The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-04-13
NOTED EDITOR
DIED TODAY
William ROckhill Nelson Had
Been in I'll Health Sew
eral Months
MADE GREAT PAPER
OF KANSAS CITY STAR

Was Essentially Builder and Took
Intense Interest in the Develop
ment of His Home City-Never Ac-
copied Office.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, April ID
William Rockhill Nelson, editor and
owner of the Kansas City Star, died
at his home here this morning. Mr.. |
Nelson was "A years old and had been
in i'll health several months Uraemie |
| poisoning caused his death, according
TO physicians.
Although Mr.. Nelson did not enter
| the newspaper business until he was
nearly 40 years old, he brought to it
such originality, ability and energy
that he built up one of the greatest
newspapers of the country.
Mr.. Nelson was born in Fort Wavne
| Indiana, March Z, 1871. He came of
| two centuries of American ancestors
His maternal grandfather, William
| Rockhill, settled in Indiana when that
state was a wilderness in 1919, and
was the first farmer in America to
plant a thousand acres of corn. His
father, Isaac DeGroff Nelson, was
identified with the upbuilding of the
state and took an active hand in its
| political life.
/ William Rockhill Nelson was edu-
Gated at Notre Dame university At
ter a short experience as a voungster
in cotton growing in Georgia Just af-
ter the war, he returned to Indiana
and became . general contractor He
engaged in the building of roads,
pavements and bridges, and was asso-
ciated in a contract for the construc-
ton of the Southern Illinois State
Penitentiary.
Intense admiration for the reform
work of Samuel J. Tilden brought him
into contact with that great Democrat
and when only "a years old, he be
came Tilden s Indiana campaign man.
ager. His interest in political leader
ship made him turn to newspaper worR
as the best way to influence men in
the mass. He bought an interest in
the Fort Wayne Sentinel and bust
reverse determined him TO devote all
his time to journalism.
He soon became convinced that the
opportunities in Fort WAYNE were too
small, and after looking the field over,
he decied on Kansas City as the most
L
/ persuaded his Fort Wayne partner,
Samuel E. Morss to make the venture
with him. They sold their Fort Wayne
interests, went to Kansas City ana
started The Evening Star as little
fourpage afternoon newspaper. or
Sept. Is, 1880. Mr.. Morss withdrew
from the enterprise after a few months
on account of i'll health, and Mr. Mel
son continued as sole owner and edi
III tor-in chief.
| Essentially a builder he took an in
II terest in the development of the city
: Almost from the first issue the Star
: urged the necessity of paving tn,
streets, of getting a park system o.
building attractive houses, of plant
ing shrubbery and trees. Mr.. Nelson
IF himself had the trees set along thu
first Kansas City boulevard. He wa
y constantly instigating movements TO
: city betteTment.
4 One of his achievements was tn,
residence district which he laid GU
near his home as an example of wha
le could be done toward city beautifca
a ton. He built nearly hundred mod
- !. est houses along roads which he linet
with stone walls covered with honey
suckles and crimson ramblers He wa
r. intensely interested in fine picture
s., and he made collection of reproduc
OF lions of European masterpieces don
Is, by the best artists who could b
Dh found, which he gave to Kansas City
q In politics he was, as he often sale
~ independent but never neutral
-, But he would never consider any eleC
= tive or appointive position. Early
President Taft s administration til
ee suggestion was made in newspaper r,
LIST ports that he might be appointed an
IS: bassador to France. He commente
re- editorially as follows: 'SThe editor
n the Star is amply occupied, sustaine
on and satisfied with his present job. Il
~ regards himself as holding a place
y. greater responsibility and usefulne.
n than any within the gift of the Pres
dent, ,or electorate. Not only has
never been candidate, active or r
ceptive, for any office, but he new
OF has asked for the appointment of al
nal one else. -
UNI In 1881 Mr. Nelson married Mi
rs Ida Houston Their one child,
rvs daughter, Mrs. Irwin r. Kirkwoo
III lives in Kansas City.