RICHARD NELSON & ST.HELENA BARRETT - FROM JACKSON PARISH, LOUISIANA -TO- NACOGDOCHES CO., TEXAS

Richard Nelson born cir 1815 Louisiana, died cir 1895-1896 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. married May 6, 1842 in Caldwell Par., La. to St.Helena Barrett born cir 1825 Ms., died cir 1898-1899 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. They are both buried in the Owens-Nelson Cemetery in Cushing, Texas along with all their daughters: Margaret, Mary Ann, Nancy Jane, Martha A. "Dutch" and Francis Delila Catherine "pink" Nelson and her husband Judge T.D. "M" Owens.

They were the parents of seven (7) known children: Margaret, Richard Taliaferro Wade, Mary Ann, Nancy Jane, Martha A. "Dutch", John Tolbert, and Francis Delila Catherine "Pink" Nelson.

NOTE: Malachai and his wife Amelia Catherine Weeks Owens, parents of Judge T.D. "M" Owens married Francis Delila Catherine Nelson, Missouri Owens married John Tolbert Nelson, children of Richard & St.Helena Barrett Nelson and Samuel Perry Owens that married Paulina St.Helena "Hellen" Nelson, grandaughter of Richard and St.Helena Barrett Nelson and daughter of Richard Taliaferro Wade Nelson and Mary E.E. Garrison.

Margaret Nelson born cir 1844 Union Par., La. and died young in her teen years, (info from family)
Mary Ann Nelson born December, 1847 Jackson Par., La. died January 14, 1922 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. in house fire (see article below)
Nancy Jane Nelson born June, 1849 Jackson Par., La. died 1-13-1926 Nacogdoches Co., Tx.
Martha A. "Dutch" Nelson born September, 1852 Jackson Par., La. died cir 1936 in Polk Co., Tx. and brought back to the Owens-Nelson Cemetery in Cushing, Texas for burial

Three of the daughters were blind, according to a newspaper article from the Dailey Sentinel in Nacogdoches, Tx., they were blind by a chemical called Paris Green, while picking cotton. The three daughters that were blind are: Mary Ann, blind in one eye, and Nancy Jane, and Martha A. "Dutch", were totally blind. NOTE: the article states that they were sisters of Rev. Tommy Nelson, but in fact they were his aunts, sisters to his father Richard Taliaferro Wade "Doc" Nelson.

The three remaining children married and had families:

Richard Taliaferro Wade Nelson, born 6-17-1846 Jackson Par., Louisiana, died cir 1916 Nacogdoches Co., Tx.   married twice: First marriage cir. 1866-67 Tx to Mary E.E. Garrison born cir. 1851 Fannin/Grayson Co., Tx. and the daughter of Rev. Thomas F. and Paulina C. Moores Garrison. They had 3 children: Rev. Thomas Lafayette Nelson, Paulina St.Helena "Hellen" Nelson, and Richard Walter Nelson.  and second marriage on March 14, 1879 Nacogdoches County, Texas to Mary F. Byrd born 1-22-1859 in Texas, daughter of Leonard Byrd and Lucy Owens. They had 5 children: Lucy, Roselee, Ada & Ida (twins) and George W. Nelson.
John Tolbert Nelson born 2-24-1854 Jackson Par., La. died 9-10-1945 Polk Co., Tx. and buried in the Fenton Cemetery in Cushing, Tx. He married 8-19-1886 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. to    Missouri Owens    born 7-28-1867, daughter of Malachai and Amelia Catherine Weeks Owens. They were the parents of 5 children: William Robert "Will", Beatrice "Bea", Mary Magdalena "Lena", John Arthur, and Leola Nelson.
Francis Delila Catherine "Pink" Nelson born 7-1861 Texas (believed to be in Nacogdoches Co., Tx. died cir 1925 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. She married Judge T.D. "M" Owens, (marriage certificate states "M" Owens and tombstone has Judge T.D. Owens). They were the parents of 7 children:         Dee Owens, (he was murdered on the eve of his marriage to Maggie Wilkerson), Ella Mae,  Boston M., Richard Albert,         Amelia St.Helena,  Theodosia, and Franklin Taylor Owens.

Richard Nelson began his marriage and family buying land October 1, 1845 located in Jackson Par., La. He bought several tracts of land dating, 4-12-1847, 10-30-1848, 9-1-1849, and sold a section of this land on 1-3-1852 to William Bailey, who was married to Mahala Barrett, possibly a sister to St.Helena Barrett Nelson.

Richard and family left Louisiana cir 1855. We have not located Richard and family on the 1860 Federal Census. There is a Richard Nelson on the 1862 Nacogdoches Co., Tx. Tax List along with a Jesse Neel by J.E. Lyons (James Edward Lyons married Bathsheba Barrett and was on the 1860 Shelby Co., Tx. Federal Census).

They were listed on the: 1850 Jackson Par., La. Federal Census as: Richard Nelson 25 La, St.Helena 25 Ms., Margaret 6 La., R.T.W. 4 La., Mary A. 3 La., and Nancy J. 1 La.

1870 Hill Co., Tx. Federal Census: Richard Nelson 56 La, with wife St.Hellena 45 Ms, Sarah A. 24 La, Mary A., 18 La., Nancy J. 17 La., Martha A. 15, John T. 14 La, Francis D. 9 Tx.

NOTE: Sarah A. may possibly be Margaret and her name may be Sarah A. Margaret or possibly could be another daughter.

Their son, Richard Taliaferro Wade Nelson is living next door: Richard (R.T.W.) Nelson 23 La, Mary E. (Garrison) 19 Tx, his wife, Thomas L. 1 Tx., Paulina S.3/12 Tx.

Richard Nelson and his oldest son Richard Taliaferro Wade Nelson registered to vote on the August 26, 1867 Hill Co., Tx. Voters Registration list. On this list it stated that they both stated that they had been in Hill Co., Tx. 8 months and lived in the Peoria Pct. Richard Nelson Sr. said that they had been in Texas for 12 years, placing them in Texas by 1855.

Richard and St.Helena Barrett Nelson left Hill Co., Tx. moving their family back to Nacogdoches Co., Tx. where he applied for public lands in January 21, 1874, located 12 miles east of the town of Nacogdoches. He later sold this land in 1888 to Z.T. Mast and moved to the Linn Flat, Cushing Area where they lived until they died.