Isaac De Groff Nelson

Isaac De Groff Nelson (also known as Isaac Degroff Nelson and I. D. G. Nelson) (July 2, 1810-March 24, 1891) was an early pioneer in Indiana, where he owned a newspaper, held several political offices, and became the father of newspaperman William Rockhill Nelson.

Early life

I.D.G. Nelson was born in New York state on July 2, 1810.^[1] In 1836, he moved to Fort Wayne, arriving via steamer along the newly opened Wabash and Erie Canal.^[2] Nelson bought the Fort Wayne Sentinel from George W. Wood in 1840 ^[3] and turned it from a Whig paper to an organ of the Democratic Party ^[4] In 1851 he was elected as a representative from Allen County, Indiana to the Indiana General Assembly, where he helped pass the Nelson railroad bill.^[5] In 1852, he also helped organize the Wabash Railroad Company^[6] Nelson served in various state government roles, including a 1854 appointment as clerk of the Allen circuit court,^[7] a member of the first board of trustees of Purdue University, and in 1877^[8] he helped oversee the construction of the Indianapolis state house under Governor James D. Williams.^[9]

But I.D.G. Nelson, as he was fondly known for many years in Fort Wayne, was also renowned as a nursery owner. His own estate, “Elm Park” was considered "the showplace of Allen County." Nelson lived in Elm Park, and had great fondness for horticulture ^[10] Nelson helped to incorporate Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, where a monument was built to him.^[11] He was also a member of the National Pomological Society ^[12]

Nelson died March 24, 1891 ^[13]

References

1. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
2. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
3. "fort-wayne-news.pdf" (PDF). www.indianahistory.org. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
4. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
5. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
6. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
7. Ragan, W.H. (1892). Transactions of the Indiana Horticultural Society. Indianapolis: Indiana Horticultural Society / Wm. Burford, contractor for state printing and binding. pp. 108–109. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
8. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
9. Nelson, Ida; Kirkwood, Laura Nelson (1915). William Rockhill Nelson: The Story of a Man, a Newspaper and a City. Riverside Press. p. 3. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
10. Ragan, W.H. (1892). Transactions of the Indiana Horticultural Society. Indianapolis: Indiana Horticultural Society / Wm. Burford, contractor for state printing and binding. pp. 108–109. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
11. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
12. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
13. Dunn, Jacob Piatt (1912). Memorial and Genealogical Record of Representative Citizens of Indiana. Indianapolis, IN: B.F. Bown & Company. pp. 438–444. Retrieved 15 April 2016.