William Rockhill Nelson was a real estate developer and co-founder of The Kansas City Star in Kansas City, Missouri. He donated his estate (and home) for the establishment of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
At age 15, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1862.
Nelson formally took over the Fort Wayne News Sentinel with Samuel Morss in 1879. In 1880 they moved to Kansas City and started the Star. Nelson took over sole ownership of the paper within a few months.
Nelson developed an area of farmland south of downtown Kansas City into a neighborhood of more than 100 houses, including his own mansion called Oak Hall. Nelson provided in his will that following the death of his wife and daughter his Oak Hill mansion be torn down and its 30-acre estate turned into an art museum. Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.)
Obituary
Lexington Intelligencer, April 16, 1915
Lexington, Mo.William R. Nelson DeadWilliam R. Nelson, editor and owner of the Kansas City Star and Times, died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at Oak Hill, his home in Kansas City. His death was due to uraemic poisoning.Mr. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 7, 1841, and was 74 years of age. He came to Kansas City and began the publication of the Evening Star on September 18, 1880. He is survived by his widow and one daughter.
At age 15, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1862.
Nelson formally took over the Fort Wayne News Sentinel with Samuel Morss in 1879. In 1880 they moved to Kansas City and started the Star. Nelson took over sole ownership of the paper within a few months.
Nelson developed an area of farmland south of downtown Kansas City into a neighborhood of more than 100 houses, including his own mansion called Oak Hall. Nelson provided in his will that following the death of his wife and daughter his Oak Hill mansion be torn down and its 30-acre estate turned into an art museum. Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.)
Obituary
Lexington Intelligencer, April 16, 1915
Lexington, Mo.William R. Nelson DeadWilliam R. Nelson, editor and owner of the Kansas City Star and Times, died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at Oak Hill, his home in Kansas City. His death was due to uraemic poisoning.Mr. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 7, 1841, and was 74 years of age. He came to Kansas City and began the publication of the Evening Star on September 18, 1880. He is survived by his widow and one daughter.
William Rockhill Nelson was a real estate developer and co-founder of The Kansas City Star in Kansas City, Missouri. He donated his estate (and home) for the establishment of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
At age 15, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1862.
Nelson formally took over the Fort Wayne News Sentinel with Samuel Morss in 1879. In 1880 they moved to Kansas City and started the Star. Nelson took over sole ownership of the paper within a few months.
Nelson developed an area of farmland south of downtown Kansas City into a neighborhood of more than 100 houses, including his own mansion called Oak Hall. Nelson provided in his will that following the death of his wife and daughter his Oak Hill mansion be torn down and its 30-acre estate turned into an art museum. Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.)
Obituary
Lexington Intelligencer, April 16, 1915
Lexington, Mo.William R. Nelson DeadWilliam R. Nelson, editor and owner of the Kansas City Star and Times, died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at Oak Hill, his home in Kansas City. His death was due to uraemic poisoning.Mr. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 7, 1841, and was 74 years of age. He came to Kansas City and began the publication of the Evening Star on September 18, 1880. He is survived by his widow and one daughter.
At age 15, he attended the University of Notre Dame for two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1862.
Nelson formally took over the Fort Wayne News Sentinel with Samuel Morss in 1879. In 1880 they moved to Kansas City and started the Star. Nelson took over sole ownership of the paper within a few months.
Nelson developed an area of farmland south of downtown Kansas City into a neighborhood of more than 100 houses, including his own mansion called Oak Hall. Nelson provided in his will that following the death of his wife and daughter his Oak Hill mansion be torn down and its 30-acre estate turned into an art museum. Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.)
Obituary
Lexington Intelligencer, April 16, 1915
Lexington, Mo.William R. Nelson DeadWilliam R. Nelson, editor and owner of the Kansas City Star and Times, died at 2 o'clock Monday morning at Oak Hill, his home in Kansas City. His death was due to uraemic poisoning.Mr. Nelson was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 7, 1841, and was 74 years of age. He came to Kansas City and began the publication of the Evening Star on September 18, 1880. He is survived by his widow and one daughter.
Bio by: Bill Herrman
