James Alexander Nelson

Male27 December 1827–1 October 1908

Brief Life History of James Alexander

When James Alexander Nelson was born on 27 December 1827, in Huntingdon, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, United States, his father, Niles Nicholas Nelson, was 21 and his mother, Catherine Lightner, was 27. He married Vanelia Rodgers on 16 January 1862, in Pennsylvania, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Springfield Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States in 1850 and Wolf Creek Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States in 1860. He died on 1 October 1908, in Liberty Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Pine Township, Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States.

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Family Time Line

James Alexander Nelson
1827–1908
Vanelia Rodgers
1838–1913
Marriage: 16 January 1862
David Sterritt Nelson
1864–1935
Winfield Scott Nelson
1868–1946

Sources (6)

  • James A Nelson, "United States Census, 1870"
  • James Alexander Nelson, "Find A Grave Index"
  • James Nelson in household of Nicholas Nelson, "United States Census, 1860"

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    16 January 1862Pennsylvania, United States
  • Children (2)

    Parents and Siblings

    Siblings (7)

    +2 More Children

    World Events (8)

    1830 · The Second Great Awakening

    Age 3

    Being a second spiritual and religious awakening, like the First Great Awakening, many Churches began to spring up from other denominations. Many people began to rapidly join the Baptist and Methodist congregations. Many converts to these religions believed that the Awakening was the precursor of a new millennial age.

    1830 · The Oregon Trail

    Age 3

    Many people started their 2,170-mile West trek to settle the land found by Louis and Clark. They used large-wheeled wagons to pack most of their belongings and were guided by trails that were made by the previous trappers and traders who walked the area. Over time the trail needed annual improvements to make the trip faster and safer. Most of Interstate 80 and 84 cover most of the ground that was the original trail.

    1863

    Age 36

    Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free.

    Name Meaning

    English: patronymic from the personal name Nell or Nele, either of which might be a pet form of Elias or less commonly of Niel (from Latin Nigellus). See also Neal .

    Americanized form of Swedish Nilsson and also of the Danish, Norwegian, and North German cognates Nielsen and Nilsen (compare Nelsen ). Compare also Neilson and Nielson .

    History: The Nelson name was an important one in 18th-century VA, starting with Thomas ‘Scotch Tom’ Nelson, who emigrated to VA at the close of the 17th century from Penrith, Cumbria, where the Nelsons were numerous. Scotch Tom settled c. 1700 at Yorktown, VA, where he became a successful merchant and landholder. His son was sheriff and a member of the VA Council, and his grandson, Thomas Nelson (1738–89), a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was governor of VA.

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

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