Walter Charles Nelson

Suffer little children _____and forbid the not
__________ the Lord
when I make up my jewels

Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales

Biography

Walter Charles Nelson was the infant son of John P. Nelson and Amanda Jane Nelson nee Myers. Little Walter died on August 1, 1881 at only 4 months and 5 days old. His parents had married on June 1, 1880 (Nueces County Marriage Records, Vol. E page 137). At that time his mother listed herself as "Amanda J. F. Myers". It appears the "F." stand for "Ferguson" as that was her name by her previous marriage to Eli Larkin Ferguson. She had married Mr. Ferguson in January of 1875 and had a son by him, Samuel Ferguson, who is listed on the same gravestone with little Walter Charles Nelson, presumably because Walter was the first of the children born to John and Amanda who died as an infant. In the same plot stand also memorials to Maud A. Nelson (1884-1885) and Blanche Mabel Nelson (1886-1887). The mother of these children is listed as Amanda Jane Myers and appears to be the young lady who is listed in the 1870 census of Nueces County as only 16 years old and without any family. She reports she is a native of Texas, but she resides with a local professor and his family (O.W. McCumber) where she serves as a domestic servant (1870 census Nueces County, p. 147). It is unclear whether she was separated from her first husband, Eli Larkin Ferguson, by his death or divorce. Her second husband, John P. Nelson, is listed with Amanda in the 1880 census in Duval County (San Diego) where he reports himself a railroad contractor (1880 census, Duval County, p. 228A). In a newspaper article (Corpus Christi Weekly Caller of July 4, 1891 on page 2 and col. 3), J. P. Nelson is quoted by a writer who is reporting on a meeting at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio with Uriah Lott, President of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass RR, and Capt. M. Kenedy. The writer notes that Capt. Kenedy has transferred the contract for further building on the railroad to Mr. Nelson who is "young, quick, and active". By 1887, Mr. Nelson had already been in San Antonio as the obituary of Blanche Mabel Nelson indicates that she died in San Antonio and then was brought back to Corpus Christi for burial next to her half-brother Samuel Ferguson, brother Walter Charles, and sister Maude A. Nelson.

Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell