The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-05-21
STRONG LIGHT IN EDITORIAL
WORLD PUT OUT BY DEATH
William r.. Nelson, KaKnsas City
Editor. Passes Away-Last Mess
age is for Clean Government.

Kansas City-Funeral arrange
ments for William Rockhill Nelson,
editor of the Star, who died this
morning, were being completed by
the family today. Mr.. Nelson had
been unconscious since Thursday last.
Death was due to uraemic poisoning.
Mr.. Nelson's last conference with
his associates took place in his bed
room the day before he became un-
conscious 1t pertained to the neces-
sity Of keeping up the fight for hon
est elections.
'"That is fundamental for democra-
tic government" he said. Il may
not be here to see the fight won. But
the Star will fight on with all its re-
sources until the present rotten sys-
tenn is broken down."
Will Rockhill Nelson was founder,
owner and editor of the Kansas City
Star. Although he did not enter the
newspaper business until he was
nearly 40 years old, he brought to 1t
such originality, ability and energy
that he built up one of the greatest
newspapers of the country.
Mr.. Nelson was born in Fort
Wayne, Indiana, March Z, 1841. He
came of two centuries of American
ancestors. His maternal grandfather
William Rockhill, settled in Indiana
when that state was wilderness in
1919, and was the first farmer in
America to plant thousand acres Of
corn. His father, Isaac DeGroff Mel
son, was identified with the upbuild-
ing of the state and took an, active
hand in its political life.
William Rockhill Nelson was edu-
Gated at Norte Dame university. After
short experience as youngster in
cotton growing in Georgia just after
the war, he returned to Indiana and
became a general contractor. He en-
gagged inthe building of roads, pave
ments and bridges, and was associat-
ed in a contract for the construction
of the southern Illionis state peniten-
tiary.
Tilden's Indiana Manager
Intense admiration for the reform
work of Samuel ]. Tilden brought
him into contact with that great
Democrat and when only "a years
old, he became Tilden's Indiana cam
paign manager. His interest in po-
litical leadership made him turn to
newspaper work as the best way to
influence men in the mass. He bought
an interest in the Fort Wayne Senti-
mel, and business reverse determin-
ed him to devote all his time to jour-
nalism.
He soon became convinced that the
opportunities in Fort Wayne were too
small, and after looking the field
over, he decided on Kansas City as
the most promising city of the
country. He persuaded his Fort
Wayne partner, Samuel e. Morse, to
make the venture with him. They
sold their Fort Wayne interests, went
to Kansas City and started The Even
ing Star as little, four page after
noon newspaper, on September 18,
1880. Mr.. Morse withdrew from the
enterprise after few months on ac-
count of i'll health, and Mr.. Nelson
continued as sole owner and editor
in-chief.
Essentially a builder, he took an
intense interest in the development
of the city. Almost from the first is
sue the Star urged the necessity Of
paving streets, of getting park sys-
tenn, Of building attractive houses, of
planting shrubbery and trees. Mr..
Nelson himself had the trees set
along the first Kansas City boulevard.
He was constantly instigating move
ments for city betterment.
One Of his achievements was the
residence district which he laid out
near his home as an example Of what
could be done toward city beautifica-
tion. He built nearly a hundred
modest houses along roads which he
lined with stone walls covered with
honeysuckles and crimson ramblers.
He was intensely interested in fine