Biography

10/14/1826 - 04/05/1914

William Mailer Nelson (Greenback Democrat26) Susquehanna and Wayne Counties 1879-1882 (D26) Susquehanna and Wayne Counties 1883-1886

Early Life:

William Mailer Nelson, born, October 14, 1826, Newburgh, Orange County, New York; son of Henry and Azubah Mailler Nelson; attended common schools;  engaged, mercantile business; licensed, Methodist-Episcopal minister, New York State Conference, 1850; married Amelia Calder, 1854; postmaster, United States Postal Service, Equinunk, Pennsylvania 1855-1861; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862-1865, unsuccessful democratic candidate, Speaker, 1865, not a candidate for reelection, 1866, 1867, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1868, not a candidate for reelection, 1869; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1876-1877, not a candidate for reelection House, 1878; elected,Greenback Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1879-1882, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1883-1886, served, chaplain, Pennsylvania State Senate, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, Senate 1886; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1890; unsuccessful campaigns, United States Congress 1894, 1902; died, April 5, 1914 (age 87), Equinunk, Wayne County, Pennsylvania; interred, Equinunk Cemetery, Equinunk, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Postmaster United States Postal Service, Equinunk, Pennsylvania 1855-1861, under Presidents Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. Preacher, Methodist Episcopal Church.

Pennsylvania Politics: 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1862-1865, unsucessful democratic candidate, Speaker, 1865, not a candidate for reelection, 1866, 1867, elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1868, not a candidate for reelection, 1869. 

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1876-1877, not a candidate for reelection House, 1878.

Elected, Greenback Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties, 1879-1882; Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 26th district, Susquehanna and Wayne Counties, 1883-1886, unsuccessful campaign for reelection, Senate 1886, served, chaplain, Pennsylvania State Senate;committee assignments, Agriculture, Appropriations, Constitutional Reform and Vice and Immorality. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1890.

Unsuccessful campaigns, United States Congress 1894, 1902.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members N". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1885). Smull, W.P., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 844, 849-851, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 812.

William Mailer Nelson (1826-1914) - Find a Grave Memorial