Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-09-07
PROF ESSOR A. L. NELSON DEAD
Death Came Unexpectedly to Dis
tinguiShed Educator


professor at Washington and Lee
University, died at his home on
Preston Place, Lexington, Wednes-
day evening, August 81. 1910,
shortly before o'clock, wbilo sit
ting in chair on mis- porch. He
had Just returned from a walk, and
was alone at the time. Shortly af
forwards his daughter, Miss Eve
lyn Nelson, accompanied by her
cousin. Miss Elizabeth Barclay,
came in and fouBd her father dead.
News OF Professor Nelson sudden
and unexpected death was received
in the community with widespread
sorrow and regret.
The funeral services we're held
from the Presbyterian church Sat
urday morning at II o'clock, con-
Quoted by his pastor, Rev. DIR. AL
fred I. Graham, who was assisted
by Rev. DR.. G. B. Stricken of Union
Theological Seminary, Richmond,
who is rector Of Washingt ton and
Lee University. The remains were
laid to rest in the family plot in the
Lexington cemetery. The follow
ing gentlemen were the pail bearers:
Active: Messrs. John L Camp
bell, Frank 7. Glasgow. D. c. Hum
phreys, S. r. Moore, NJ. w. Paxton,
L, W. Smith, H. d. Campbell and
Frank Moore; honorary: President
George h. Denny, General Scott
Ship, Hon. William A. Anderson,
Drs. ]. H. Latane, Jas. Lewis Howe.
LeConte Stevens, J. r. Howerton.
Profs. N. p. Burks, T. ]. Farrar,
A. p. Staples, Messrs. Paul NJ. Pc
nick, ]. H. Whitmore, w. c. Stuart.
Coils. F. H. Smith and Francis NAL
lory. Flowers were borne by mem
bers of the choir.
Professor Nelson was born and
reared in Augusta county, and was
of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was
born August 81, 1927. and was
son of Alexander Franklin Nelson
and Eliza Guy, his wife, whose an
cestors had come 10 America from
Ulster and Londonderry, Ireland.
Young Nelson was educated at
Washington College, entering the
school in 1916 and graduating three
years later, and returned to his alma
mater in 1854 as professor of mathe
matics, remaining at the head Of
that department until 1906, after 50
years ofdistinguiShed service, when
the Board of Trustees made him
emeritus professor. He was a ben
ehciary OF the Carnegie Foundation
for the advancement of learning.
which gave him a liberal pension.
He was the last survivor of the ante
bellum faculty of the College, which
served under the presidency of
General Robert E. Lee, except DR..
Edward S. Joynes of the University
OF South Carolina. He served as
pl ofessor under five presidents.
Professor Nelson was a ruling ell
der in the Lexington Presbyterian
church, and was a deacon at the
time that Stonewall Jackson held a
similar official position. He had
served as teacher and superintend-
ent in the Sunday school, and for
more than half century his sweet
tenor voice in the choir had charmed
and uplilted his hearers.
During the. commencement in
June, 1904, the alumni of Washing
ton and Lee observed with fitting
ceremony the semi centennial of his
professOrship at the University.
and presented him with a massive
silver service, The occasion was
one of great interest.
Surviving Professor Nelson are
Mrs. Nelson, who before marriage
was Miss Elizabeth Harvey Moore.
daughter of the late Captain David
F.. Moore of Lexington, whom he
married July 8, 1855; and the fol-
lowing children: Mrs. Bessie Mel
son Gaines, wife of Mr.. Albert w.
Gaines OF Chattanooga, Tenn; Mrs,
Julia Nelson Forester, wife of Mr..
Walter S. Forester of Anchorage,
Ky; Mr.. Frank A. Nelson of Chat
tanooga, Tenn. and Miss EVELYN