by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

   To fully understand the trials and hardships of frontier life, one must either experience them, or listen to their narration by actual sufferers. Mr. Jesse Nelson, the companion and relative by marriage of Kit Carson, has incidents to relate that would fill a volume were they all written. He was born in Boonesboro, Madison Co., Ky., in 1827, where he resided during his early boyhood. When ten years of age, his parents moved to Missouri, and he remained there until he was twenty-one years old. It was at a time when passengers and freight were transported across the plains in wagons, and freighting was one of the chief occupations for young men. From Wayne City, on the Missouri River, to Santa Fe, N.M., wagon trains were constantly passing, and young Nelson was in charge of some of them, being employed by Mr. Aubrey, who distinguished himself as a fast rider. At one time, he rode from Santa Fe, N.M., to Independence, Mo., in five days and sixteen hours. In 1848, in company with Kit Carson and a party of men, Mr. Nelson went from Santa Fe to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., with the United States mail, it being packed on mules. The journey was through a territory occupied by Indians, who were exceedingly troublesome. But, through the management of Kit, who was in charge of the party, they arrived safely at the fort. When passing through the most dangerous portion of their journey, they would build a fire at night, by which they would get their evening meal, then, leaving the fire burning briskly, the party would move on eight or ten miles and camp for the night. The journey occupied twenty-five days. In 1851, Mr. Nelson went to Rio, N.M., and was employed by Kit Carson in farming and raising cattle on shares. Here he remained for some time, then returned for a visit to Missouri. A few months afterward, he again made a trip to Santa Fe. On this journey, the train was attacked by Indians. In a party who were bringing relief were a Mr. White, wife and child. All were killed except Mrs. White, though it was believed by some the child was not destroyed. But Kit, who afterward was on friendly terms with the Indians, could never learn just its fate. Mrs. White was finally killed by the savages when an attempt was made to rescue her. Maj. Grier, who was in command of the rescuing party, was struck by a ball in making a charge upon the Indians, and ordered a halt. Had he not done so, Mr. Nelson believes she would have been saved. The halt gave the Indians an opportunity to slay and scalp her, which they did. The train was on its way to Texas, loaded in part with Government stores. In 1851, Mr. Nelson married Miss Susan Carson, a niece of Kit Carson. In the spring of the same year, in company with a number of others, Mr. Nelson and Kit started from the Missouri River for New Mexico. Mrs. Nelson was one of the party, and also a daughter of Carson's. They were the only ladies in the company. The journey was up the Arkansas Valley, and just above what is known as the old Santa Fe crossing, the train was suddenly attacked by Indians. At the onslaught, an exciting tableau was formed. Kit was set upon, in a helpless condition, by an Indian, notwithstanding he was well armed with a long-handled tomahawk. Mr. Nelson, who was armed with a musket, placed the muzzle of it at the side of the Indian, while another savage covered Mr. Nelson with a bow and arrow. In this position they stood until calmer councils prevailed, and no one was injured. The Indians were Cheyennes, a part of whom were friendly, and through them the party were saved. After reaching Rio, N.M., the point set out for, Mr. Nelson was employed in rancher and stock-raising from 1851 till 1862. Then he removed to the vicinity of Trinidad, where he remained till the fall of 1866, when he went to Nine Mile Bottom, on the Purgatoire Creek, where he now resides, farming and stock-raising. In 1868, the Indians were on the war-path, and all the residents in Nine Mile Bottom were obliged to leave their homes, which they did in September, and moved to Boggsville. From there Mr. Nelson went as a scout into the Pan Handle district, and was absent four months. In the spring of 1869, he moved back to his present home. Since residing in Nine Mile Bottom, the grasshoppers have destroyed his crops several times. Mr. Nelson has four children living – three boys and one girl. While living on a ranch on the Cimarron, one evening, after Mrs. Nelson had milked the cows, the Indians ran off twelve head from the corral, which was only fifty yards from the house. Mrs. Nelson and a Mexican woman were the only persons at home. At the time the train was attacked near the old Santa Fe crossing, a Mexican boy by the name of Eliar Silver was sent on foot to Fort Union for aid, a distance of 400 miles. He made the trip in four days. Afterward, he was employed by Carson and Maxwell as a letter-carrier. Frequently he made a trip of forty miles in four hours, and the round trip of eighty miles between sun-up and sun-down.