Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-08-27
OBITUARY.

OF CnOleIh, 1Ons lnOLldS Amos t1tOgeIS
Nelson. Though rigidly careful in his hab-
its during the season, he was attacked by
the fell disease, in its incipient stage about
the middle of last week. He did not sue
cumb so far as to cease from professional
labor, ana call in physician until Friday.
During the highland the following day, the
symptoms, though serious were not alarm
ing. DIR. Sewer, OF Jonesboro kinsman
was sent for and arrived Saturday night on
the midnight train, to find him fast sink
ing into stupor from which he did not re-
cover. At eventide his remains were in
tered in Gray Cemetery, in the presence of
a vast concourse of people, drawn together
spontaneously to pay the last tribute to
their distinguished fellow citizen. The ro-
ligious exercises were conducted by his
pastor, the Rev. Nathan Bachman, assisted
by his friend Rev. DIR. Humes. Compare
lively few had been aware of his illness
and the intelligence of his decease was
startling and shocking.
He was born at the old Meredith
Place, " in Roane county, the 10th of March,
1912, and was therefore at his death in the
sixty-second year of his age. He belonged
properly to the third generation of men i'll
Tennessee, that succeeding the one which
Immediately followed the pioneers, and for
many years, even when not in
official position, was prominent in
our public affairs. He lived until man
hood with his father, the late
David Nelson, who at an early
day removed with his family from
Roane to Knox county and for some time
was in the employ of the late Judge White.
Subsequently he established himself in
Knoxville as a merchant, and acted also as
a justice of the peace. In both situations
he was aided largely by his son, as clerk,
who in his later years used to refer to his
experience in this two-fold capacity as
tending to give direction to his pursuits
and of benefit to him in his profession.
Several years afterwards the family went
to Elizabethton, Carter county, where the
father lived until his death.
Judge Nelson entered East Tennes-
see University then East Tennessee Col
lege) in the year 1924, and graduated in
1928 under the Presidency of the
late DIR. Charles Coffin. His schol-
lrship, especially in the classics and
IN belle lettres, was respectable, much
above the ordinary attainments of that
day. Through life he retained a fondness
FOR literary pursuits, and kept up to the
last wide range Of general reading. There
were few subjects upon which he was I'M
informed, and when at fault he never hes
itated to inquire of those whom he thought
likely to know.
He studied law with that great jurist,
the late Chancellor Williams, and came to
the bar about the year 1880. He COM
nenced the practice at Elizabethton, the
residence of his father, and rode what
was known as the Upper Circuit.
The bar at that time was very
strong and the competition very active.
To speak only of the dead, we may men
ten Arnold the denunciatory, Aiken the
eloquent, Mckinney the subtle, Luckey
the scholarly and Garrett the profound.
1t is not eXaggerating to say that he soon
equalled each in his special point of SUI
periority and exeelled them all in the va
riety and versatility of his powers. 1t
was not many years until be took rank as
a leader of the bar upon that Circuit. He
was appointed by Gov. Carroll in 1888 At
torney General for the Circuit and was
twice elected by the Legislature. For six
teen years he filled this Office and made
himself the terror of evil doors and the
praise of those doing well.
July 80, 1899 he married Ann Elizabeth.
the daughter of Montgomery Stewart, Esq,
and removed to Jonesboro' where he con-
tinued his residence until he came to Knox
Vile, in the fall of 1863 His wife died in
1850, May 20, leaving six children. Aug.
9TH, 1852 he again married. The second
wife was Mary, the daughter of George
J ones, Esq, of Greeneville, the excellent
lady who lives to mourn his loss. He
leaves surviving him eleven children,
seven sons and four daughters.
He belonged to the old Wing school of
politics, in which he was firm and sim
cere believer. In 1874 he canvassed as
Elector for Mr.. Clay and in 1913 for G n
Taylor. In lS47 he was urged by his
friends in East Tennessee as a candidate
for the United states Senate, but was de-
feated by asingle vote by Hon J. c. Jones.
IN 1851 he was appointed by Mr.. Fillmore
Commissioner of the United States to
China, as successor to Hon. Caleb Cush-