William Nelson (Wisconsin politician)

William Nelson (July 1, 1839 – October 26, 1913) was a Scottish American immigrant, newspaper publisher, and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Vernon and Monroe counties in the 1872 and 1873 sessions, and was later editor of The Salt Lake Tribune, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

William Nelson
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 4th district
In office
January 1, 1872 – January 5, 1874
Preceded byAdam Schantz
Succeeded byAdelbert Bleekman
Personal details
Born(1839-07-01)July 1, 1839
Rutherglen, Scotland, UK
DiedOctober 26, 1913(1913-10-26) (aged 74)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Cause of deathStroke
Resting placeMount Olivet Cemetery, Salt Lake City
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Mary Elizabeth Fretwell
​
​
(m. 1866⁠–⁠1913)​
Children
  • Margaret Nelson
  • (b. 1867; died 1953)
  • Mary Nelson
  • (b. 1869; died 1938)
  • William Nelson
  • (b. 1871; died 1910)
  • Esther Nelson
  • (b. 1875; died 1959)
  • Grace Nelson
  • (b. 1877; died 1968)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Volunteers
Union Army
Years of service1861–1864
Rank
Unit10th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography

Born in Rutherglen, Scotland,[1] he emigrated to the United States in 1842 with his father and settled in Jamestown, Wisconsin Territory, in 1843. Nelson was an editor and publisher, and started working for the Monroe Sentinel in 1852.[1]

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Union Army and was enrolled as a private in Company I of the 10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to sergeant during the organization of that regiment and was later promoted to first sergeant. He was a member of the regiment through its entire service in the war, which saw several battles in the Kentucky and Tennessee theater. He was captured along with many others of his regiment during the Battle of Chickamauga, and spent seventeen months as a prisoner of war. He was subsequently given an honorary brevet to the rank of captain.[2][1]

By the time he was released from captivity, his regiment had already been disbanded. He returned to Wisconsin and moved to the village of Viroqua, in Vernon County, where he married Mary Elizabeth Fretwell (1840–1919) in 1866.[1] In 1871, Nelson served as president of the Village of Viroqua. Then, in 1872 and 1873, Nelson served in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican.[1][3] Nelson moved to Utah in 1876.[1] There he first served as a United States marshal,[4] and then joined the staff of The Salt Lake Tribune in 1881.[4] Nelson died of a stroke[5] while serving as editor of The Salt Lake Tribune.[1]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1871)
Wisconsin Senate, 4th District Election, 1871[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 7, 1871
Republican William Nelson 2,835 67.60%
Independent T. C. Ankeny 1,359 32.40%
Plurality 1,476 35.19% +20.74%
Total votes 4,194 100.0% +36.52%
Republican gain from Democratic

References
  1. "William Nelson, Editor of the Tribune, Dead". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 27, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved October 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Tenth Regiment Infantry". Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. 1. Office of the Adjutant General of Wisconsin. 1886. p. 663. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. "Official Directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1873. p. 433. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  4. "William Nelson, Editor of the Tribune, Dead (continued)". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 27, 1913. p. 2. Retrieved October 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  5. "William Nelson's Death". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 27, 1913. p. 6. Retrieved October 3, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
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