Following are some Nelson names in the Franklin County, AL line that I am researching. Some of the information I have gotten from information posted to the RootsWeb World Connect Project, some from a book entitled "The Heritage of Franklin County, Alabama", some from federal census records, and some from other Nelson researchers (especially Edna Ruth Roan and Karen Teesdale) that I have met on-line. This is a first draft of the information I have collected and most of the information is not documented as yet.
-Becky Reid- if you have more information on these lines- email me! at ReidBecky@aol.com


Click here to read letters written by Nelson family members about this line in 1918

Apparently a large contingent of Nelson & Sparks families came together to Franklin County, AL (and intermarried very often) from Spartanburg County (Greenville area?), SC in the early 1830's (there is a John Nelson listed as being in Madison County by 1810 in the book "SIMS SETTLEMENT, Our Squatter Ancestors 1806-1818" by Ruth Dixon and Bob Priest).

1. Robert Nelson, Jr. (my GGGGG-Grandfather) b. abt. 1780 Greenville, S.C. + Nancy (Sparks?) b. ca. 1783 - their children were:
2. E.R. (Enoch?) Nelson b. ca. 1800 (listed as between the ages of 40-50 on the 1840 census) + (Catherine ?)
........................3. Abraham Nelson b. ca. 1834
........................3 John N. Nelson b. ca. 1838
........................3 Enoch Nelson b. ca. 1840
........................3.Jenetta Nelson b. ca. 1847
........................3.Robert Nelson b. ca. 1849
............2. Mahalia Nelson
............2. John Lemuel Nelson b. 22 May 1804 d. 06 Nov. 1882 (probate notice dated 17 July 1882) + Rebecca Sparks b. 16 Mar. 1804 d. 01 Apr. 1862 (12 Sep. 1895?) - married in S.C. in 1823, their children:
........................3 Mary Parmeley “Polly” Nelson b. ca. 1824 d. 9 Sep. 1887 (Pine Bluff Cemetery, Clay County, MS) + Theodore Henderson Reid - married ca. 1839 and moved to northeast MS by 1855
........................3 Robert Sparks Nelson b 15 Nov. 1826 d. 20 Feb 1907 + Catherine Jane Blacklidge b. 19 Jan. 1836 (13 Jan 1826?) d. 03 Mar. 1908 (1918?) - married 19 Sep. 1850 in Franklin County, AL - their children:
.................................4. Benjamin F. Nelson b. 23 Aug. 1851 d. 27 Feb. 1931 + Martha A. ? b. Mar. 1850 children:
................................................5.Arthur P. Nelson b. 18 Feb. 1876 + Jennie Bates b. May 1875 - their children:
............................................................6. Homer H. Nelson b. Nov. 1897
............................................................6. Ollie O. (son) b. Feb. 1900
................................................5. Emma Nelson b. 08 Dec. 1878
................................................5. Luther M. Nelson b. 14 Jan 1882
................................................5. Austin M. Nelson b. 13 Oct. 1884
................................................5. Arka D. Nelson b. 19 Apr. 1887
................................................5. Freddie M. Nelson b. May 1874
................................................5. Bennie H. Nelson b. 15 Apr. 1894 d. abt. 1898
.................................4. William T. “Willie” Nelson b. 11 Dec. 1853 d. 18 Jan. 1925 (author of 1918 letter posted online) + Harriet Lasephine Ray b. 02 May 1852 d 28 Mar. 1936 - their children:
................................................5. Harriet L. Nelson b. 12 Jul. 1877 d. 12 Jul. 1877
................................................5. Willie T. Nelson b. 12 Jul 1877 d. 12 Jul. 1877
................................................5. Alton May Nelson b. 04 Oct. 1878 d. abt. 1904
................................................5. Justin Edward Nelson b. 20 Mar 1881 d. abt. 1956
................................................5. Rhoda Alice Nelson b. 05 Jun. 1881 d. abt. 1924
................................................5. Lula Katherine Nelson b. 18 Jun. 1886 d. abt. 1971 + Arthur James b. abt. 1886
................................................5. Willie Parcy Nelson b. 28 Apr 1889
................................................5. John Dennison Nelson
.................................4. Mary Elizabeth Nelson b. 20 apr. 1855 d. 01 Jan. 1931 + Walter Wilson Fort b. 20 Apr. 1850 d. Jan. 1884 - their children:
