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George B. Nelson
Nelson circa 1940
Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
In office September 30, 1930 – December 11, 1942
Appointed by	Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Preceded by	E. Ray Stevens
Succeeded by	Elmer E. Barlow
District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin
In office January 1, 1907 – January 1, 1913
Preceded by	G. M. Dahl
Succeeded by	D. S. Sickelsteel
Personal details
Born	(1876-05-21)May 21, 1876 Amherst, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	January 10, 1943(1943-01-10) (aged 66) Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Cemetery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Ruth Weller ​(m. 1912⁠–⁠1943)​
Children	Elizabeth Juniata Nelson George Bliss Nelson Jr.
Relatives	Reginald Heber Weller (father-in-law)
Education	University of Wisconsin–Madison George Washington University Law School
Profession	Lawyer

George Bliss Nelson (May 21, 1876 – January 10, 1943) was an American lawyer from Portage County, Wisconsin. He was a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1930 through 1942. He earlier served as district attorney of Portage County.

Biography

Nelson was born George Bliss Nelson on May 21, 1876, in Amherst, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and George Washington University Law School and became a member of the Order of the Coif. After law school, he returned to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he was a partner for several years in the law firm Cate, Dahl, and Nelson.

Public service

Nelson was District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin, from 1906 to 1913. Previously, he was City Attorney of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Additionally, he was a delegate to the 1908 Republican National Convention. Nelson was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Walter J. Kohler, Sr., in 1930. He was elected to a full term on the court in 1935, and served until 1942, when his health began to fail. He sent his formal resignation to the Governor in December 1942, and died a month later, on January 10, 1943.

Personal life and family

Nelson was deeply religious and active in the Episcopal Church. He married Ruth Weller in 1912. Ruth was a daughter of the Episcopal bishop Reginald Heber Weller. George and Ruth Nelson had four children.

References

1. Denslow, William R. (1957). 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Columbia, Missouri, USA: Missouri Lodge of Research. (digital document by phoenixmasonry: vol. 1, 2, 3, 4)
2. "George Bliss Nelson". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
3. "Here's Nelson's Letter Resigning as Justice". The Capital Times. December 12, 1942. p. 1. Retrieved December 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "George B. Nelson". Wisconsin Court System. Retrieved 2011-11-01.

• 1876 births
• 1943 deaths
• People from Amherst, Wisconsin
• People from Stevens Point, Wisconsin
• Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Wisconsin Republicans
• District attorneys in Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
• George Washington University Law School alumni