Evening star., 1915-04-13
WILLIAM R. NELSON,
NOTED EDITOR, DIES
Owner of the Kansas City
Star Falls Victim to
Uraemic Poison.
IN CONTROL OF PAPER
FOR ALMOST 35 YEARS
Warm Friend of Late Samuel j. Til
den and Helped Manage His
Presidential Campaign.

KANSAS CITY. Mo. April 13-WiI-
ham Rockhin Nelson. editor and owner
OF the Kansas City Star. died at hts
home here this morning. Mr.. Nelson.
who was seventy four years old had
been in i'll health several months and
had been confined to his home since
asst December. 1raemic poisoning
caused his death. according to physi-
,ians.
Mr. Nelson took an active part in the
management of the star up until about
& month ago. when his condition
changed for the worse. Until then
members of the Star staff gathered at
mis- bedside several times weekly for
the purpose of discussing with Mr..
Nelson questions of editorial policy. At
these conferences he would dictate edi-
torials and outline ideas for cartoons
and feature stories.
Although his physicians constantly
advised against the part he was taking.
during the last few months. in the
mana cement of the paper he refused
10 obey them, reminding them that IL was
l.. the building of the Star that he had
heen happiest and that he would not be
.putent without something to occupy his
Iuind
During the last month. however. Mr..
%clson has been conscious only at In
tervals- At each period his mind was
clear and he constantly asked ques-
lions about his newspaper and the
members of its staff
Noted for Ability and Energy.
William Rockhin Nelson was founder,
owner and editor of the Kansas City
star Although he did not enter the
newspaper business until he was near
ly Forty years old, he brought to 1t
such originality. ability and energy
that he built up one Of the greatest
newspa pers Of the country.
AR. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne.
md, March /, 1871, was educated at
Notre Dame University.
After short experience young
ster In cotton growing IN Georgia just
after the war. young Nelson returned
to Indiana and became general con-
tractor He engaged in the building of
roads. pavements. and bridges, and was
associated in contract for the con-
struction Of the southern Illinois state
penitentiary.
Intense admiration for the reform
work of Samuel ]. Tilden brought him
into contact with that great democrat,
and when only thirty-four years old he
became Tildens Indiana campaign
manager. He bought an interest in the
Fort Wayne Sentinel. and a business
reverse determined him to devote all
his time TO journalism.
Locates in Kansas City.
He soon became convinced that the
opportunities in Fort Wayne were TOO
small. and after looking the field over
ne decided on Kansas City as the most
promising city of the country. He per-
suaded his Fort Wayne partner. Sam
,ieI L. Morss. to make the venture with
him. They sold their Fort Wayne in
terests, went TO Kansas City and start
ed the Evening Star as little four
page afternoon newspaper September
Is. 1850. Mr.. Morss withdrew from the
enterprise after a few months on ac-
count of I'll health. and Mr.. Nelson con-
tiuued as sole owner and editor-in-
chief
Essentially a builder, he took an In
tense interest in the development of
The city. 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 beautiflca-
tion. He built nearly a hundred mod
est houses along roads which he lined
with stone walls covered with honey
suckles and crimson ramblers. He was
intensely interested in fine pictures,
and he made a collection of reproduc-
lions of European masterpieces done
ny the best artists who could be found.
which he gave to Kansas City
Never Sought an Office.
W politics he was. he often said
Independent. but never neutral" He
would never consider any elective or
+ppOIutlve position. Early in Presi-
dent Taft's administration the sugges-
ton was made in newspaper reports
hat lie might be appointed ambassador
10 France. He commented editorially
~ follows: The editor of the Star is
amply occupied. sustained and salts
lied with his present job. He regards
himself holding a place of greater
responsibility and usefulness than any
within the gift of the President or the
electorate Not only has he never been
candidate. active or receptive, for
any office. but he never has asked for
the appointment OF any one else"
In 1851 Mr.. Nelson married Miss Ida
Houston. Their one child. a daughter
Mrs. Irwin X. kirkwood. lives in Kan
sas City.