Reuben Nelson was an American Methodist Episcopal clergyman, educator, and administrator. He was chosen its first principal of Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania.
Background
Reuben Nelson was born on December 16, 1818 in New York City, New York, United States. He was one of the twelve children of Abraham and Huldah Nelson. In his early youth he lost his right arm below the elbow while working in a woolen mill.
Education
Nelson early saw his need of education and was keen to avail himself of every opportunity for intellectual and cultural development. For a period he studied at Hartwick Seminary, Otsego County, New York.
Career
When a lad of fifteen he joined the church, and within a year he was licensed as an exhorter; at the end of another year, in spite of his youth, he was licensed to preach.
On August 19, 1840, he was admitted on trial to the Oneida Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was appointed as third preacher on the Otsego circuit; the next year he held a similar appointment on the Westford circuit.
nelson was ordained deacon on August 10, 1842.
In addition to his work as a preacher, he performed the duties of principal of Otsego Academy at Cooperstown, New York.
Although this great publishing house at that time was passing through the most critical period of its long existence, Nelson proved remarkably well fitted for his new position with its many complicated and difficult problems. He was held in high regard by his associates in the ministry, and represented his Conference five times as a delegate to the General Conference, holding at each of these sessions committee positions of commanding importance and responsibility.
In addition to his service as publishing agent, he was, from 1872 to the time of his death, treasurer of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, an office involving the most careful scrutiny of contributions, investments, and expenditures of world-wide range.
He died in New York City, and was buried in the Cemetery at Forty Fort, Pennsylvania.
Achievements
Connections
In 1842 he married Jane Scott Eddy, daughter of Colonel Asa Eddy of Milford, New York.