................................................5. Lora Austin Fort b. 30 Nov. 1879 d. 12 Jan 1975 + Floyd Arthur Ramsey b. 17 Dec. 1880 d. Sep. 1922 - their children:
............................................................6. Ira Lee Ramsey b. 15 Feb 1905 d. Jun. 1979 + Thomas Hardin b. 12 Dec. 1900 d. 23 Oct. 1991
............................................................6. Susie Mae Ramsey b. abt. 1907 d. abt. 1952
............................................................6. Iba Hazel Ramsey b. 01 Oct. 1912 d. 13 Oct. 1978 + James Ralph Dillard b. 07 Sep. 1905 d. abt. 1999
................................................5. Lillie Wilson Fort b. abt. 1881 d. abt 1959
................................................5. Robert Walter Fort b. abt. 1884 d. abt 1898
+ John W. Patterson b. abt. 1855 - their child
................................................5. Annie Mae Patterson b. abt. 1893
.................................4. John L. Nelson b. 15 Sep. 1858
.................................4. Mahala Alice Nelson b. 12 May 1860 d. 10 Dec. 1875
.................................4. Rebecca Caroline Nelson b. 24 Apr. 1862 d. 12 Sep. 1895
.................................4. James Jefferson Nelson b. 24 Apr. 1862 d. 29 Jun 1928 + Alice C. Jordan b. 01 Jan 1867 d 15 Feb 1912 - their children:
................................................5. Jessie Lee Nelson
................................................5. Oscar O’Neill Nelson
................................................5. James Omer Nelson
................................................5. Marshall Price Nelson
................................................5. Eula Odell Nelson
................................................5. David Eugene Nelson
................................................5. Essie M. Nelson
................................................5. Stella Nelson
................................................5. John Thomas Nelson
................................................5. Cayce Ione Nelson
................................................5. Sarah E. Nelson
................................................5. Charles O. Nelson
................................................5. Elie Nelson
+ Hester Hill b. 29 Apr 1880 d. 30 Aug. 1965 - married 24 Jul. 1912, Tishomingo County, MS, their children:
................................................5.Horace Delton Nelson b. 23 apr 1913 + Francis Corine Bell - their child:
............................................................6. Bobby Nelson
................................................5.Noonan D. Nelson b. 11 Jul. 1914 + Nadine Lamberth - their children:
............................................................6. Sherry Nelson + Larry Stevens
............................................................6. Maury Nelson
................................................5.Ruby Nelson b. 19 Aug. 1916 + Donald Buck Davis - their children:
............................................................6. Deborah Sue David + Paul Wievell
............................................................6. Donnie Lionell Davis + Cindy Kurth
............................................................6. Dianna Lynn Davis + Roger Parton
................................................5.Evelyn Nelson b. 17 May 1920 + J.L. Owens - their children:
............................................................6. Betty Owens + Charles Hardin
............................................................6. Charles Fuller Owens + Alice Rogers
................................................5. James Tulon Nelson b. 11 Jan. 1923 d. 31 Aug 1987 in Memphis + Doris Haines
.................................4. Annie L. Nelson b. 02 Jan 1865
.................................4. Robert Augustus Nelson b. 18 Dec. 1866
.................................4. Rosa Lee Nelson b. 25 Aug 1868
.................................4. Henry Luther Nelson b. 03 Sep. 1870
.................................4. Veto B. Nelson b. Aug. 1873
.................................4. Lucy Fort Nelson b. Apr. 1875
.................................4. Clementine “Clemmie”Nelson b. 01 Jun. 1878
........................3 Elizabeth Jane Nelson b. 06 Feb 1828 d. 18 Sep. 1887 + Joseph Dickson b. abt. 1816 d. abt. 1878 - their children:
