The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-04-13
VIM. NELSON,
NEWSPAP
MAN, DEAD
OWNER AND EDITOR OF THE
KANSAS CITY STAR AND TIMES
PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME
TUESDAY MORNING.

Kansas City, Mo-, April 13.-Wil
liam r. Nelson died at mis- home
here this morning. He was the
founder, owner and editor Of the Kan
sas City Star Although he did not
enter the newspaper business until he
was nearly 40 years old, he brought
10 it 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 7, 18i1. He
came OF two centuries Of American
ancestors. His maternal grandfather,
William RockhilI, 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 DeGgroff
Nelson. was identified with the up
building Of the state and took an
active hand in its political life.
" luldlll IAOthlllll .NtlSOH dS tuu-
Gated at Notre Dame university At
ter a short experience as a youngster
in cotton growing in Georgia just
after the war, he returned TO Indiana
and became "A general contractor. He
engaged in the building of roads
payements, and bridges, and was as
ISOLATED in a contract for the con
structiOn of the southern Illinois state
penItentary.
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 lead
crship made him turn to newspaper
work as the best way to influence
men in the mass He bought an in
terest in the Fort Wayne Sentinel
and business reverse determined
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 coun-
try. He persuaded his Fort Wayne
partner, Samuel h. Morss, to make
the venture with him. They sold their
Fort Wayne interests, went to Kansas
City and started the Evening Star
as a little four page afternoon news
paper, on September Is, 1880. Mr..
Morss withdrew from the enterprise
after a few months on account of i'll
health, and Mr. Nelson continued as
sole owner and editor in chief
Essentially builder, he took an
intense interest in the development
of the city. Almost from the first
issue the Star urged the necessity of
paving the streets, of getting a park
system. 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 beautifi-
cation. 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
pictures and he made a collection of
reproductions of European master
pieces done by the best artists who
could be found. which he gave TO
Kansas City.
In politics he was, as he often said,
independent but never neutral" But
he would never consider any elective
or appointive position. Early in
President Tafrs administration the
suggestion was made in newspaper re
ports that he might be appointed am
basSador to France He commented
editorially as follows: The editor
Of The Star is amply occupied, sus-
tanned and satisfied with his present
Job. He regards himself as holding
place of greater responsibility and
usefulness than any within the gift
of the president. or the electorate.
Not only has he never been candi-
date, active or receptive. for any Of
fee. but he never has asked for the
appointment of anyone else"
In 1881 Mr. Nelson married Miss
Ida Houston. Their one child. a
daughter. Mrs. Irwin r. Kirkwood.
lives in Kansas City.
You save money and your clothes
look better when you have them