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MATTHEW G. NELSON
Vol. 3, p. 1122-1123

In the person of Matthew G. Nelson is found an example of that
material which has brought Woods County to a full realization of its
agricultural possibilities. Endowed with native ability, backed by
business shrewdness and commendable ambition, this agriculturist has
worked his way to the ownership of a fine farm, located six miles
west at Dacoma, and which he is devoting to general farming and
stockraising. A resident of this community since 1898 there are
evidences of his progressive methods on every hand and of his
endeavor to attain to the best achieved thus far in agricultural
science.

Mr. Nelson was born April 20, 1877, on a farm in Jefferson County,
Pennsylvania, and is a son of Andrew and Anna (RHINEHART) Nelson. His
father, a native of Ireland, was born in January, 1828, and was a
youth of seventeen years when he emigrated to the United States.
Locating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he there learned the trade of
wagonmaking, which he followed in that city until 1878, then removing
to Russell County, Kansas, and settling on Government land. He was a
pioneer of that part of Kansas and continued to be engaged in farming
there until 1898, when he disposed of his interests and removed to
Woods County, Oklahoma. Here he continued to be identified with
agricultural operations until his death, which occurred November 21,
1906. In 1851 Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Mary RUTH, who died June
23, 1861. They were the parents of one son and four daughters, of
whom all are now deceased except one, who is now Mrs. Mary L. SMITH.
Mr. Nelson was married a second time, August 27, 1863, when united
with Miss Anna B. RHINEHART, who was born in Pennsylvania, November
2, 1838, and died May 20, 1909, in Woods County, Oklahoma. Six
children were born to this union, as follows: Carrie, Annie, Laura,
Laila, John W. and Matthew G.

Matthew G. Nelson was but two years of age when brought to the West
by his parents, and in Russell County, Kansas, he was reared amid the
surroundings of the home farm and secured his education in the
district schools. On attaining his majority, in 1898, he came to
Woods County, Oklahoma, and here purchased his present farm, six
miles west of Dacoma, on which he has since continued to carry on
operations. He now has a valuable and fertile property, with
substantial building and improvements of the most modern kind, and is
considered one of the progressive and intelligent husbandmen of his
locality. A friend of progress and education he has been selected by
his fellow-citizens to serve as a member of the board of township
trustees and of the school board, and in both capacities has
endeavored to advance as far as has lain in his power the best
interest of his part of the county. Mr. Nelson is a democrat and an
active worker in the ranks of his party. He and the members of his
family belong to Holiness Christian Church.

On September 11, 1901, in Barton County, Kansas, Mr. Nelson was
united in marriage with Miss Laura CHILDS, who was born July 7, 1878,
a daughter of Charles and Jennie (STONE) Childs, natives of Peoria,
Illinois. Mrs. Nelson, who had been a schoolteacher in Barton County,
Kansas, for several years previous to her marriage, died in Woods
County, Oklahoma, August 31, 1912. She had been the mother of three
sons and one daughter, all born in Woods County, as follows: Charles
Andrew, January 13, 1903; Laura Belle, August 25, 1904; Harry Earl,
April 15, 1906; and Everett Dean, July 22, 1908.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Carolyn Smith Burns on November 4, 1998.