Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 142
The publisher of the "Scott County History," P. R. Nelson, was born July 27, 1858, and was reared and grew to manhood at Keokuk, Iowa. He attended the public schools of that city until April 7, 1873, when he entered a job printing office to learn the "art preservative." A year later he secured a position on the Keokuk Daily Constitution, where he served his apprenticeship. In the spring of 1878 he went to Chicago, where he worked for about seven months at his trade - the greater part of the time on the Chicago Inter-Ocean and in the Chicago Legal News Office.
In November of that year he returned to his home at Keokuk, Iowa, and the following January went to Warsaw, Illinois, to take charge of the mechanical department of the Warsaw Democrat, a paper founded in that town in 1877, by J. M. Farris of Pike county, Illinois, but which, at the time in question, had been leased to Walker & Maxwell, who were the publishers. In May of that year P. R. Nelson bought Mr. Walker's interest in the paper, and joined his fortunes with the junior partner, Mr. Cortes Maxwell, and continued the publication of the Democrat, under the firm name of Maxwell & Nelson, until November 13, 1879, upon which date the lease expired. The Democrat was suspended and the printing plant moved to Griggsville, Illinois, where Arnold Hughes and P. R. Nelson founded the Independent Press, the style of the firm being Hughes & Nelson. This partnership continued for one year, when Mr. Nelson sold out to his partner, returned to Keokuk, Iowa, and was connected with the Evening Call, having charge of the circulation and advertising department of that paper. This position he filled until June, 1881, when he moved to Warsaw, Illinois, and in July of that year launched the Warsaw Tribune. This publication he continued for about two years and a half, and then moved his printing plant to Keokuk, Iowa, and, in partnership with J. C. Thompson of that city, established the Keokuk Daily Democrat. This venture at first bid fair to be a financial success. The circulation of the Democrat rapidly increased, but the paper being small, (not large enough to suit the "leading politicians,") outside capital was invested in the concern, a stock company formed, and in course of time the original promoters of the paper were "squeezed out," so to speak. Late in the fall of 1884, P. R. Nelson severed his connection with the Democrat and moved to Chicago, where for nearly three years, he followed his vocation - that of a printer - working most of that time on the Chicago Times, and in the publishing house of R. R. Donnelly & Sons. In October, 1887 he moved from Chicago to Winchester, Illinois, where he has since resided, engaged in the publication of the Winchester Times.
October 3, 1879, P. R. Nelson and Miss Henrietta Beird were united in marriage at Warsaw, Illinois, and to this union six children have been born - son, Elmer Cree, dying at the age of two and a half years, while the family resided at Chicago. Those living are: Nina Leona, born at Griggsville, Illinois, July 8, 1880; Horace Ray, born at Warsaw, Illinois, November 30, 1881; Earl Carlisle, born in Chicago, Illinois, December 12, 1886; Paul Revere, born March 30, 1889, and Marjory Floy, born June 28, 1891, the last two children having come to bless the home of this family during their residence at Winchester, Illinois.
Mr. Nelson is one of the public spirited men of Winchester. He is a lover of home and home surroundings, and realizes that upon the purity and sanctity of the home depends the future of the community. He is a patient, untiring worker, and gives to his home, his friends, his town and his county "their portion in due season." Politically he is a staunch democrat, always using his personal influence and the columns of his newspaper in behalf of that party's nominees.