Lydia Eleanor Nelson

Brief Life History of Lydia Eleanor

Lydia Eleanor Nelson was born about 1849, in Bethel, Oxford, Maine, United States. She married Roscoe W Cummings on 8 March 1875. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Woodstock, Oxford, Maine, United States in 1880. She died in 1883, at the age of 35.

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Family Time Line

Roscoe W Cummings
1846–1928
Lydia Eleanor Nelson
1849–1883
Marriage: 8 March 1875
Clarence Carleton Cummings
1874–1897
Elmer Ralph Cummings
1879–1951
Clara May Cummings
1883–1957

Sources (7)

  • Lydia E Cummings in household of Rosco W Cummings, "United States Census, 1880"
  • Lydia Nelson, Housekeeper, "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921"
  • Liddie Nelson in entry for Cummings and Meader, "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921"

World Events (7)

1851 · First State to Attempt Prohibition

In 1851, Maine outlawed the sale of alcohol, allowing exceptions only for "medicinal, mechanical, and manufacturing purposes". This made Maine the first state to experiment with prohibition. Neal Dow, mayor of Portland, believed that alcohol was linked to slavery and was also convinced by the Christian temperance movement. Dow ran into problems later for his anti-immigration rhetoric against the Irish, and also for breaking his own prohibition laws; although not a designated "purchaser", Dow personally purchased alcohol to distribute to local doctors, violating a technicality. As the citizens turned against him, Dow eventually ordered soldiers to fire on protesters. This marked a sharp decline in Dow's political career, and the Maine Law was repealed by 1856. Aspects of the law would remain in tact, however, and ultimately paved the way for the 18th Amendment, which prohibited alcohol on the national level.

1863

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

1863 · The Battle at Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg involved the largest number of casualties of the entire Civil war and is often described as the war's turning point. Between 46,000 and 51,000 soldiers lost their lives during the three-day Battle. To honor the fallen soldiers, President Abraham Lincoln read his historic Gettysburg Address and helped those listening by redefining the purpose of the war.

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.

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