| Notes |
- residing with son in law Henry Wisegarver 1900 as widowed
On Tuesday, December 30, Hon. and Mrs. John Nelson, of Cessna, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary surrounded by their large and remarkable family well known to Bedford county residents.
Judge Nelson was born at Spring Mill, Centre county, June 9, 1821. During early manhood he worked at the tailoring trade with his father. In 1840 he moved to Neff's Mills, Huntingdon county. Here he began milling and continued until 1845, when he moved to Huntingdon, where, on April 2, 1846, he married Elizabeth Heiffner, daughter of John Heiffner, of McConnellstown. In the spring of 1847 he moved to Mill Creek and in 1849 to Water Street, where he kept a store and bakery. Here, on February 20, 1851, his wife died, at the age of 25 years, and was buried in the McConnellstown cemetery. To her were born the two sons, W. N. Nelson, of Saxton, and J. W. Nelson, of Marshfield, Mo.
The same year Mr. Nelson moved to Clover Creek, Blair county, where he conducted Rhode's mill. On December 30, 1852, he married Susan Cypher, daughter of John Cypher, of Stonerstown, Bedford county. To this union there were born eleven children ? Howard B., of Carrollton, Illinois; Isadora E. Gary, Washington, D. C.; Clara M. Hoover, Harry D., Cessna; H. Alice Imler, Pratt, Md.; Charles C., Phillipsburg; Minnie M. McCallion, Cessna; Burton E., Lincoln, Illinois; Frank R., Cessna; Nettie V. Wolf, Wolfsburg; L. Estella, Cessna. Thus thirteen children remain living and in good health and were able to return to this memorable reunion and to put to shame the believers in the Fatal 13- bugaboo theory. Nowhere can a stronger refutation be cited. In the spring of 1853 the family moved to Bell's Mills, now Bellwood, Blair county. Thence, in 1856, they went to Hopewell, where Mr. Nelson continued to work at his trade. In 1858 they moved to Bedford.
On October 2, 1863, Mr. Nelson entered the service of his country in the 18th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company K. He was stationed at Fairfax Court House, Va., in defense of the national capitol. Here, on February 25, 1863, while in charge of an advance picket guard, he was attacked by Moseby's guerrillas. The entire force was over-powered, and Lieut. Nelson received a serious wound in the shoulder and a more serious one in the leg, necessitating its amputation. He spent about a year in the hospitals at Fairfax, Georgetown and Philadelphia.
In the fall of 1864 the family moved to Cessna, where the reunion was held. Six years ago the entire fimily assembled there in reunion, and at that time no one thought it possible that father, mother and thirteen children could ever again be gathered together from widely scattered localities reaching from Dakota to the eastern borders of Maryland. Except for the ravagas to health caused by army exposure, it must be conceded that a more robust family of fifteen people cannot easily be found. All are nicely located and some have succeeded in business to a remarkable degree. Besides these children, Judge and Mrs. Nelson can count thirty grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. One of the children, W. N. Nelson, of Saxton, was also enlisted in the army of the rebellion in the same company with his father, but came out without serious injury.
In 1878 Mr. Nelson was honored by his county, which elected him associate judge. He served in this capacity until the fall of 1883.
Gathered at the old homestead at Cessna on Tuesday were the thirteen children before mentioned, Mrs. W. N. Nelson, of Saxton; W. J. McCallion, Cessna; J. D. Wolf, Wolfsburg; Mrs. R. Nelson, Cessna; Mrs. Mollie Baumgardner, Wells Tannery, niece to Judge Nelson, and her daughter Maud; Hon. and Mrs. Robert 0. McNamara, Dr. and Mrs. A. Enfield, Dr. A. C. Wolf, all of Bedford; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McCallion, Mrs. Elizabeth Drollinger, Mrs. Rebecca Wisegarver, all of Cessna; Mr. and Mrs W. S. Reed, Bedford; Rev. and Mrs. B. F. Bausman, Cessna; Rev. and Mrs. W. G. Steel, Wolfsburg; Miss Mary Amos, Bedford; Mrs. J. J. Wolf, Wolfsburg; Mrs. J. M. Crissman, Osterburg; Miss Sue Imler, Miss Olive Koontz, Cessna; Mrs. Schleichter, Mrs. Trout, and many grandchildren.
Notwithstanding the fact that it was given out that presents were not expected, many were presented to the bride and groom as tokens of loving remembrance and good wishes, one of which was fifty dollars in gold from their children. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are among Bedford county's most honored and best loved citizens. By their generosity, geniality and goodness, they have won a multitude of friends who heartily congratulate them on having reached such a memorable period in their lives.
Source: The Bedford Gazette, Bedford, Pennsylvania, Friday, January 2, 1903
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1827 - 1905 (78 years)
