He was married on January 10, 1849 at Hopewell Reformed Church, Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, NY to Sarah Strong Horton (30 April 1821 - 1902), the daughter of Nathaniel Horton (17 January 1794 - 4 July 1840) and Ada Strang (7 June 1800 - 11 December 1881)
The 1860 US Census for Oneida County, NY, lists his occupation as "Boat Captain." He was Captain of the Erie Canal steamboat, the T.E. Barnes, home port, Buffalo, New York.
He died in a boating accident, falling off of the West Troy Ferry steamboat, the George Marks, and drowning in the Hudson River.
"He was sitting on the railing near the front part of the boat, when he suddenly fell backward into the water and was carried under by the swell occasioned by a steamer which was passing just astern of the Marks. The boat was stopped, and every exertion made to save him once he came to the surface, but he was not seen afterwards. His hat was recovered and brought to the city." (The Troy Daily Whig, Tory, New York, September 10, 1864).
The accident happened on September 9, 1864, but his body was not recovered until three days later. September 12, 1864 is the date carved on his tombstone.
The Troy Daily Times, Monday, September 12, 1864, Troy, NY, Page 3:
THE FERRY- BOAT VICTIM
Mr. A. [Absalom] Nelson, of Buffalo, arrived here this morning for the purpose of ascertaining whether the man drowned on Friday, while crossing the river of the steam ferry-boat, was his brother, Elijah A. Nelson, captain of the canal boat "T.E. Barnes." There is every reason to believe that he is the man. Marsh & Dauchy's Captain, who was previously connected with the accident, has turned up. But Captain Nelson is missing, and the account given by those who observed him on the boat and in the water tallies with the description of the deceased. He was about thirty-eight years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, weighed two hundred pounds and was a little bald. His nose was injured when a boy, and a deep scar remained on the bridge. There was another mark on his leg. Mr. A. Nelson proposes to drag the river as far down as Port Schuyler, in hopes of finding the body. Any information respecting it can be forwarded to J.T. B. White, No. 191 River street. Our Albany contemporaries will do a kind act in noticing the above description.
Buffalo Morning Express, Thursday, September 15, 1864, Buffalo, NY, Page 3:
BODY FOUND
The Troy Times says: The body of Captain Elijah A. Nelson, of Buffalo, who fell from the steam ferry boat last Friday, and was drowned, was recovered this morning. A man who was searching for it with a hook and line, near the centre of the river where Capt. Nelson fell into the water, succeeded in bringing it to the surface. It was taken to the West Troy shore, and fully identified as that of the unfortunate man. His brother, who was here yesterday in search of the remains, went to New York by the boat yesterday.
The 1860 US Census for Oneida County, NY, lists his occupation as "Boat Captain." He was Captain of the Erie Canal steamboat, the T.E. Barnes, home port, Buffalo, New York.
He died in a boating accident, falling off of the West Troy Ferry steamboat, the George Marks, and drowning in the Hudson River.
"He was sitting on the railing near the front part of the boat, when he suddenly fell backward into the water and was carried under by the swell occasioned by a steamer which was passing just astern of the Marks. The boat was stopped, and every exertion made to save him once he came to the surface, but he was not seen afterwards. His hat was recovered and brought to the city." (The Troy Daily Whig, Tory, New York, September 10, 1864).
The accident happened on September 9, 1864, but his body was not recovered until three days later. September 12, 1864 is the date carved on his tombstone.
The Troy Daily Times, Monday, September 12, 1864, Troy, NY, Page 3:
THE FERRY- BOAT VICTIM
Mr. A. [Absalom] Nelson, of Buffalo, arrived here this morning for the purpose of ascertaining whether the man drowned on Friday, while crossing the river of the steam ferry-boat, was his brother, Elijah A. Nelson, captain of the canal boat "T.E. Barnes." There is every reason to believe that he is the man. Marsh & Dauchy's Captain, who was previously connected with the accident, has turned up. But Captain Nelson is missing, and the account given by those who observed him on the boat and in the water tallies with the description of the deceased. He was about thirty-eight years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, weighed two hundred pounds and was a little bald. His nose was injured when a boy, and a deep scar remained on the bridge. There was another mark on his leg. Mr. A. Nelson proposes to drag the river as far down as Port Schuyler, in hopes of finding the body. Any information respecting it can be forwarded to J.T. B. White, No. 191 River street. Our Albany contemporaries will do a kind act in noticing the above description.
Buffalo Morning Express, Thursday, September 15, 1864, Buffalo, NY, Page 3:
BODY FOUND
The Troy Times says: The body of Captain Elijah A. Nelson, of Buffalo, who fell from the steam ferry boat last Friday, and was drowned, was recovered this morning. A man who was searching for it with a hook and line, near the centre of the river where Capt. Nelson fell into the water, succeeded in bringing it to the surface. It was taken to the West Troy shore, and fully identified as that of the unfortunate man. His brother, who was here yesterday in search of the remains, went to New York by the boat yesterday.
