Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-11-27
WORCESTER STRICKEN.
Prominent Jurist aud Prominent
Manufactures Pass Away.

WORCESTER, Mass, Nov. 2-JudSe
Thomas T.. Nelson OF tue United States dis.
trict court, has just died ut his home here,
after u long illness. lie was taken suddenly
Ill at tho Parker House, Boston. his home
while holding court In that city. carly in
February and at the time his physicians be-
lieyed the end to DO not far on. He was
finally taken home, and to the doctors sur
prise, rallied so successfully rs to be able
10 leave his bed. and then to re-
sumo. to an extent. his active life. He
went to Boston several times and again took
his seat upon tho bench though not to hear
any cases, excepting where business was
briefly transacted. The old trouble returned
again. however, and finally few weeks
ago, he had to again take to his room and
then to his bed. and he gradually grew
weaker until the end came. A widow and
four children survive him. Thomas Lever
cit Nelson was the son Of John and Lois
Of the distinguished Leverctt family and
was born in Haverhill, n. H.. March 4. 1927.
He fitted for college ut Haverhi.l acad-
envy and the kimball Union academy In
Meriden, n. H.: entered Dartmouth col
lego in 1912 and in 1874 was transferred
to the University of Vermont. from
which institution he was graduated IN the
class OF 1886 receiving the degree of LII. u.
in 1879. From his graduation until 1853 he
WIS employed rs n civil engineer, and then
began the study Of the law ut Hayerhill, al
terward removing 10 Worcester, whero no
read law in the Office Of the Hon. L. II.
Dewey during 1879, and was admitted to
the bar in the latter year. From that time
he lived in Worcester. lie was elected city
solicitor, served on the school board and In
various municipal and county positions. He
represented Worcester In tho Legislature In
1865, and served as chairman Of the commit
tee on judiciary, and for six years was
member OF the board of directors OF
the public library, part of the time being the
presiding officer. In 1879 President Hayes
appointed him judge of the United Stntes
the time Of his death. lie was y member
of tho Amesiv,,n antiquarian society. AT
the time of his appointment to the bench no
was one Of the leaders Of the bar of Worces-
ter county. He had II special knowledge Of
equity and bankruptcy, and no member OF
tho bar In his county was more frequently
consulted by his associates on difficult eases.
Few lawyers in our state have contributed
so much as he to tho building
upof an admirable system OF equity prac-
ticc. He was appointed by the SUI
preme court member Of the committee
TO revise the new rules In equity, and the
present system is very largely his work. He
was frequently, employed as referee ana
master in complicated questions, especially
those relating to water rights, for the dealing
OF which no seemed to have natural aptt-
tude. which was vastly aided by his early
training as a civil engineer. Judge Nelson
was married In Mendon Oct 20, 1S57.to Anna
! H., daughter Of Caleb and Mary Hayward.
His second marriage occurred on March 20,
1875, when he became tho husband Of Louise
A., daughter OF Samuel +. and Hannah
A. slocum Of Millbury. There were five
ehildrenmHarry L., John, Louise Burn
ham, William and Thomas l.. Nelson.
In the carly part Of his practice he
was In partnership with the Hon. Dwight
Foster and the Hon. VI. ". Rice, but after
1864 conducted his business alone. He was
charter member and director of the st.
Wulsten society, and was formerly a men,
Der of the Worcester Fire society," He was
elected director of the Central National bank
| In 1868, and was the senior member of the
board. He was director OF the State Mu-
tual Life Assurance company, and a trustee
Of the Worcester Coun y Institution for
savings. For years he was the commits
sioner for Massachusetts of the Provi-
dence Il Worcester railroad. The
Worcester county law library is a monu-
ment to his devotion. He was elected d.
rector In March, 1885, and as the years went
on became its promoter and director.