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Allison Nelson | |
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| 9th Mayor of Atlanta | |
| In office January 26, 1855 – July 6, 1855 | |
| Preceded by | William M. Butt |
| Succeeded by | John Glen (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1822-03-11)March 11, 1822 |
| Died | October 7, 1862(1862-10-07) (aged 40) |
| Cause of death | Typhus |
| Resting place | Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. 34°44′15.3″N92°16′42.5″W / 34.737583°N 92.278472°W /34.737583; -92.278472 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Volunteers Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1847(USV) 1861–1862(CSA) |
| Rank |  Captain(USV) Brigadier-General(CSA) |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
Allison Nelson (March 11, 1822 – October 7, 1862) was the ninthmayor of Atlanta, serving from January until July 1855, when he resigned from office. He died of disease inPrairie County (present-dayLonoke County),Arkansas, during theAmerican Civil War.
His father, John B. Nelson, was an earlyDeKalb County settler who operatedNelson's Ferry across theChattahoochee River until murdered by John W. Davis in 1825.
In a close election for mayor, Nelson, running as aDemocrat, defeated theKnow Nothing candidate,Ira O. McDaniel, but resigned in July when the city council reduced a fine he had levied on two young men for destroying city property, thus leavingJohn Glen as theacting mayor. Nelson left forKansas during the border disputes, then moved toMeridian, Texas, where he was involved with Indian affairs, serving underLawrence S. Ross, and in 1860 was elected to thelegislature.
During theMexican–American War, Nelson served as a captain in the Kennesaw Rangers with another future mayor,Cicero C. Hammock, as well as the father of mayorJohn B. Goodwin – Williamson H. Goodwin. Nelson later served as a brigadier general under GeneralNarciso López, in a failed attempt to freeCuba from Spain. He organized and served ascolonel of the10th Texas Infantry Regiment in theConfederate States Army. He was later promotedbrigadier general but contractedtyphus and died. He was buried inMount Holly Cemetery,Little Rock, Arkansas.
Camp Nelson Confederate Cemetery (established 1897) inLonoke County, Arkansas, is named after him.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Mayor of Atlanta 1855 | Succeeded by |
