Homer Augustus Nelson

              OBITUARY.
            HOMER A. NELSON.
 Homer A. Nelson died suddenly yesterday morn-
ing at his residence near Poughkeepsie. He was
in New-York Friday attending to his professional
duties, although he had not been feeling well
for several days. He left home in the even-
ing intending to take a rest, which he felt that
he needed, and to consult his physician. He
was in no serious condition as to alarm his
friends, to whom the information of his death
has come as a great shock.
 Judge Nelson, as he was familiarly known,
was born in Poughkeepsie Aug. 31, 1829, and
received his elementary training in the public
schools and high school of his native city. He
early entered upon a course of preparation for
the law, studying successively in the offices of
Tallman & Dean, Varick & Eldridge, and Charles
H. Ruggles. He began the practice of his pro-
fession in Poughkeepsie. In the Fall of 1855 he
was elected County Judge of Dutchess County,
retaining the office until November, 1862, when
he was elected to Congress, serving but one
term from 1863 to 1865. At the close of his 
term he was offered an appointment in the dip-
lomatic service by President Lincoln, but de-
clined. In Congress he ranked with the war
Democrats.
 He was a member at large of the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1867, voting with the mi-
nority against the form adopted, but in accord-
ance with the prevailing sentiment among the
people, which rejected the report of the conven-
tion. At the Fall election of 1867 he was elect-
ed Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket,
serving in that office four years, until the close
of 1871. In the Fall of that year his party
would have sent him to the State Senate, but
he declined the nomination and entered again
actively upon professional work, in which he
enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He was
prevailed upon in 1881, however, to accept a
nomination to the State Senate and was elected,
representing the Fifteenth District, which in-
cluded the counties of Columbia, Dutchess, and
Putnam.
 This was the last elective office held by Judge
Nelson, but he was a member of the commission
appointed last year to report a revision of the
judiciary article of the Constitution, represent-
ing the Second Judicial District. In semi-public
corporations he held several offices, including
those of Trustee of the Vassar Home for Aged
Men and Director of the Central Cross-Town
Railroad Company of this city and of the City
Railroad Company of Poughkeepsie.
 Among many noted cases in which he was
professionally engaged were the Vassar will
contest and the defense of Jacob Sharp. When
not engaged in professional work, he delighted
in nothing more than in the sports of the forest,
field, and stream. He leaves a wife, but no
children.