Nelson, as a 15-year-old attended the University of Notre Dame (which accepted high school students) at the time for two years which he described as "Botany Bay for bad boys."

[2] He was admitted to the bar in 1862 and was a campaign manager for Democratic presidential nominee Samuel J. Tilden.

Nelson's business strategy called for cheap advance subscriptions and an intention to be "absolutely independent in politics, aiming to deal by all men and all parties with impartiality and fearlessness.

[citation needed] In one encounter, Kansas City Mayor Joseph J. Davenport was thrown down a stairwell at the Star building by editors (including William Allen White) when he was believed to have physically threatened Nelson.

"[5] In addition to his newspaper duties, Nelson developed an area of farmland south of downtown Kansas City into a neighborhood of more than 100 houses, including his own mansion called Oak Hall.

[6] The area, which became known as the Rockhill District, was noted for its use of limestone in both the houses[6] and in stone walls that stood beside the streets[7] Nelson also acquired more than 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) in what is presently Grain Valley, Missouri, for the establishment of Sni A Bar Farm.

[citation needed] Nelson provided in his will that following the death of his wife and daughter his Oak Hill mansion be torn down and its 30-acre (120,000 m2) estate turned into an art museum.

Proceeds from his $6 million estate were used to build the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.