.................................4. George Dickson b. abt. 1849
.................................4. Carrie Dickson b. abt. 1854
.................................4. Louella Dickson b. abt. 1854 d. abt. 1920
.................................4. John Jacob Dickson b. abt. 1870
.................................4. Mary Dickson b. abt. 1876
.................................4. Hugh Ella Dickinson b. abt. 1876
........................3 Gency C. Nelson b. ca. 1826
........................3 Mahala Nelson b. ca. 1832
........................3 John Calhoun Nelson b. 20 Mar. 1836 d. 14 May 1901 (Old Friendship Cemetery, Franklin County, AL) was a Capt. in Roddy’s 4th AL Cavalry + Lucinda “Lucendy” F. Gates d. Jun. 1885 - married 31 Oct. 1867, their children:
.................................4. William Arthur Nelson
.................................4. Zollie Croffer Nelson
.................................4. Sidney Johnson Nelson
.................................4. Adolfus Hues Nelson
.................................4. Lula Mae Nelson
+ Martha A. Reid b. 12 Aug. 1848 - married 7 Oct. 1886, their child:
.................................4. Claudia Nelson b. 1887 d. 1960
........................3 Parthenia Nelson b. ca. 1838
........................3 James Madison Nelson (twin to Thomas Jefferson Nelson) b. 9 Jul. 1841 served in Co. I 38th AL Infantry
........................3 Thomas Jefferson Nelson (twin to James Madison Nelson) b. 9 Jul. 1841 d. 26 Jun 1889 + Laura Ann Jordan b. 24 (Oct./Dec.?) 1848 d. 14 Jun. 1887 (died in childbirth) - married abt. 1868, their children:
.................................4. Edward Nelson b. ca. 1868
.................................4. Anna Nelson b. ca. 1870
.................................4. Luther Nelson b. ca. 1872
.................................4. Shellie Belle Nelson b. 19 Mar. 1873 + William Washington Weatherford, Jr. - their children:
................................................5. Laura Evelyna Ross Weatherford b. 7 Aug. 1891 + George Edward Parrish
................................................5. Mary Rebecca Weatherford b. 23 Sep. 1893 + John DeWitt Petree
................................................5. Willie Roberta Weatherford b. 1 Mar. 1896 + Huie Lester Clarence Thorn
+ James Tarpley Bolding (Jr.?)
.................................4. Mary Nelson b. ca. 1875
.................................4. Phillip Nelson b. ca. 1878
.................................4. Walter Nelson b. ca. 1879
.................................4. Daisy Nelson b. ca. 1881
.................................4. Kate Nelson b. ca. 1883 (became blind as a teenager & lived with sister, Shellie Belle)
.................................4. Dena Nelson b. ca. 1885
.................................4. Charles Nelson b. & d. at birth in 1887 when his mother died in childbirth
........................3 Rebecca Nelson b. ca. 1843
............2. Hugh Nelson (my GGGG-Grandfather) b. ca. 1806 + Jane ? b. ca. 1810 - their children:
........................3 Narcissa Nelson b. ca. 1830
........................3 *Nancy Nelson (my GGG-Grandmother) born ca. 1832 + Johnson McKinney b. ca. 1832 - their children:
.................................4. Laura J. McKinney b. ca. 1855 + William Turner Massey b. 22 Jun. 1852 d. 24 Jul 1915 - married ca. 1870 Franklin County, AL, their children:
................................................5. Finis Massey
................................................5. Ross Massey
................................................5. Hezzie Massey
................................................5. Willie Massey
................................................5. Hugh Massey
................................................5. Walter Massey
................................................5. Lige Massey
................................................5. John Massey
................................................5. Floyd Massey
................................................5. Margaret Massey
.................................4. William Hugh McKinney (my GG-Grandfather)b. 12 Feb. 1859 d. 1925 (White Sulphur Cemetery, Hardin County, TN) + Martha Elizabeth Sanders, married in Hardin County, TN - their children:
................................................5. *John Rosemond McKinney (my G-Grandfather) b. 6 Aug. 1889
