Person:Joseph Nelson (1)

Gail has that they had 7 more kids that they do not have names for.

Cemeteries of Lagrange County, Indiana has birth as 1808. Probably misread information.

December 1820 he moved to Wayne County, Ohio with his parents according to obit.

Moved to Stark County, Ohio in 1822 according to obit

LDS International Genealogical Index has they were married on January 20, 1825 in Stark County, Ohio

1830 Census appears to be living in Sugar Cane Township, Stark County, Ohio 11101-10011 on p. 324

November 14, 1837 came to Newberry Township, La Grange County, Indiana according to obit.

1840 Census appears to be living in La Grange County, Indiana 011101-210001 on p. 328 1850 Census of LaGrange County, Indiana Newberry Township

    Name           Age Sex   Occupation     Born

527-231 Nelson, Joseph 49 M Farmer PA

         Susanna        45    F             PA
         John P.        22    M   Farmer         OH
         Anne      21    F             OH
         James          15    M   Farmer         OH
         Mary      14    F             OH
         Amanda         11    F              IN
         Almira          9     F             IN
         Joseph G.  7     M             IN
         Rebecca         2     F             IN
    Hart,     Joseph          3     M             IN

1870 Census of Eden, Lagrange County, Indiana, p. 195 Nelson, Joseph 67 M Farmer $1000 $617 PA can read and write

            Mary        65  F    Keeps House                   PA   cannot read or write

Abrams, Joseph P 21 M Teacher PA

In the 1870 Census of La Grange County there is a Margeret Nelson living by Eleanor Nelson Sparks and Mary Jane Nelson Sparks. This may be one of Joseph's sons wives. The son is not there however.

There is another child listed in the Nelson Bible family record that was born October 27th, 1833, but I cannot make out the name. It does not appear to be Rebecca or Leroy however.

1880 Census of Clear Spring, Lagrange, Indiana Page 424B

         Relation  Sex  Marr Age  Born   FB   MB   Occupation

Levi BURDEN Self M M 52 OH CT CT Physician Eliza BURDEN Wife F M 42 PA PA PA Keeping House Rosy LOVELAND Dau F S 12 MI MI MI Joseph NELSON Other M W 76 PA PA PA Boarding

He was in Lagrange County, Indiana for 60 years when he passed away. Buried in lot with Levi and Eliza Bruden.

Obituary JOSEPH NELSON PASSES TO HIS REWARD ON HIS 95TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY Joseph Nelson was born February 28, 1803, in Sumerset County, Pa., and in December 1820, removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio. In 1822, he moved to Starke County, Ohio, and January, 1824, he married Susanna Hart, and they remained in Starke County until October 23, 1837, at which time they, with their five children, loaded their few household effects on a wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen and started for the state of Indiana. Many were the trials, and hardships of that long and tedius journey through the wilderness, swamps and the unimproved roads and Indian trails. Many times they were compelled to remain two nights at the same tavern by reason of the fact that they were impeded by the difficulties that beset them on their journey. On the 14th of November, 1837, they reached their destination in Newbury township, Lagrange County. There Mr. Nelson cut the timber and raised his log cabin and called it home. In 1839 he purchased 80 acres of the then forest in Newbury County and by working almost day, and night, and by the great assistance of his wife, he managed to support his family and pay for his home. Rough fare and coarse diet satisfied their appetites. Indian corn meal and wild game constituted the banquets spread on their board. The Indians and the howling wolves were their most numerous neighbors. But, in that humble home, admist the forest, his God was not forgotten. On December 25, 1837, he organized and assisted his few neighbors in forming a church class which met in different humble homes and prayer and preaching were held. Mr. Nelson was appointed leader of the little band and held that position until 1854, when he was licensed to exhort and then he held services at his home and elsewhere among the neighbors and continued as class leader and exhorter for over thirty years, and has ever since been a faithful and devout Christian and a member of the M.E. Church.

