Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-14
death CLOSES CAREER
OF NOTED JOURNALIST
William RockhiIl Nelson, Founder,
Owner and Editor OF Kansas
City SRtar, Is Dead.
HE LEAVES IMMENSE FORTUNE
Although lie Did Not Enter News
paper Business Until Nearly Forty
Years Of Age, He Became u Lead
er I'm Progressive Movements.

er I'm Progressive Movements.
KANSAS CITY. MO. April Evil
liam Rockhill Nelson. editor of the Kan
sas City Star. died early to-day. after
being unconscious since Thursday.
Death was due to uraemic poisoning
MI Nelson's last conference with his
associates took place I'm his bedroom the
day before he became unconscious. 1t
up the fight for honest elections
That is fundamental for democratic
government" he said II may not be
here TO see the fight won. But the Star
VIII fight on with all its resources until
the present rotten system is broken
down."
As Mr.. Nelson became weaker arti-
ficial means were used to prolong his
life. To this he objected vigorously.
ON Thursday afternoon he sank into
coma. from which he did not rally.
Througout his illness the problem OF
He made large gifts to local charitable
institutions. and was absorbed In the
work OF soup Kitchen which his
daughter. Mrs Kirkwood, inaugurated
and conducted.
IT was announced to-day that ''as far
rs Is humanity possible tho Star Will
he conducted in accordance with the
aims and ideac OF Mr. Nelson.
william Rockhill Nelson WAS founder,
owner and editor of the Kansas CITY
star. Although he did not enter the
newspaper business until he was nearly
! forty years old. he became one Of the
most successful and prominent news
paper publishers in the country. Before
he tried journalism he had made and
lost fortune AS bridge contractor and
had tried his hand with little success
at cotton planting In Georgia.
He was bridge building with head
quarters In Indiana in 1875 when Samuel
T. Morss. city editor OF the Fort Wayne
Sentinel. came to him with an ambi-
ton 10 start u newspaper. Nelson had
just finished 4 bridge In Iowa, and the
County Court WAS to meet ana approve
his bill the next day. lie thought Of
turning the money he received for the
bridge work into Morss's newspaper
scheme. but that night Il freshet washed
away the bridge. and Nelson's work was
never paid for. 1T IL this incident more
than anything else which plunged me
into the newspaper business" said MIR.
Nelson. He and Morss bought the Fort
wayne sentinel. ran II year. and sold
II at a sufficient proht TO start q paper
on "a bigger scale in Kansas City In
tho fan Of 1850. This paper. the Even
Ing star. quickly found place in the
affairs OF Kansas City. and all the Mid
die West. for II became stamped with
the thoughtful and vigorous personality
OF its chief editor. The partner, Morss,
Withdrew on account of Ill health after
a few months. Colonel Nelson-whose
title was conferred upon him by friends
was largely responsible for develop
Ing Kansas City's vast park and other
progressive movements ito make Kan
sas Ctty a good place to live IN" Tho
quotation was II slogan which he always
had above his desk.
Although an ardent Democrat up to
the time Of the Tildcn-Hayes contro.
rersy OF 1875. Colonel Nelson. as a Jour
nalfst. held himself an independent in
politics. When he was talked OF as an
ambassador TO France, during President
Tafts administration. Colonel Nelson
said cditorially and characteristically:
The editor of the Star is amply occu-
pied, sustained. satisfied. with his pres
ent job. He regards himself as hold
ing place of greater responsibility and
usefulness than any within the gift OF
the President. or the electorate Not
only has he never been candidate ac-
tive or receptive. for any office, but he
never mas asked for the appointment OF
any one else"
Colonel Nelson's fortune was recent
~ estimated at anywhere from $1,000
600 to sl5,o00,000.
he was born at Fort Wayne, Ind,
March !, 1871. His father had been
iuch'iitu Win the upDOlldlnR or tho
state. and his maternal grandfather,
William Rockhlll, settled In Indiana
when that region was almost a wilder
ness, In 1919, and was the first farmer
In America 20 plant 1000 acres Of corn
Colonel Nelson was educated ut Notre
Dame University. He was n hard work.
or all through life, and In the early DAYS
or the star he spent eighteen hours a
day ION the job" az he said. He did not
have private office. but insisted on
having his desk In n room where edi-
tors and reporters surrounded him. He
had great faith In young men. and save
them many situations OF trust and re-
sponsibility. Colonel Nelson was, how
ever. always the active boss" Beliey-
Ing that the paper manufacturers were
trying to get the better OF him, he built
In Kansas City mill OF his own for
the manufacture of paper at a time
when only one other individual news
paper In the world had attempted such
nm enterprise.
In 1895, after being abroad with an
expert for two yeats collecting works
OF art. Colonel Nelson presented to
Kansas City collection OF copies Of
the worlds greatest art treasures done
by masters. Colonel Nelson himself was
an art expert, and for years he conduct
ed an educational campaign to acquaint
his readers with the masterpieces.
WASHINGTON, April 13-President
Wilson tonight sent the following mes
sage to Mrs. William r. Nelson:
May I express my deep sympathy
with you In the loss OF your husband
The whole country will mourn the lns.