Tom,
I found this posting, albeit old, but I am related to Mary Amanda Nelson b.1862 Peoria, IL d. 1924 m. 1882 Peoria, South Lee, IL to Arvin Wright Witherell b.09 Dec 1857 Columbus Jct, Louisa Co OH d.12 Jul 1939 Chicago, Cook, IL.

NELSON, Mary Amanda (John S. Jr, John S. Sr., James,William)
dau of John S. Nelson, Jr. b.1830 IL d.12 Feb 1891 Keokuk (Lee) IA and Phoebe Jane Turner b.09 Nov 1834 Brown Co OH d.
26 Jan 1922 Wilmington (Will) IL m.05 Aug 1858 Alexandria,Clark Co, MO (Issue: 5 - Sarah Frances, Mary Amanda, Helen Lucy, Louise Margaret, Mabel)

NELSON, John S. Nelson, Jr. (John S. Sr, James, William)

NELSON, John S. Sr. (James, William) b. Abt. 1800 Bethel (Clermont) OH d.Aft. 1850 Keokuk (Lee) IA m. 26 Nov 1826 Clermont County, OH (John Nelson m Susanah Ray,by Rev Wm Justice Thompson)Clermont OH to Frances Susannah Wray b. abt 1800 VA d. Aft. 1850 Clark Co MO? or IA
(they left Clermont Co OH by covered wagon to IL and bought a farm in Clark Co MO) Issue:(5) Amanda G. Nelson,John S. Nelson, Jr.,Mary Ellen Nelson,Susan Frances Nelson, and Martha Nelson.
NOTE: Susan Frances Nelson is my GR-GR Grandmother. b. 14 Jan 1844 d.06 Sep 1919 San Diego, CA m. to Jerome Dial Ferree b.1862 Hillsboro, Montgomery Co IL d.30 Mar 1914 Des Moines, Polk IA Issue: (9)Mary Ellen Ferree,Sallie Bell Ferree, Bonnie Louise Ferree, George Nelson Ferree, Frances Susan Ferree, Alice May Ferree, Grace Bessie Ferree,Daisy Lenore Ferree, Violet Mignonette Ferree.

NELSON, James b. 30 Sep 1768 VA d. Aft. 1800 Clermont Co OH
m. Abt. 1794 to Elizabeth Bennett b. 26 Dec 1770 PA d. Aft. 1800 Clermont Co OH Issue: (2 known) Samuel Nelson 1794, John S. Nelson Sr.

NELSON, William b. Abt. 1740 VA
Perhaps you have the link already but any additional information welcome
Ellen