 In 1854, he purchased a farm in the northeastern part of Eden township and built a house and a barn, and again cleared the forest and assisted his children, who married, in providing homes for themselves.  On February 10, 1868, his wife died, leaving eight children, all of whom were at that time married.  There were born to them twelve children, only four of whom survived Mr. Nelson, viz:  Danial Nelson, who resides in southern Indiana; Mary Jane Sparks, Oklahoma; Almira Buzzard, Leroy, Kansas; and Rebecca Hart, Carl City, Iowa.  He leaves forty-two grand children, eighty great grandchildren and no less than twelve great-great grandchildren.
  October 20, 1868, he married Mary Abraham, mother of Eliza A. Burden, and October 4, 1872, he moved to the Haw Patch county, and March 30, 1875, this wife died, since which time he has lived with and been cared for by Mrs. Burden, his stepdaughter.  October 27, 1892, he removed with Mrs. Burden from Haw Patch to Lagrange, where he lived until death, February 28, 1898, his 95th Birth anniversary.  His life in many respects has been remarkable.  Almost a centruy has he been able to watch the progress and development of our glorious Republic.  He has witnessed a weak struggling little Republic of sixteen states and five and one-half million people develop into 45 states and a population of about eighty million, and into the best and strongest form of a Republican government that the world has ever known.
  And he has been an eye witness to the struggling efforts and the many great conflicts through which this government has passed while being fitted to become the greatest and most enlighted nation on earth.  From the ninth to the twelfth years of his age, he witnessed the second great conflict between the U.S. and England.  The many conflicts with the Indians, and the war with Mexico, were but a few of the important scenes upon the stage  of his existance here.  The great debate over the slavery questions he heard and read and saw it terminate into the most terrible fratricidal contest the world has ever known.  He witnessed the Liberation of 4,000,000 slaves and the curse of slavery declared to have no longer an existance within the United State.  And out of the chaos he saw clouds of war dispelled, and the stated consecrated anew by the blood of their patriots, and today a united and powerful nation that knows no north, no south, no east, no west.  What man could have hoped to witness more?
  In politics he was a Democrat, casting his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson in 1824, and during his life voted for eighteen candidates for President.  He was a loyal and patriotic citizen and an ardent supporter and defender of the laws of this country and those of his God.  Let us pause for a moment and see if we can comprehend and realize the various scenes through which he has passed.  A line of twenty men like him, if they were to join hands, would tell us that his name was Adam.  And when we attempt to recall what has conspired in that time we are lost in thought, and the scenes fade until the sky of the past eternity shuts down upon our vision.  The most remarkable thing of Mr. Nelson's life was the fact that up to date of his death, he retained full control of his mental powers, and his mind was as clear, his reasoning as perfect and his memory as accurate as that of a man in all the vigor and strength of the prime of his life.  And of him it can be truthfully said that he spoke ill of no one and passed away without leaving an enemy; but, on the contrary, everyone who knew him mourned their loss.
  His was an example of a well-spent life.  Well and truly did he say just before his death:  "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.  I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
  Mr. Nelson was from a long lived race of people; his father, Patrick Nelson, who was born in Ireland, died in this country at the age of 104 years; his mother, whose maiden name was Jane MacMillian, of Scotch parentage, whose resided in this country lived to a very old age.  He leaves surviving him, two brothers who reside in this country also; George Nelson, born in 1809 and William Nelson, born in 1812.
  And while with unfeigned regret we contemplate his separation from us, it is with sentiments of the most hallowed gratitude that we remember that "Death is Life," and that by it we are taught the imbecility of all things human and made acquainted with the grandeur of eternity.  These ceremonies are not rendered the deceased merely out of respect for him, but rather to the principles which have immprtilized his character.  May his example be forever a sacred presence, like a band of attendant Cherubim bending down from a purer region, and, like the smile of Heaven, shed a ray of their own into their hearts and make them as beautiful as themselves.
  Long and often may those patient angels hover above us, watching for the spell which is so seldom uttered and so soon forgotten.  And while we mourn the loss of Brother Nelson, may his example shine like a pillar of fire before us to encourage our advance and impel us to vigorously seek the imperishable reward, so that we may receive the commendation of the Searcher of Hearts and made to realize that:

"There is no death. What seems so is transistion,

        This life of mortal breath,

Is but a suburb of the life elysian,

     Whose portals we call death!"

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Transcription of Joseph Nelson's obituary.
2. ↑ Will of Patrick Nelson.
3. ↑ Index to Death Records LaGrange County, Indiana 1882-1924 Vol. I
   p.110.
4. ↑ Local record of death for Joseph Nelson.
5. ↑ Robert & Leonore Current. Cemeteries of Lagrange County Indiana, 1832-1982
   p. 44.