IowaJones/Biographies/J. Nash

J. Nash–C. Nelson

James Nash
Born 1826

JAMES NASH, farmer, Cass Twp., Sec. 24; P.O. Anamosa; was born in County Cork, Ireland, about 1826; he came to this country in December, 1855; he lived near Boston, Mass., for some time; in March, 1857, he came to Anamosa; has lived in Jones Co. since that time; he was engaged to labor by the month for several years; has also worked several farms in Jones Co. on shares; in September, 1868, with Mr. Thomas Walters, he purchased 120 acres of their present farm; they have now 197 acres. Mr. Nash is unmarried; the only relative he has in this country is Mrs. Mary Norris, who resides in Linn Co.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 696.

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Servitus Needham
Born August 3, 1820

SERVITUS NEEDHAM, of the firm of Needham & Burritt, livery and boarding stable, Anamosa; is a native of Addison Co., Vt., and was born August 3, 1820. He grew up to manhood, and lived in that State until 1855, when he came West to Illinois; lived in La Salle Co. two years; then came to Whiteside Co., where he lived seven years, and, in 1866, he came to Jones Co. and located in Anamosa, and established his present business, and has continued it for thirteen years. Needham & Burritt are the oldest livery firm in Anamosa. Mr. Needham was united in marriage to Miss Hannah M. Burritt, from Chittenden Co., Vt., June 20, 1854; they have one son—Oscar M.; now attending Beloit College. Mr. Needham has had the office of City Councilman.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 569.

John Neelans
Born September, 1842

In a history of Jones county mention should be made of John Neelans, one of the prosperous and substantial farmers and highly respected citizens of Clay township, who claims Ireland as the place of his nativity, his birth there occurring in September, 1842. His parents were James and Martha (Warnic) Neelans, natives of Ireland. The father was born in County Derry in 1779, while the mother's birth occurred in 1799. There they were married in 1819 and reared their family of seven children. In 1850, thinking to obtain better opportunities for business advancement in the new world, the father crossed the Atlantic and landed in New York on the I2th of July, that year, and from there made his way to Pennsylvania. His wife, however, who had suffered a severe sunstroke during the journey, lived for only a week after their arrival in Easton, Pennsylvania, leaving her husband and seven children to mourn her loss. James Neelans, who had followed the occupation of farming prior to his coining to the new world, was well along in years at the time of his arrival in America, having already reached the seventy-first milestone on life's journey. The sons, however, most of whom had attained man's estate, obtained employment in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and cared for him and kept the family together for a number of years. Six years after leaving Ireland the father passed away in the Keystone state, his remains being laid to rest in Mauch Chunk, One son, Robert, lost his life in the coal mines while later another son, James, was killed in an explosion in the powder mills of Harford, Pennsylvania. Rachel, the youngest member of the family, became the wife of George Maddock, of Connecticut, and died in 1908, her remains being interred in Thompsonville, that state. Samuel, another son, now makes his home in Connecticut.

John Neelans was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the United States and the remaining years of his boyhood and youth were passed in Pennsylvania. When only nine years old he had the misfortune to lose his left leg, and was therefore debarred from many of the activities engaged in by other lads. Something of his determination of spirit, however, was manifest in the fact that when about twenty years of age he stood on his one leg and chopped cord wood until he had earned one hundred and thirty dollars with which to purchase an artificial limb. He started out in business for himself at the age of twenty-two years, with a capital of but one dollar, obtaining employment with the Old Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, and remained with that company continuously for twelve years, a fact which indicates clearly his ability, faithfulness and trustworthiness. At the expiration of that period he came to Iowa, residing in a house belonging to John Dennison. At the end of a year he was so pleased with the country and the opportunities offered in this state that he purchased his present farm of one hundred and seventy-one acres, at first investing in one hundred and twenty acres and latter adding another tract of fifty-one acres. His fields today are under an excellent state of cultivation, for he has made a close study of agriculture, is systematic, methodical and progressive in his methods and manifests a business ability and careful management of his affairs that have gained him a high place among the substantial and prosperous farmers of the township.

It was on the 25th of November, 1869, that Mr. Neelans was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Watkins, who was born in Wales on the 22d of June, 1850, a daughter of John Watkins. Unto this union have been born three children, namely: Lottie J., born on the 4th of November, 1870; John, whose birth occurred on the 20th of January, 1872, and who passed away July 1877; and James, who passed away in infancy. On the 27th of May 1906, Mr. Neelans was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife and the daughter has since taken charge of the home and is keeping house for the father.

In politics he is a stalwart supporter of the democracy, while his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as an elder for almost twenty years. A gentleman of excellent morals and high principles, his record has ever measured up to a high standard of honorable manhood and he ranks foremost among the valued and respected citizens of the community. Starting out in the business world empty-handed and physically handicapped, the struggle for success was hard and oftentimes discouraging, and only at the expense of a vast amount of energy, diligence, perseverance and good management has he attained to his present gratifying measure of success, few meriting in greater degree the proud American title of a self-made man.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 648.

