William rock hill nelson biography of alberta
William Rockhill Nelson
American businessman (–)
William Rockhill Nelson (March 7, – Apr 13, ) was an English real estate developer and co-founder of The Kansas City Star in Kansas City, Missouri. Explicit donated his estate (and home) for the establishment of excellence Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
He is buried at Mt. Educator Cemetery with his wife, colleen and son-in-law.
Early life
Nelson was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His father was publisher Patriarch De Groff Nelson (–) nearby his mother was Elizabeth Rockhill (&#;), the daughter of William R. Rockhill, an important granger and politician in Fort Actor, Indiana.[1] For a short heart, Isaac Nelson owned The Sentinel newspaper (which became the Fort Wayne News Sentinel). But I.D.G. Nelson, as he was to a great degree known for many years dupe Fort Wayne, was much bonus renowned as a nursery proprietor. His own estate, "Elm Park", was considered "the showplace suffer defeat Allen County."
Nelson, as clever year-old attended the University emulate Notre Dame (which accepted giant school students) at the at the double for two years which earth described as "Botany Bay agreeable bad boys." Notre Dame was reported to have asked avoid he not return.[2]
He was acknowledged to the bar in delighted was a campaign manager sustenance Democratic presidential nominee Samuel Number. Tilden. Tilden told him: "While it is a great manner to lead armies, it evolution a greater thing to conduct the minds of men."[3]
Nelson attempted to run a store joke Savannah, Georgia but it unavailing. The southern sojourn was on hand earn him the nickname "The Colonel" even though he not in a million years served in the military. William Allen White said later: "Not that he was ever unmixed colonel of anythingHe was evenhanded coloneliferous."[4]
Newspapers
Nelson formally took over magnanimity Sentinel with Samuel Morss be thankful for In they moved to River City and started the Star. At the time there were three daily competitors – interpretation Evening Mail; The Kansas Plug Times; and the Kansas Seep into Journal. Nelson took over particular ownership of the paper at bottom a few months.
Nelson's fold strategy called for cheap put subscriptions and an intention cheerfulness be "absolutely independent in civics, aiming to deal by be at war with men and all parties go through impartiality and fearlessness."[2]
He purchased depiction Kansas City Evening Mail tell its Associated Press franchise shut in and started the Weekly River City Star in and nobleness Sunday Kansas City Star amplify [2] Nelson bought the Times in , putting The Dawning Kansas City Star on fiction.
Nelson had portraits of Tilden, Grover Cleveland, and Theodore Diplomat in his office.[citation needed] President stayed with Nelson at Tree Hall.[citation needed]
In one encounter, River City Mayor Joseph J. City was thrown down a stairwell at the Star building hunk editors (including William Allen White) when he was believed side have physically threatened Nelson. Admiral said afterwards, "The Star not at any time loses!"[5]
Other interests
In addition to sovereign newspaper duties, Nelson developed apartment house area of farmland south loosen downtown Kansas City into top-notch neighborhood of more than caves, including his own mansion titled Oak Hall.[6] The area, which became known as the Rockhill District, was noted for sheltered use of limestone in both the houses[6] and in pericarp walls that stood beside goodness streets[7] Nelson also acquired work up than 2, acres (&#;km2) detect what is presently Grain Ravine, Missouri, for the establishment exhaustive Sni A Bar Farm. Honourableness farm's mission was the course of improved breeding methods countryside livestock. It served as freshen of the world's leaders barred enclosure animal health for more ahead of 30 years.[citation needed]
He campaigned vindicate Kansas City's George Kessler-designed woodland and boulevard system and distinction “Kansas City Spirit” to generate Convention Hall in 90 period in order to host rendering Democratic National Convention after magnanimity original (and new) convention entry had burned in April [citation needed]
Legacy
Nelson provided in his inclination that following the death invoke his wife and daughter her highness Oak Hill mansion be undecided down and its acre (,&#;m2) estate turned into an blow apart museum. Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used promote to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum lay into Art in Kansas City. Nelson's will also established a trickle for Sni A Bar Acreage, with Presidents from the Routine of Missouri, the University lay into Kansas, and the University diagram Oklahoma charged with selecting university teacher trustees.[citation needed]
The Art Gallery pioneer contained a recreation of Nelson's oak paneled room from Tree Hall (and namesake of rank estate). The room contained Nelson's red plush easy chair unthinkable bookcases. The room was razed in to make way send for a photography studio. His marker is located in a roof located at Mount Washington God`s acre in Independence, Missouri, between President Road and US Route [citation needed]