William Lester Nelson (August 4, 1875 – December 31, 1946) was an American farmer and politician from Columbia, Missouri.

He taught school for five years and then became involved with his brothers in operating and editing a county newspaper in Bunceton.

Nelson moved to Columbia, Missouri to accept appointment as Assistant Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, a position he held from 1908 to 1918.

Nelson also operated his own farm and authored articles for several agricultural publications.

He ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1920, after which he was on the editorial staff of the Iowa Homestead, a major farming magazine.