Isaac De Groff Nelson

[1] In 1836, he moved to Fort Wayne, arriving via steamer along the newly opened Wabash and Erie Canal.

[1] Nelson bought the Fort Wayne Sentinel from George W. Wood in 1840 [2] and turned it from a Whig paper to an organ of the Democratic Party.

[1] Nelson served in various state government roles, including an 1854 appointment as clerk of the Allen circuit court,[3] a member of the first board of trustees of Purdue University, and in 1877,[1] he helped oversee the construction of the Indianapolis state house under Governor James D.

His own estate, "Elm Park" was considered "the showplace of Allen County."

[3] Nelson helped to incorporate Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, where a monument was built to him.