John D. Neelans
Born September 10, 1874

In the thirty odd years that John D. Neelans has lived and worked upon his farm in Clay township, many improvements have been made upon the place, which have brought it to a high state of cultivation and the position it occupies at present, that of being one of the best in the locality. A native of Clay township, he was born upon the place he now owns, September 10, 1874, his parents being William and Mary (Dennison) Neelans, both natives of Ireland. The father was born in March, 1833, and came to the United States with his parents when he was seventeen years of age. The family located in Connecticut, where he found employment in the mines, and in 1866, after his marriage he came to Iowa. He also worked in the powder mills of Connecticut until the accidental death of his brother made him decide to seek other means of livelihood. In 1867 he purchased the first eighty acres of the homestead in Clay township, this county. He had nothing when he made the change to his new mode of life except the meager savings which he had slowly accumulated from his wages while working in the mines and the powder mills, but he was endowed with a capacity for work, and knew the value of industry and thrift, so that it was not long before he was well advanced along the road to success and able to add sixty acres to his land holdings. His long, honorable and well spent life was ended in 1904 and he was mourned as a good man and noble citizen. His widow, who was born in 1837, is still living. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters: John D., Elizabeth, Ellen and William, all of whom are living in Iowa.

Reared to the life of a farmer and initiated into hard work, John D. Neelans nevertheless chose agriculture as his own vocation, and, being satisfied with the returns reaped from the soil of the home place, has never sought other fields of labor. He acquired a fairly good education in the public schools of his town, ship, although study was never permitted to interrupt the work which was carried on upon the farm. For four years, however, he sought a livelihood elsewhere as a day laborer, the experiences of that period only serving to make him better contented with the vocation which had been selected for him. Since he has assumed the full responsibility of operating the home farm, he has instituted a number of improvements, not the least being the erection of the fine residence he now occupies. It is fitted with many of the modern conveniences enjoyed by dwellers in the cities, even to a fine furnace, which thoroughly heats the whole house despite the severe cold without. In addition to the raising of many cereals Mr. Neelans has given a considerable amount of time to the stock business, raising large numbers of hogs, cattle and horses and feeding them for the market. As progressive ideas have guided him in his work and industry has been the force which has put them into constant practice, it is but in the natural course of events that Mr. Neelans should be accounted one of the prosperous farmers of this township.

After he had proved to his own satisfaction that he was able to achieve success in his line of work, Mr. Neelans was married December 20, 1899, to Miss Mate Hanna. Three children have been born to them: Fred J., born January 11, 1901 Mary D., born April 22, 1904; and Ruth G., born November 21, 1907.

Mr. Neelans is a Presbyterian in his religious affiliations and gives his support in political matters to the democratic party. While he could not be called an office seeker, he has served his township most worthily as township clerk, his terms extending over a period of four years. His life, lived in accordance with high principles and spent in useful endeavor, has been of valuable service to the community and proves him deserving of the respect he enjoys.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 438.

Charles H. Nelson
Born July 24, 1883

Farming claims the attention of Charles H. Nelson, who operates one hundred and sixty acres in Scotch Grove township, which was inherited by him and his sister from the father's estate. Mr. Nelson was born on this farm, July 24, 1883, the only son of the marriage of Mathew J. and Ellen (Overly) Nelson. The father was born in Pennsylvania and coming to Jones county as a young man, he was married here to Miss Overly, who was born in Scotch Grove township. Soon thereafter Mr. Nelson purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which our subject now resides. He carefully tilled the soil and made farming his life work, being thus engaged up to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1901. His wife, however, died many years before, her death occurring when the son was but seven months old. Mr. Nelson was a republican in his political views but was never active in the work of the party, his farm work and the care of his family fully claiming his time and attention. He was a man of kindly purposes, of strict integrity and of genial nature and during his long residence in Scotch Grove township he was looked upon as one of its most prosperous and highly respected citizens. Beside our subject there was left to mourn his loss one daughter, Ella May, the wife of R. P. Clark, of Scotch Grove township.

Charles H. Nelson was reared under the parental roof and was given the advantages of a good common-school education. He was but eighteen years of age at the time of his father's death and he had been bereft of a mother's love and care from his infancy. Being thrown upon his own responsibility at an early age, the strongest traits of his character were brought forth. He was, however, left in good circumstances, the farm of one hundred and sixty acres being left to him and his sister. He rents the latter's share and operates the entire tract, his work being carried on very successfully.

Mr. Nelson finds a faithful helpmate in his wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Maggie Serbousek, and whom he wedded on the 12th of February, 1908. She is a native of Madison township, this county. Mr. Nelson follows in the political footsteps of his father, giving his support to the republican party. Having spent his entire life in Scotch Grove township, he is popular with a large circle of friends and his estimable wife shares in the esteem in which he is uniformly held.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 239.