Maud A. Nelson

In loving remembrance of
Maud A. Nelson
Died May 5, 1886
Aged 9 mos., 11 days
So the bird of our bosom
fluttered up to the dawn
A window was opened - our darling was gone
A truant from time, from tears, and from sin
For the angels above took our wanderer in.

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

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Little Maud A. Nelson is the infant daughter of John P. Nelson and Amanda Jane Nelson nee Myers.  When she died on May 5, 1886 she was only 9 months and 11 days old.  Maud’s mother had been initially married to Eli Larkin Ferguson (in January of 1875) and by him she had a son who is also buried at this gravesite—Samuel Ferguson (1875-76).  It is unclear whether Eli Larkin Ferguson died or the couple simply divorced.  However, Nueces County Marriage Records (vol. E page 137) report that Amanda J. F. Myers (presumably the “J. F.†stands for “Jane Fergusonâ€) married John P. Nelson on June 1, 1880.  Prior to Maud’s birth, the couple had a son named Walter Charles who is also buried in this plot.  Little Walter was born and died in 1881.  Maud was subsequently born in 1884 and died in 1885.  Her father is listed in the 1880 census of Duval County (San Diego) as a railroad contractor so it is not surprising that in 1887 when Maud and Walter’s sister Blanche Mabel also died as an infant, the parents were living in San Antonio (see obit of Blanche Mabel on Old Bayview wedsite), but they brought the body of Maud back to Corpus Christi for burial.  In an article related to a meeting at the Menger in San Antonio between Uriah Lott and Capt. M. Kenedy, there is mention of the contractor “Mr. J. P. Nelsonâ€.  Capt. Kenedy has transferred his contract to Mr. Nelson for further work.  Mr. Lott at this time is president of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass railway which is being extended (see Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, July 4, 1891 page 2, col. 3).

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell