Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/661

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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though they are now deceased. Philij) Xel- son, the father of Frank Nelson, of this sketch, was one of their children, and was l)orn at Mont Air. Like his father before him he passed his whole life there. He ab- horred conspicuousness, and was noted for his silence and unselfishness. But his repu- tation for prudent and wise judgment spread far and wide, so that many came from throughout the county to seek his advice and counsel, nor did any such depart unbe- friended. He married Jane Crease, widow of Rev. G. W. Nelson, a native of Alexan- dria, Virginia, a daughter of John Crease, of that city. John Crease w^as the man chosen to superintend the organization of the First National Bank in Little Rock, Arkansas, and he was appointed minister plenipotentiarv to South America. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Nelson were the parents of five children, of whom Frank Nelson, of this sketch, is the onlv one living. The deceased are as follows: Lucy. Louisa, William and Carrie. Dr. William Nelson was a promi- nent physician of Danville, Virginia.

Frank Nelson, the third child of Philip and Jane Crease (Nelson) Nelson, was l^orn July 4. i<S52, at Mont Air. in Hanover coun- ty. A^irginia. This interesting old place, originally deeded by government grant to his great-grandfather. General Thomas Nel- son, has served the family as a home ever since that time. The earlv life of Frank Nelson was like that of other boys of his social position in that region. He attended a private school and lent his youthful hand to the labors of the farm, an occupation in which it would be well if more of the chil- dren of the country w^ere trained, giving health and strength, and developing as noth- ing else will those splendid traits of patient endurance, without which no character can have a firm foundation. In the fall of 1864 he matriculated at A\^ashington College and was there when General Lee surrendered and the war ended. He found it necessary to suspend his studies at this time, as his father died during the civil w^ar. At the ex- piration of that terrific struggle, however, when General Lee. of revered memory, took charge of Washington College. Mr. Nelson returned and completed his studies there. He then secured a position as instructor in the Fpiscopal High School at Alexandria, \'irginia. Here he remained for a period of

three years, during which time his attention was drawn to the law as a profession. Lured by the opjjortunities which seemed to offer in the West, Mr. Nelson went to Little Rock, iVrkansas, and entered the law office of Judge Watkins, his uncle. By an unfor- tunate circumstance, he arrived there just before the I'rooks-Baxter campaign in ihat state, and s]jent most of the time under arms in Little Rock. As soon as he could get away he returned to Virginia, and estab- lished the large legal practice in Rustburg, in that state, which has flourished so greatly since. The date of his coming to Rustburg was January 18, 1879, and since that time he has become a prominent figure in the community. A distinguished member of the Virginia bar and a leader in his pro- fession, he has also devoted much time and energy to the devolpment of the town in which he lives, more especially in the de- partment of politics. Always keenly inter- ested in political questions, both of national and local application, he has devoted him- self particularly to the latter and to the con- duct of the community aiTairs with a zeal worthy of his disinterested motives. A member of the Democratic party, and pos- sessed of a high degree of popularity, he was elected to the board of supervisors and served his fellow citizens to their enthusi- astic satisfaction for twelve years on that body. He finally resigned from this office to accept an appointment as judge of the county court. His record on the bench equals that made by him before the Vir- ginia bar, and he bears, not only in the ranks of his own i)rofession, but in the opinion of the community at large, that most honor- able of titles, a just judge. He has been a member of the house of delegates since 1910, representing the county of Campbell in t\ict A^irginia legislature.

Judge Nelson married, December 16^ 1880, in Rustburg, Ida Dandridge W^ithers, a daughter of Colonel Robert W. and Blanche (Payne) Withers, of Campbell county, Virginia, where Mrs. Nelson was born January 16, 1858. . Colonel Withers and his w^ife were also natives of Campbell county, and the former held for many years the office of clerk of the county. They are now both deceased, ^Mrs. \\'ithers dying a number of years before her husband. Colo- nel Withers gained his military rank