J. S. Neilson, a farmer, was born April 16, 1831, in Greene County, always his home. When he was eighteen he began independently by managing his father’s farm, and in 1861 he began farming for himself. In 1858 he married M. E. Baker, a daughter of Allen ,Baker, a native of Greene County. Their children are James T. and Jesse B. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Democrat, first voting for Scott. He is the fifth of seven children of W. D. and Eliza (Evans) Neilson, natives of Greene and Claiborne Counties, respectively. The father commanded a company in the war of 1812, and was afterward commissioned colonel. He followed farming most of his life, and the latter part was engaged in general merchandising. The grandfather, Hugh, was a native of Scotland, and one of the pioneers of Greene County, Tenn. The mother was of English stock. The farm of our subject consists of 375 acres of fine, mostly bottom, land, showing the hand of a successful agriculturist.
