Biography of John Nelson, pages 714 / 715.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

John Nelson, farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, Newville Township, was 
born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Feb. 26, 1819, son of Hugh and Mary 
(Wilson) Nelson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of 
Virginia.  He was reared in his native county, and in the fall of 1853 came 
to De Kalb County and settled on the farm where he now lives.  The first 
year he lived in a small pole cabin, but in the fall of 1854 built a log 
house.  He owns ninety-six acres of land, sixty acres of which he has 
cleared with his own hands.  He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in 
Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Infantry, and served two 
years.  He participated in the battles of Resaca, Nashville, Kingston, and 
others.  At the battle of Nashville he was shot through the wind-pope, when 
making a charge, the second day of the fight, Dec. 15, 1864.  He enlisted as 
a private and was discharged a Duty Sergeant.  He was married Sept. 22, 
1842, to Eliza Thornburg, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Underwood) 
Thornburg.  To them have been born eight children, seven of whom are 
living---Benjamin F., Jennie, John W., William H., Hugh A., Samuel L., and 
Celia.  Benjamin married Francinia Fuller and has three children---Inez L., 
Earl D., and Ivah F.  Jennie married Edwin O. Harris, of Antwerp, Ohio, and 
has six children---Frank, Mabel, Elva, Myrtle, Ross and Ethel.  John W. 
married Matilda Clark and has one child---Ray.  Hugh, of Cole City, Ill, 
married Dellia Pardee, of Grundy County, Ill., and has one child---Ralph.  
Samuel married Carrie Lupton, and lives in Springfield, Ill.  Their eldest 
child, Thomas J., died at the age of six years.  Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic.  He has served this township as Constable two terms, 
and as Justice of the Peace the past nine years.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com