He was married on January 10, 1849 at Hopewell Reformed Church, Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, NY to Sarah Strong Horton (30 April 1821 - 1902), the daughter of Nathaniel Horton (17 January 1794 - 4 July 1840) and Ada Strang (7 June 1800 - 11 December 1881)
The 1860 US Census for Oneida County, NY, lists his occupation as "Boat Captain." He was Captain of the Erie Canal steamboat, the T.E. Barnes, home port, Buffalo, New York.
He died in a boating accident, falling off of the West Troy Ferry steamboat, the George Marks, and drowning in the Hudson River.
"He was sitting on the railing near the front part of the boat, when he suddenly fell backward into the water and was carried under by the swell occasioned by a steamer which was passing just astern of the Marks. The boat was stopped, and every exertion made to save him once he came to the surface, but he was not seen afterwards. His hat was recovered and brought to the city." (The Troy Daily Whig, Tory, New York, September 10, 1864).
The accident happened on September 9, 1864, but his body was not recovered until three days later. September 12, 1864 is the date carved on his tombstone.
The Troy Daily Times, Monday, September 12, 1864, Troy, NY, Page 3:
THE FERRY- BOAT VICTIM
Mr. A. [Absalom] Nelson, of Buffalo, arrived here this morning for the purpose of ascertaining whether the man drowned on Friday, while crossing the river of the steam ferry-boat, was his brother, Elijah A. Nelson, captain of the canal boat "T.E. Barnes." There is every reason to believe that he is the man. Marsh & Dauchy's Captain, who was previously connected with the accident, has turned up. But Captain Nelson is missing, and the account given by those who observed him on the boat and in the water tallies with the description of the deceased. He was about thirty-eight years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, weighed two hundred pounds and was a little bald. His nose was injured when a boy, and a deep scar remained on the bridge. There was another mark on his leg. Mr. A. Nelson proposes to drag the river as far down as Port Schuyler, in hopes of finding the body. Any information respecting it can be forwarded to J.T. B. White, No. 191 River street. Our Albany contemporaries will do a kind act in noticing the above description.
Buffalo Morning Express, Thursday, September 15, 1864, Buffalo, NY, Page 3:
BODY FOUND
The Troy Times says: The body of Captain Elijah A. Nelson, of Buffalo, who fell from the steam ferry boat last Friday, and was drowned, was recovered this morning. A man who was searching for it with a hook and line, near the centre of the river where Capt. Nelson fell into the water, succeeded in bringing it to the surface. It was taken to the West Troy shore, and fully identified as that of the unfortunate man. His brother, who was here yesterday in search of the remains, went to New York by the boat yesterday.
The 1860 US Census for Oneida County, NY, lists his occupation as "Boat Captain." He was Captain of the Erie Canal steamboat, the T.E. Barnes, home port, Buffalo, New York.
He died in a boating accident, falling off of the West Troy Ferry steamboat, the George Marks, and drowning in the Hudson River.
"He was sitting on the railing near the front part of the boat, when he suddenly fell backward into the water and was carried under by the swell occasioned by a steamer which was passing just astern of the Marks. The boat was stopped, and every exertion made to save him once he came to the surface, but he was not seen afterwards. His hat was recovered and brought to the city." (The Troy Daily Whig, Tory, New York, September 10, 1864).
The accident happened on September 9, 1864, but his body was not recovered until three days later. September 12, 1864 is the date carved on his tombstone.
The Troy Daily Times, Monday, September 12, 1864, Troy, NY, Page 3:
THE FERRY- BOAT VICTIM
Mr. A. [Absalom] Nelson, of Buffalo, arrived here this morning for the purpose of ascertaining whether the man drowned on Friday, while crossing the river of the steam ferry-boat, was his brother, Elijah A. Nelson, captain of the canal boat "T.E. Barnes." There is every reason to believe that he is the man. Marsh & Dauchy's Captain, who was previously connected with the accident, has turned up. But Captain Nelson is missing, and the account given by those who observed him on the boat and in the water tallies with the description of the deceased. He was about thirty-eight years of age, five feet eleven inches in height, weighed two hundred pounds and was a little bald. His nose was injured when a boy, and a deep scar remained on the bridge. There was another mark on his leg. Mr. A. Nelson proposes to drag the river as far down as Port Schuyler, in hopes of finding the body. Any information respecting it can be forwarded to J.T. B. White, No. 191 River street. Our Albany contemporaries will do a kind act in noticing the above description.
Buffalo Morning Express, Thursday, September 15, 1864, Buffalo, NY, Page 3:
BODY FOUND
The Troy Times says: The body of Captain Elijah A. Nelson, of Buffalo, who fell from the steam ferry boat last Friday, and was drowned, was recovered this morning. A man who was searching for it with a hook and line, near the centre of the river where Capt. Nelson fell into the water, succeeded in bringing it to the surface. It was taken to the West Troy shore, and fully identified as that of the unfortunate man. His brother, who was here yesterday in search of the remains, went to New York by the boat yesterday.
Inscription
Elijah Nelson
Died Sept. 12, 1864
Aged 38
Jane Nelson
Died Jan. 24, 1847
Aged
Family Members
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