d. 3 Oct. 1926 + Nellie Mae Bazzell b. 28 Aug 1888
d. 21 Mar, 1914 (White Sulphur Cemetery, Hardin County, TN)
married in 1907 - their Children:
............................................................6. John Corbin McKinney b. 17 May 19098 d. 4 May 1980 + Louella Cline
............................................................6. *Nellie Drue McKinney (my grandmother) b. 15 Mar 1911 d. 15 Jun 1996 + Garland Shipman b. 5 May 1908 d. Jun. 1982, married 1927 in Kendrick, MS
............................................................6. Mary Eudora McKinney b. 1913 d. 1914
+ Lenus Mae Loyd b. 1895 death unknown - their children
............................................................6. Lenora Mae McKinney b. 8 Nov 1918 d. 1998
............................................................6. Lloyd Rosemond McKinney b. 17 Jul. 1920 d. 1953 (fell from bridge)
............................................................6. Irene “Dimple” McKinney b. 23 Sep. 1922
............................................................6. Henry Boyd “Hank” McKinney b. 17 Jan 1924
............................................................6. Thomas Eldred McKinney b. 1927
................................................5. Alma Drue McKinney b. 14 Jul 1891 d. 8 Sep. 1892
................................................5. Mack W. McKinney b. Dec. 1894 (prizefighter in Memphis)
................................................5. Ethel McKinney b. Dec. 1898 d. 1919 + Sherman Mayhall
................................................5. George McKinney b. 25 Oct 1901 d. 9 Jun. 1991 + Grace ?
................................................5. Irene L. “Rene” McKinney b. 1904 d. 1977 + John “Hob” Robinson
.................................4. Narcissa McKinney (called “Alice” twin to Mary Alma) b. 22 Mar. 1864
d. Mar 25, 1945+ George W. Cooper b. Dec 7, 1862, d. Oct 19, 1945 -both buried in Dempsey Cemetery - married in 1884
................................................5. Clarendy C. b. Jan. 1885
................................................5. Charles Edgar b. Sept. 8, 1887 - d. June 25, 1954 -Dempsey Cemetery
................................................5. Henry Clay b. Mar. 2, 1890 - d. Aug. 9, 1970 - Dempsey Cemetery
................................................5. Albert Hugh b. Jan. 17, 1895 - d. Aug. 31, 1965 m. Nov. 6, 1936 to Rilla
................................................5. Thomas C. b. Sept. 1897 - d. 1975 - Dempsey Cemetery m. to Shellie
................................................5. Ernest Gilbert b. July 27, 1900 - d. May 23, 1972 - Dempsey Cemetery
................................................5. Alma Sybil b. ca. 1902 m. to Thomas Ernest Hester b. Mar. 1902 -
d. June 8, 1975
.................................4. Mary Alma McKinney(twin to Narcissa) b. 22 Mar. 1864 + Dave Jones - no children (White Sulphur Cemetery, Pickwick Dam State Park, Hardin County, TN)
........................3. Catherine (also called Elizabeth on 2 census forms) b. ca. 1833
............2. Benjamin F. Nelson b. ca. 1816 + Phinetta (Finetta) ? b. ca. 1818 - their children:
........................3. Wesley H. Nelson b. ca. 1838
........................3 Mary A. Nelson b. ca. 1837
........................3 Margarit (Margaret) Nelson b. ca. 1839
........................3 Henrietta Nelson b. ca. 1841
........................3.Elizabeth Nelson b. ca. 1845
........................3.Robert Nelson b. ca. 1846
........................3 James Nelson b. ca. 1847
........................3 (Ellanor)? Nelson b. ca. 1850
........................3.B.F. Nelson b. ca. 1852
........................3.Isabella Nelson b. ca. 1855
........................3.Finetta Nelson b. ca. 1857 + E.H> “Boone” Kizer

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Some Sparks connections:

Rebecca Sparks who married John Lemuel Nelson in S.C. in 1823 was the daughter of William Sparks and Eunice Woodruff.

William Sparks came to the Franklin County, AL area as early as Dec. of 1820. William’s parents John Sparks + Ann Parmely, along with another son, Enoch Sparks (a War of 1812 veteran), and a daughter Desdamona Sparks (b. 1813) followed William to Franklin County, AL in the Spring & Fall of 1830.