The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-04-13
WAS EDITOR OF WELL
KNOWN NEWSPAPER
William r. Nelson Built Up Kansas City
Star Into One of the Best in the
United States-He Died
To-dau

Kansas City, No., April l3.-Willian
Rockhill Nelson, editor and owner OF the
Kansas City Star, died this morning
aged IA. He had been in i'll health sew
eral months and confined to his home
since December. Uraemic poisoning caused
his DEATH according to physicians.
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
40 years old, he brought to it such orig
inality, ability and energy that he built
up one of the greatest newspapers of the
country.
Mr.. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne,
Ind, March I, 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 1000 acres OF
corn. His father, Isaac DETROIT Nelson,
was identified with the upbuilding of the
state, and took an ictive hand in its po-
litical life.
William Rockhill Nelson was educated
at Notre Dame university. After short
experience as a youngster in cotton grow
ing in Georgia Just after the war, he re-
turned to Indiana and became a general
contractor. He engaged in the building
of roads, pavements, and bridges, and
was associated in a contract for the con-
struction of the southern Illinois state
penitentiary.
Intense admiration for the reform work
OF Samuel j. 1ilden brought him into
contact with that great Democrat and
when only "a years old, he became Til
den's Indiana campaign manager. His
interest in political 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 Sentinel
and a business reverse determined him
10 devote all his time TO journalism.
He soon became convinced that the op-
portunities in Fort Wayne were too small
and after looking the field over he de-
cidcd on Kansas City as the most prom
Using city of the country. He persuaded
his Fort Wayne partner. Samuel +.
Morss. to make the venture with, him.
They sold their Fort Wayne interests.
went TO Kansas City and started the
Evening Star as little. four.page after
ncoU UtNtVbpfTF bU sept To- lNNNs MI
Morss withdrew from the enterprise aft
or a few months on account of III health,
and Mr.. Nelson continued as sole owner
and editor in-chief.
Essentially a builder. he took an in.
tense 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 him 1
self had the trees set along the first Kan 1
sas CITY boulevard. He was constantly |
instigating movements for city better
ment.
One Of his achievements was the resi- 1
dence district which be laid out near his 1
home as an example of what could be-
done toward city Identification. He built I
nearly 100 modest houses along roads 4
which be lined with stone walls covered I
with honeysuckles and crimson ramblers.
He was intensely interested in fine PIC
lures and be made a collection If re-
productions Of European masterpieces
done by the best artists who could b.
found. which he gave 10 Kansas CITY.
In politics BE- was. a. be- often said in
dependent but never neutral But b.
would never consider anv elective or ap-
pointive position. Early IN President
Taft's administration the suggestion was
made in newspaper reports that be might