|
Nelson was described as 5'8", dark complexion, dark eyes, dark hair. Residences & events in his life: 1850 Shelby Co, IL. Nelson married Elvira there and was listed inthe census as a farmer with property = $700. 1851 Shelby Co, IL. He was named defendant in a circuit court caseagainst Albertus Harper, details unknown. 1855 Coles Co, IL, was his residence when he was listed in the Statecensus. 1857 Moultrie Co, IL. He was listed on the delinquent tax list,possibly because he was in Coles Co. 1860 Moultrie Co, IL. Having lost his wife just a few months prior,Nelson and his 2 daughters were living with his brother, James, andfamily at census time. Also living there, as a housekeeper'sassistant, was Elizabeth Purvis who would become his second wife. 7/15/1861 Decatur, IL. Nelson enlisted as a Pvt in Co B 41st Reg ILVolunteer Infantry, and was promoted to 1st Orderlie Sgt. When Nelson left for war, he entrusted the care of his sole survivingdaughter, 10 year old Lizzie, to James. However, this arrangementproved unsuitable as she was soon moved to the home of AddisonMcPheeters, family friends and neighbors. In a letter to Elizabeth Purvis, Nelson wrote: "I received a letter from James yesterday whotold me in his letter that Lizza had always been a good girl, alwaysminded him well but that she didn't mind her Aunt atall. I wrote toLizza yesterday about it & asked to know what was the matter. I toldEveline that I had heard that she did not use Libba as she ought to. Itold her that I had never whipped anybody elses child, and that Inever would and it hurt my feelings verry bad to hear what I haveheard." Other sources said Eveline treated Elizabeth as a servant. Nelson corresponded with relatives and friends while he was away andwhile several of the letters remain intact, they are very hard to readdue to his small handwriting and lack of punctuation. Writing paperwas a rare commodity and he used every scrap available, writing alongthe margins and anywhere he could squeeze in a sentence. In most of the letters, besides relating events of the war and his activities, hetried to keep the tone humorous and full of funny anecdotes. Nelson was also mentioned often in the McPheeters' family lettersduring the Civil War: 1/7/1863 - "Nelson Powell is yet here (Sullivan) - Some of the blackdemocrats (Copperheads) about Sullivan don't like his presance - Saythey think he is kept here as a spy." And - "Nelson Powell, evening before last came near having a dificultyin Sullivan. A little crowd of black democrats gathered around himand wanted to know his business here - accused him of being a spy etcHe told them that he was in the service of the U.S. government, andthat whatever his duties might be, he intended to discharge themfaithfully, regardless of consequences - He gave them no informationas to his business--There was a good deal said, and as one of themwent off he said that shooting was what Powell needed or something tothat effect. Powell did not hear him" Again - "Donty has a good deal to say about Powell--Powell is fullyprepared for them" 2/15/1863 - "Mrs (James) Powell and Nelson start for Humboldt (TN)next week." 4/5/1863 - "Betty Cornwell has another correspondent in dixie now (MrN E Powell) she seems very much pleased with her new correspondent." 5/31/1865 "A late letter from N.E. Powell informs us he expects to behere (Moultrie Co) by the middle of June. Was in Washington city whenhe wrote." Michael Fryburger, a friend from the area serving in the War efforts,also made references to Nelson and James in his letters: 2/10/1861 - He read Nelson Powell's letter to Peyton. 2/12/1862 - From Cape Girardeau, Nelson Powell sent a letter fromPaducah and is well. 12/17/1863 Nelson was discharged at Vicksburg, Miss. He reenlistedimmediately as a veteran, was promoted to 2 Master Sgt, tranferred andpromoted to Capt of Co G 53rd Reg (the 41st having been consolidatedwith the 53rd), 12/12/1864 Moultrie Co, IL. Estray notice (he claimed a strayanimal, probably a horse). 7/15/1865 Just a few days prior to his discharge from the service,Nelson bought a lot in Sullivan from James and Eveline for $160. 7/22/1865 Louisville, KY, where he received his final discharge.During his tour of duty, he saw action at Ft Henry & Heaman, TN; FtDonelson; Shiloh, Pittsburg landing; seige of Corinth, Miss; seige ofVicksburg, & Jackson, was in the Battle of the 12, seige of Atlanta and ended up at Savannah, GA, with Sherman in his march to the sea. A few months later he married Elizabeth Purvis whom he had courted bymail throughout the war. 4/6/1867 Nelson bought a plot of ground for $210. 6/26/1868 Paying $80 to Robert Bracken and wife, Nelson receivedanother lot in town. 1870 Jonathan Creek Twp, Moultrie Co, IL, was his residence at censustime, Lizzie had married but he and Elizabeth had 2 more smallchildren to be counted. 1871 Moultrie Co, IL. He paid the tax for the school district. 8/31/1872 Moultrie Co, IL. Nelson bought 39.87 acres from therailroad @ $12.00/acre for a total of $478. 9/1872 Jacksonville, Morgan Co, IL. One of his daughters died andwas buried there. 1873-1876 Near Hutchinson, KS where one son was born and died. Nelsonwent to Kansas with friends to seek the good life but lost everythingdue to a grasshopper plague. Mercer Co, MO. It is not clear when he lived in Mercer Co, whether onthe way to or from Kansas, but he was remembered by the old settlersthere as a former resident. 