Friday, November 4, 1904

Notice: There is considerable complaint being made on account of stock being allowed to run at large, parties having stock out will please look after them.

J. W. Nelson
Constable of Prect. 3

Friday, September 9, 1905

My attention has been called to the fact that in Precinct No. 2, Navarro County, we have a law which requires all persons to keep their stock up, also to the fact that there is but little Attention being paid to the law, and for fear of my being compelled to enforce the law, which to me would be an unpleasant duty. I would respectfully ask all persons to please observe the law and thereby save trouble and expense.

J. W. Nelson
Justice of the Peace of Prect. No. 2

Friday, March 2, 1906

To the Democratic Voters of Prect. No. 2 of Navarro County, I hereby announce myself a candidate for the office of Justice of the Peace, subject to the action of the Democratic Voters of the Prect. – and if I am elected will be gratified, if defeated will try to be satisfied.

J. W. Nelson

Friday, July 27, 1906

Order in Which Names Will Appear for the Primary.

United States Senator – Joe W. Bailey.

Congressman, Sixth District – T. S. Henderson, Richard Mays, Rufus Hardy.

Governor – M. M. Brooks, C. K. Bell, O. B. Colquitt, T. M. Campbell.

Lieutenant Governor – F. F. Hill, A. B. Davidson.

Attorney General – Robert N. Davidson.

Comptroller of Public Accounts – J. W. Stephens.

State Treasurer – Sam Sparks, Dan W. Phillips, T. S. Garrison.

Commissioner General Land Office – J. J . Terrell, C. E. Gilbert.

Superintendent Public Instruction – R. B. Cousins.

Railroad Commissioner – Wm. D. Williams, L. J. Storey.

Chief Justice Supreme Court – R. R. Gaines

Judge Court of Criminal Appeals – Robert A. John, John N. Henderson.

Associate Justice Court of Civil Appeals, Fifth Supreme Judicial District – John Bookhout.

State Senator Ninth District – W. A. Watkins, Walter R. Holsey.

District Attorney, Thirteenth Judicial District – Luther A. Johnson.

Representative, Forthieth District.

No. 1 – R. S. Neblett, Nomination

No. 2 – W. M. Taylor, S. J. Jennings, A. F. Wood.

County Judge – Lee Jester

County Attorney – Chris. L. Cox, L. R. Callaway.

District Clerk – C. O. Weaver, J. P. Howard, W. A. Ransom, W. C. Harris, D. R. Adkisson, Emmet Hamilton, J. A. Dickson, Robt. E. Lee.

Sheriff – Will J. Carroll, M. S. Clayton, J. J. Hail, W. D. Robinson.

Tax Collector – J. C. Garner.

Tax Assessor – R. M. McMullan, R. W. Duren, W. L. Merrill, D. K. McCammon.

County Treasurer – J. S. York, A. N. Barnes, J. Warren Bradley, M. L. Stone, S. T. Pool, T. D. Cook.

County Surveyor – C. E. Lee

Superintendent Public Instruction – J. T. Gladney, M. H. Morris, A. D. Clarke, John C. Wells, W. T. Smith.

Commissioner Precinct No. 2 – J. B. Sargent, J. C. Hair.

Justice of the Peace No. 2 – J. W. Nelson

Constable Precinct No. 2 – C. S. Henderson.

The Polls Close Saturday Night at 6:00 O’Clock;

Notes:

My Daddy, Joe Bailey Nelson, was named after Joseph W. Bailey, United States Senator. From reading another article about Senator Bailey inThe Rice Rustler,he was well liked and respected by the citizens of Rice, Texas.
Jeff Nelson was a constable for Precinct No. 3 until November 1904 when he must have been elected Justice of the Peace for Precinct No. 2. Jeff made application for a Confederate Pension and was denied it on March 20, 1906. However, it does appear that he actively continued to work as a Justice of the Peace until his death in 1911. This job, which according to Jeff paid him $150 a year (and getting less), prevented him from getting his pension.
The Rice Rustler was published 156 times a year (three times a week?) according to a statement in the paper. Most of what I saw was published on Fridays, although I did find one article published on Wednesday. The caption at the beginning of this document is reflective of the front page. The above articles and references to Jefferson Wise Nelson, my great-grandfather, were found on microfilm at The Center for American History, The University of Texas – Austin, 2.101 Sid Richardson Hall, Austin, Texas 78712.
www.cah.utexas.edu
Based on what I read, The Rice Rustler started around 1900-1901. I am not sure when it ceased publication. The Center for American History has incomplete copies for 1904-1907 and for a few years after 1925. There are no copies between 1907 and 1925
Information submitted by Ron Nelson - June 22, 2003