The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1900-03-15
Obituary.

four miles from HillsborO, High land
county, February 26, 1910. His pa
ternal ancestors we're of the Scotch
Irish Presbyterian stock which set
tied in Augusta county, Virginia, be-
fore the War of the Revolution. He
worked on the farm and attended the
common district school when a boy,
and later the more advanced schools
in Hillsboro, riding on horseback from
home. The breaking out of the War
of the Rebellion found Cary in his
third year as student in Miami
University at Oxford Ohio; reciting
to Prof. David Swing. In September,
1861, he and his youngest brother,
Joseph X. Nelson, now of Blu tier coun-
ty, Kansas, who had gone at Abra-
ham Lincoln's first call and served
through "the three months SERVICE"
enlisted under a couple of the stu
dents of the senior class in an SIN ie-
pendent Rifle Regiment" which af-
terwards was numbered the 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. With his regi-
ment he served during the first fall
and winter in Missouri. April 9Th,
1862, found the regiment not far from
Shiloh Church, Pittsburg Landing,
Tennessee, under Gen. w. H. l.. Wal
lace, who was killed early in the fight.
The Nelson brothers were compG-
mented by the officers on their work
during the two days of the great bat
tie. After taking part in the tedious
siege of Corinth Cary took down sick
with some kind of slow fever which
did not yield to treatment ard he was
discharged and sent home. After he
had recuperated on his fathers farm
for few weeks, he received a COM
mission to help recruit the Sth Ohio
cavalry: but the medical department
declined to admit him to the service
again. He then came to Iowa and To-
Gated on the farm mentioned. Gov.
Kirkwood commissioned him captain
of the militia of Harrison township
when the "guerillas' were expected
to invade Iowa, and he drilled his
command in Phillips grove.
February 21st, 1865. he led to the
matrimonial altar Miss RebeCca G.
Loughbridge, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. He
took her to the farm. There, four
teen months later, their only child,
now Mrs. w. B. Pickens, of Ke okuk,
was born. During 1866, finding him
self still unable to work on the farm
to do any good, he studied law under
the direction of Hon. VIM. LOugh-
ridge. Being further embar rassed by
collapse of the sheep business at the
close of the war, he sold out, came to
Abba as stated and went to work at
the insurance business. Continuing
his law studies he was admitted to
the bar the next fall Upon the res
ignation of A. c. Barnes he was APP
pointed assistant assessor for the U.
s. government in and for Monroe
county.
In 1872 he took the editorial chair
on "The Weekly Abba Union," which
he had occupied temporarily once be-
fore. In 1877 he was the nominee of
the Republican party for auditor of
Monroe county. Though he carried
Troy township by majority of POP he
went under with the rest of the tick
ct Except treasurer.l While editing
the "Union" he served Abba at diff
ferent times as Justice of the peace
city clerk and city solicitor. In 1882
he wrote and published pamphlet
history of Monroe county, entitled,
Homes in the Heart of the Cont
nent." At about this time his health
became SO poor that he was compelled
to quit the newspaper business; but
continued literary work for few
months, writing histories of Mahaska
and Marion counties. Before he got
through with this work he lost his
home and what money he had by the
failure of the Monroe County Bank
After this he resumed the insurance
business, and finding his health i'm
proved he continued in the work up
to the day of his last sickness. In
1887 misfortune again overlook him
and in September of that year the
wife of his youth was laid beneath
the sod. In February, 1888, his
daughter married. The next year
she moved to Keokuk, leaving him en-
tirely alone. March 10th, 1891, he
married Miss Nancy S. Hanks of Troy
township.
He was an honored member of the A
F. and A. NJ, 1. o. o. F., A. o. wv
and G. A. r. fraternities. He became q
member of the Presbyterian Church
early in life and remained a faithful
member until his death. He took
sick with what proved to be his last
illness on Tuesday, February 18th, 1900
, and grew worse rapidly and died or
the 10th at his home on Washington
street, from acute uramia. He wa.
kind and affectionate husband ani
father, true brother and friend, hon
; est and upright in all his relations il
life. He was loved by his relation
and intimate acquaintances, having
many warm personal friends and but
few enemies. A wife and daughter
survive him. A noble man has gone
from among us.