Here is an excerpt I found about John Alexander Nelson and Ella E. Tthomas) Nelson (Grandpa Nelson's Parents:)
John A. Nelson was born October 17, 1854 at Farmington, Davis Co., Utah. He was the fourth son of nine children of Robert Nelson and Elizabeth Joseph, who were both born in Muff, Donegal, Ireland. They moved to Scotland, joined the LDS church there and immigrated to Utah with the Mormon settlers. They crossed the plains with three small children, settling in Farmington. Elizabeth, his mother, had been disowned and considered dead by her Jewish family when she became a Christian Mormon.
John grew up in Smithfield, Utah, and worked as a carpenter with his father. they built the first three homes there. he married Ella Elizabeth Thomas in Salt Lake City on january 9, 1879.
Ella Elizabeth Thomas was born at Lehi, Utah Co, Utah, the second child of nine children of Preston Thomas and Maria Hadlond. her father had joined the Mormon Church in North Carolina. He gave his large plantation and homes to his negro servants with their freedom. He immigrated to utah and became prominent in the LD church.
John and Ella lived in Smithfield for about ten years, when they were called to travel to Canada and help settle the Cardston area. With six small children, they lived in a dirt dug-out on their homestead on Lee Creek on what is now the land of Lawrence Kearl. The old stone quarry hill was part of their land and many stones were taken from there for the foundation of the temple, building the old Tabernacle and many other early Cardston buildings. While helping to gather stones for the Temple, a stone rolled down the hill, hitting John in the chest, severely wounding him. He carried this open wound, which was a great burden to him, to his death years later. They purchased a section of land from the LDS church at Woolford which they farmed for 20 years. Then the Nelsons later moved into Cardston where he followed the trade of carpenter. They spent the rest of their lives here.
The town had no doctor or medical help, so Ella was called by the LDS church to return to Salt Lake City, Utah to train for this. IN 1892 she travelled to Utah to learn to be a Midwife and a Practical doctor. She left behind seven small children for John to care for and run the home, only to find she was expecting another child. She returned as the only medical help the area around Cardston had for many years. She served the people well, many times getting only produce for pay, or as like as not, no pay at all. She delivered hundreds of babies into the world, sometimes staying with the mother for weeks ahead of the birth awaiting the baby's arrival, while John and the children cared for themselves. During this time, she bore five more children herself!
To this stalwart pair of pioneers was born twelve children, ten of them growing to full maturity.
John and Ella were both very active in their church, working in the ward as well as many hours at the Temple. They were also active in community affairs. He was an avid gardener, growing prize roses as well as many other flowers in his extensive flower garden. He also grew a large vegetable garden each year. Ella died at Cardston on October 30, 1941 and just one year later John followed on October 29, 1942. Both lived a full and useful, happy life.
from her Fu
wedding day
88 years old died of bleeding ulcerElla Elizabeth Thomas (Nelson)
PAY TRIBUTE TO an OLDTIMER OF CARDSTON AREA
CARDSTON, Nov. 5, 1941 Funeral services were held in the tabernacle here
Sunday for the late Ella Elizabeth Nelson, wife of John A. Nelson, who died
Thursday of last week at the age of 82.
Elder D W. Card of the L.D.S. ward bishopric was in charge of the
service, with S. W. Low leading the choir and Mrs. Foyal Smith as accompanist.
The opening prayer was offered by Elder H. G. Jensen, and benediction by
Sterling Williams. The choir sang 'Tho' Deepening Trials Throng Your Way',
'0, My Father, v and 'Rock of My Refuge', with Mrs. N. L. Head as the soloist.
Special musical numbers were a quartette p "Beyond Today", sung by Mrs. D. A.
Allred, Mrs. Foyal Smith, W. G. Bennett and Jay Cahoon, with Mrs. N. L. Head
accompanying, and a duet, "Come Unto Me", by Mrs. and Mr. W. W. Sheffield, with
Mrs. W. H. Duce accompanist. The Speakers were Elder William Whitehead, Mrs.
W. E. Pitcher, Pres. A. W. Jacobs and Bishop H. J. Matkin.
Elder Whitehead recalled that during his boyhood at Frankli9, Idaho, he
had been intimately associated with deceased and her father's family. He told
a story to illustrate that our work here builds our mansions in the Father's
Kingdom.
Pres. Jacobs spoke of the place of a mother in the family and home, and
explained the doctrine of the resurrection.
Mrs. Pitcher, who as a young girl had come to thepioneer village of Cardston,
had first known deceased here about 50 years ago. She told of the call to
deceased by President C. O. Card to go to Utah to study nursing under Dr. Shipp.
At that time the nearest doctor was at Lethbridge, over 50 miles away, with no
telegraphs or telephone, no automobiles and almost no roads. Ella Nelson answered
the call, taking with her a six month old baby (Cleve) and (John) and leaving
five children at home. She learned the art of obstetrics and faithfully
answered every call from 1892 to the time when the district was supplied with
medical men, and after that time when there was more work than one medical
doctor could do, she was often called to assist. These years were years of
service and hardship and struggle, traveling about the country in all kinds
of weather over pioneer roads to the homes of the people to give assistance
in time of need. During her many years of life here, deceased, besides her work
here as nurse, had taken an active part in the social and religious life of the
community. Mrs. Pitcher concluded by reading a poem by Edgar Guest.
Bishop Matkin spoke briefly.
Pallbearers were all grandsons; Leo C. Burgess, Grant and Rulon Lamb,
Grover James and Wilbur Nelson. Flower girls, all granddaughters, carrying
the beautiful expressions of sympathy, were Fontella, Julia and Ella Burgess,
Jean, Dorothy, Kathleen, and Jane Nelson.
P.S. This sheet about Grandma Nelson was one Uncle Will had in his
********** typed it off--thought it might be fun to read.
Ruth Nelson Miller
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