10/13/1877 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. Nelson paid $200 for a lot. 1880 Washington Twp, Mercer Co, MO, where he was listed in thecensus, as a farmer and had a house full of children. Also livingwith him was an Emery Rachybough, 18, laborer in a rock querry (sic).In the same township was brothers, John Lisle, and Benjamin, withtheir families. About 1882 Jonathan Creek Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. 9/13/1884 He applied for an invalid's pension due to rheumatism fromexposure near Ft Donalson & Henry, Tenn, 2/13/1862 and the resultingdisease of the heart 11/1865. The application was approved and hereceived his last check on 1/4/1904. 4/15/1897 As a memento of his war service, he presented to his wife alarge poster containing his war record. The record was incorporatedinto the design for a national monument of the Grand Army of theRepublic planned to be erected in October 1898. Among family mementosare a photo of Nelson in his uniform, a photo of "My Fathers Co. 41stIll. taken where their comrads were buried Battle at Shilow," and aphoto of the Civil War veterans of Jonathan Creek Church. 1892 Nelson signed an affidavit for Eveline Powell, James' widow, inher efforts to obtain a Widow's Pension. 9/10/1895 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. Nelson paid $800 to John andNancy Purvis for a lot in the Lewis subdivision. 2/2/1897 He bought a second lot in the same area from the John andNancy Purvis for $600. 1900 Sullivan Twp, Moultrie Co, IL. The aged Nelson and Elizabethstill had one child at home, Mary C, at 18. 6/13/1901 Cadwell, Moultrie Co, IL. Nelson E Powell became thepostmasters there, assuming the position held some 3 years prior bynephew, Lycurgus Powell. Apparently he could not convince his wifeand daughter to move there with him as shown by the following letterto son Joe, and his new bride, dated 8/5/1901: "Dear Joe and Pearl I have no time to either read or write so I dont do much of it Iwas home Sunday and read a little letter from you to Ma I was glad tohear you had got employment hope you will succeed in the business andgive good service to the company and you will soon find it will beat alittle restaurant bad I hope your little failure over at Sullivan willbe a good schooling to you nearly every boddy has to get there eyeteeth cut and take a little rought schooling at the start. I know Idid write and tell just how things are Running with you I am still allalone except Puss Runs up and helps me a day or two in the week Ma isnot well has that pain in back of head she had with on Levi's placeshe is bent on not coming up here so is Puss Ansell is thrashing andhauling his oats this week says he can haul your things to you next week well I must go to supper so good bye for this time Your Old Pa Cadwell Ills 1902 He applied for a renewal of his $12/month invalid pensionbecause of his "inability to earn a support by manual labor" becauseof rheumatism disease of heart and senile debility from 12/7/1896 and6/27/1890, disease of left leg, deafness of both ears, and generaldebility from age. Witnesses who signed for him were E Davis and WPWright. 2/24/1903 Nelson bought a third lot in the Lewis subdivision, paying$800 to son, William and Eugenia Powell. 9/19/1903 He applied for an increase of his invalid pension of$12/month. Signatures as witnesses for the application included GRHawkins and Ira McIlwain. |
| Another source says the marriage was performed by M.R. Chew. |
|
The doctor, A.D. Miller, gave the following report of Nelson's deathfor the application for
pension of his widow: "The onset of Mr Powells death dates back for at least one yearprior to death. I did not see him untill Jan 12, 1904 before thattime he only complained of a numness of left side with impaired use.on Jan 12 he lost use of left side with loss of speach for a few hoursbut regained partial use with improved speach. On Mar 2, 04 he fellin the floor from chair and up to his death he talked at random. fromhenceforth to death he was totaly unconscious and died in coma. Inoted his heart disease at my first examination that he came beforethe board of examiners. I don't remember the date. Did not have anyfever at any time during his sickness. A.D. Miller" The same physician also gave the following affidavit: "I first knew the soldier about Sept 1894. I first treated himprofessionally about fall of 1899 for heart trouble and at intervelsof 3 or 4 months for same and Lagrippe also for a nervous conditionuntill his last illness which was paralysis with softening of brain,as a result of which he died on March 12th 1904. At the last fivedays of his illness pneumonia appeared which hastened his death." His obituary states: "Nelson died at his home in the east part ofSullivan Saturday night after weeks of suffering. He had been in poorhealth all winter and was partly paralyzed. The funeral was held inthe Christian church Tuesday afternoon. He had been an efficient member of that church for over half a century. Elder H. A. Davisconducted the service. He was a member of the Fourty-First Illinois Regiment and gave threeyears of his life to the service of his country during the Civil War.He was a member of the local G.A.R. Post and the post attended theservice in a body. His second wife was a daughter of Samuel Purvis (was actually WilliamPurvis) and to this union were given four children, three live nearSullivan and the other in Mattoon. He was a staunch Republican andalways worked for the advancement of his party." |
|
On 3/19/1904 Elizabeth bought the cemetery plot from W.A. and Mary Steele for $10. |