The Rock Island Argus
Saturday, Jan. 24, 1931 p.4
Ezekiel Nelson, 85, Veteran of Civil War Badly Wounded in Battle Dies
Participated in Bloody Combat of Altoona Pass in Georgia
Ezekiel Nelson, 85 years old, veteran of the Civil War and retired building contractor,
died shortly after 12 o'clock last night at the home of his son, George Nelson 4529 Eleventh Street, Rock Island.
While he had been in falling health for some years, Mr. Nelson had been seriously ill only four days. In the last
years of his life Mr. Nelson had been blind and crippled, his afflictions being attributed to wounds received in
the bloody battle of Altoona pass in Georgia.
The body was removed to this Knox mortuary, Rock Island, and will be returned
to the home of a daughter, Mrs. Anna Koester, 4124 Ninth street, Rock Island, tomorrow morning. Funeral services
will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at Mrs. Koester's residence. Rev. Ross W. Copeland, pastor of Gloria
Dei United Presbyterian church, Rock Island, will officiate, and burial will be in Chippiannock cemetery, Rock
Island. Military services will be conducted by John Buford post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which Mr. Nelson
was a member.
Mr. Nelson was born Aug. 30, 1845, in Port Byron. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Ezekiel Nelson, pioneer residents of Rock Island county, and the grandson of Rev. Richard Williams of Port Byron,
who lived to be 105 years old.
Mr. Nelson was one of many who attempted to enter the army before attaining the
required age. He first tried to enlist at Sheridan, Iowa, in 1862. He was admitted to the army two years later
in Rock Island. Mr. Nelson never recovered from the wounds he received at Altoona Pass when, with company E, 12th
Illinois infantry, under the command of General John M. Corse, he heroically fought with his comrades to defeat
the Confederate army under General French.
Wounds Prevent March.
The Rock Island veteran attempted to continue with his comrades in the famous
march to the sea under General Sherman. His wounds proved such a hindrance that he was assigned to duty as private
orderly to Brigadier General Price and given a horse. Mounted, he completed the journey, returned to Washington
after the war and was there mustered out of service.
After the war Mr. Nelson settled in Rapids City. In 1866 he married Miss Lucinda
White of Rapids City at Milan. The couple made their home in Iowa and Missouri and later in Muscatine, where Mr.
Nelson purchased a farm. He became a member of the Joe hooker post, G. A. R., in Muscatine, and his membership
was transferred to John Buford post when he returned to this vicinity to make his home 30 years ago. Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson operated a farm near Milan for a few years before moving into Rock Island.
Mr. Nelson resided for 22 years in Des Moines, where he was a building contractor,
following his service in the Civil war. It was after his residence in Des Moines that he moved to Muscatine, later
coming to Rock Island.
Mrs. Nelson died in April, 1928. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Anna Koester of
Rock Island; two sons, George W. Nelson and Frank Nelson, both of Rock Island; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Submitted by Roberta Bear
