Memorials › Col David Nelson

Col David Nelson

1773 – 13 Jun 1848

Birth1773
Death13 Jun 1848
CemeteryMumford Chapel Cemetery
Fairfield Township , Crawford County , Pennsylvania , USA
Added byDick Nelson on 03 Jun 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37848913

Bio

War of 1812 Early in September 1813 (prior to the "Battle of The Thames") Major Nelson and his men were dispatched to the shores of Lake Erie, northeast of Fort Meigs. There they participated in a diversionary tactic as Admiral Perry was preparing to attack the British Fleet on Sept. 10, 1813. Maj. Nelson was in command of 400 militiamen. When the British ships appeared in sight, Maj. Nelson's commanding general, Gen. Marland, ordered Major Nelson to form his ranks and circle around Laurel Hill and let the two ends come together and continue marching. The Officers of the British ships thought Gen. Marland had a large army. They sailed close enough to shore to fire only one stern gun and, seeing what they thought was a large ground force, retreated rapidly. Unfortunately, for them, they were retreating in the direction of Admiral Perry's Armada of U. S. Ships and were defeated in a great victory for Perry. The next day, as Major Nelson was parading his troops, General Marland saluted him. The General, pleased with the success of Major Nelson's maneuver, entered into a conversation with Nelson and inquired. "Are you related to Admiral Lord Nelson?" "I am", stated the Major. The General then promoted Major Nelson to Colonel; His commission arrived a short time later and is still preserved by the family. The family is proud of the part Col. Nelson played in the defeat of Chief Tecumseh and General Proctor in "The Battle of The Thames". Following the cessation of hostilities Colonel Nelson returned to private life. With the expansion of his still young family, he purchased an additional 250 acres of land adjacent to his property making a total of 650 acres held in his name. In 1833, at the age of 61, David and his wife Jane, constructed a new brick house replacing the log cabin which had been their home for 35 years. Their brick home had the distinction of being the first brick home built in Crawford Co., (excepting those built in Meadville}. The brick for their home were all hand made from clay on their property. Evidences of the brick kiln were still to be seen up until a very few years ago according to the present tenants, the Dennis family, Box 127, R. D. #3 Cochranton, PA 16134. As of June 16, 1982, the residence is still being lived in. An interesting sidelight, at the time the home was being built, a brick, still soft and before being placed in the kiln for baking, was inscribed "Wm. N. - 1833 by David's son William, then aged 17 years old. The brick was mounted just to the right of the front entrance doorframe and is still very legible. In 1836, he was elected a County Commissioner of Crawford County. It was during his administration that the old brick courthouse in Meadville, PA was constructed. A short time after it's completion, a group of county commissioners from Venago County visited David Nelson , had personally conducted a tour of the new Crawford County Courthouse and solicited ideas from Davis Nelson to aid them in planning for their contemplated court house in Franklin, PA. Colonel Nelson Died in on his 650-acre farm June 13, 1848 at the age of 75 years. Colonel Nelson, his wife Jane and others immediate members of their family are buried in the Mumford Chapel Cemetery, north of and immediately across the road from Mumford Chapel located in Crawford Co., along PA, Route 285 just a few miles west of Cochranton, PA, and just a short distance east of Interstate 79. The American Flag mounted (engraved) on a "War of 1812" marker stand has flown over his grave every year since 1848. (From his Obituary) Colonel Nelson was a man honest in his opinion and action. He had no use for courts. he often said that if all men were honest, there would be no need for courts. He never sued a man nor was he ever sued. He believed a Man's word should be as good as his bond. In politics, he was Whig. In religion he was seceder (Presbyterian) having been a Deacon in his church

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