William Nelson (July 1, 1839October 26, 1913) was a Scottish American immigrant, newspaper publisher, and Republican politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Vernon and Monroe counties in the

1872 Events January–March * January 12 – Yohannes IV is crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in Axum, the first ruler crowned in that city in over 500 years. * February 2 – The government of the United Kingdom buys a number of forts on ...

and

1873 Events January–March * January 1 ** Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar. ** The California Penal Code goes into effect. * January 17 – American Indian Wars: Modoc War: First Battle of the Stronghold – Modoc Indians defeat ...

sessions, and was later editor of ''

The Salt Lake Tribune ''The Salt Lake Tribune'' is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The ''Tribune'' is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871." History ...

'', in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Biography

Born in Rutherglen, Scotland, he emigrated to the United States in 1842 with his father and settled in Jamestown, Wisconsin Territory, in 1843. Nelson was an editor and publisher, and started working for the ''Monroe Sentinel'' in 1852. At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Union Army and was enrolled as a private in Company I of the

10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment The 10th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army in the western theater of the American Civil War. Service The 10th Wisconsin was raised at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and mustered into Federal service Octobe ...

. He was promoted to sergeant during the organization of that regiment and was later promoted to first sergeant. He was a member of the regiment through its entire service in the war, which saw several battles in the Kentucky and Tennessee theater. He was captured along with many others of his regiment during the Battle of Chickamauga, and spent seventeen months as a prisoner of war. He was subsequently given an honorary

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. By the time he was released from captivity, his regiment had already been disbanded. He returned to Wisconsin and moved to the village of

Viroqua Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,504 at the 2020 census. The city is in the town of Viroqua. Etymology The town was originally named “Farwell” after Leonard J. Farwell, second Gov ...

, in Vernon County, where he married Mary Elizabeth Fretwell (1840–1919) in 1866. In 1871, Nelson served as president of the Village of Viroqua. Then, in 1872 and 1873, Nelson served in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican. Nelson moved to Utah in 1876. There he first served as a United States marshal, and then joined the staff of ''

'' in 1881. Nelson died of a

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

while serving as editor of ''The Salt Lake Tribune''.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Senate (1871)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 7, 1871

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, William 1839 births 1913 deaths People from Rutherglen People from Jamestown, Wisconsin People from Viroqua, Wisconsin Scottish emigrants to the United States People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Editors of Wisconsin newspapers Editors of Utah newspapers Mayors of places in Wisconsin Republican Party Wisconsin state senators The Salt Lake Tribune people People from Utah Territory