 and
couple Of years later married a sister OF Fenimore
Cooper lie was respected and beloved by everybody.
He died 1861 at the age OF Sc years or Robert Camp
he'll who came 10 be dubbed " the honest lawyer who
died q number OF years ago at an advanced age OF
william Nichols another worthy octogenarian, who died
within the decade of Judge Levi c. Turner who
WAS al one time we'll known 10 the readers of The TBIB
rsE and who died the service OF his country Judge
Advocate at Washington; OF John NJ. Bowers, another
ex NJ Co. who died in 1876 at the age Of "a Of Theodore
Reese, the wealthy New-YOrk merchant, who made
Cooperstown his retreat during the atDr years OF his
life OF the Phinneys-Henry and Elihafor half
tnry known throughout the country book publishers
and honorable and Of score OF others. ali Of
whom lived 70 good old age and gave character and
tone Cooperstown society, and enjoyed the COM
panIonship and friendship OF Cooper and Nelson there
is no time for particular mention. There yet
remains OF old stock Mr. Henry Scott mine months
Judge Nelson's senior and for many years DIS associate
Warden OF Christ Church, who for more than half
century managed the Otsego County Bank, but is
suffering from the inrmities OF age; and Mr.. Calvin
Graves over go but stl hale and vigorous. The noun
tain air Of Otsego not merely develops good stock, but
preserves It TO = ripe old age
Among the tributes paid to the memory OF Judge S.l
son. the following by his townspeople are worthy Of
a. showing the estimation In which he
h.ld nv those wbo knew him most intimatelyt
Ats meeting OF the members OF the yestry OF Christ
Church held st the Reetory Dec H. the following action
Foramuch ~ IL has pleased Almighty Goa to take out
of this world the late revered associate the
Hon Samuel Nelson, for many years Warden Of this
Church. We the members Of the Vesry here assembled
Asp>s ~ Ilsss q ISsWd 9N GxWsaeAR - ~ A4S tsk