Nelle Wilson Reagan
Encyclopedia
Nelle Clyde Wilson Reagan (July 24, 1883–July 25, 1962) was the mother of United States President Ronald Reagan
(1911–2004) and his older brother Neil "Moon" Reagan (1908–1996).
-English
ancestry, the oldest of seven children born to Mary Ann (née
Elsey) and Thomas Wilson. She met Jack Reagan
in a farm town along the Illinois
prairie. The two were married in Fulton, Illinois
in November 1904. They had two children: Neil "Moon" Reagan
and Ronald Wilson Reagan. After the birth of her second son, Nelle was told not to have any more children. The Reagan family moved from Tampico
to many small Illinois towns, and Chicago, depending on Jack's employment.
Ronald Reagan wrote that his mother "always expected to find the best in people and often did." She attended the Disciples of Christ
church regularly and was active, and very influential, within it; she frequently led Sunday school services and gave the Bible
readings to the congregation during the services. A strong believer in the power of prayer
, she led prayer meetings at church and was in charge of mid-week prayers when the pastor was out of town. Her strong commitment to the church is what induced her son Ronald to become a Protestant
Christian rather than a Roman Catholic
like his father. He also stated that she strongly influenced his own beliefs: "I know that she planted that faith very deeply in me." For example, Ronald Reagan attended Eureka College
, founded by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1855. While pursuing the degree he earned in economics-sociology in 1932, Ronald Reagan continued to be surrounded with the same faith his mother had introduced in his life.
Due to her influence within the church community, one member of the congregation said that "Many of us believed Nelle Reagan had the gift to heal," and fellow churchgoer Mildred Neer recalled Reagan's strong passion for prayer:
Aside from her work with the church, Nelle acted in many plays. One 1926 review of the play The Ship of Faith said, "Mrs. Reagan is one of Dixon's favorite readers and has appeared before many audiences, always greatly pleasing them."
, Ronald bought his parents a new home in Hollywood
; it was the first home they had ever owned. Nelle's life also changed after her husband Jack's death on May 18, 1941, leaving her widowed. She maintained her connections to the church in Dixon and began working at a tuberculosis
sanitarium in Southern California. In her later years, however, Nelle had problems with her physical health and senility (later diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease
). Speaking of her illness, she said "I just kept my mind on God." Nelle died from complications of the disease on July 25, 1962, aged 79.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
(1911–2004) and his older brother Neil "Moon" Reagan (1908–1996).
Early life
Nelle was of ScotsScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ancestry, the oldest of seven children born to Mary Ann (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Elsey) and Thomas Wilson. She met Jack Reagan
Jack Reagan
John Edward “Jack” Reagan was the father of United States President Ronald Reagan and his older brother Neil "Moon" Reagan .-Early life:...
in a farm town along the Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
prairie. The two were married in Fulton, Illinois
Fulton, Illinois
Fulton is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,481 at the 2010 census, down from 3,881 at the 2000 census. Fulton is located across the Mississippi River from Clinton, Iowa.-Geography:...
in November 1904. They had two children: Neil "Moon" Reagan
Neil Reagan
John Neil Reagan was a radio station manager, CBS senior producer and senior vice president of McCann Erickson. He is the older brother of Ronald Reagan....
and Ronald Wilson Reagan. After the birth of her second son, Nelle was told not to have any more children. The Reagan family moved from Tampico
Tampico, Illinois
Tampico is a village located in Tampico Township, Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census the village had a total population of 790, up from 772 at the 2000 census. U.S. President Ronald Reagan was born there and lived there for two brief periods of his...
to many small Illinois towns, and Chicago, depending on Jack's employment.
Workings with the church
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
church regularly and was active, and very influential, within it; she frequently led Sunday school services and gave the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
readings to the congregation during the services. A strong believer in the power of prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, she led prayer meetings at church and was in charge of mid-week prayers when the pastor was out of town. Her strong commitment to the church is what induced her son Ronald to become a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
Christian rather than a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
like his father. He also stated that she strongly influenced his own beliefs: "I know that she planted that faith very deeply in me." For example, Ronald Reagan attended Eureka College
Eureka College
Eureka College is a liberal arts college in Eureka, Illinois related by covenant to the Christian Church and founded in 1855. It has a strong focus on the mutual development of intellect and character. Stated core values are learning, service and leadership...
, founded by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1855. While pursuing the degree he earned in economics-sociology in 1932, Ronald Reagan continued to be surrounded with the same faith his mother had introduced in his life.
Due to her influence within the church community, one member of the congregation said that "Many of us believed Nelle Reagan had the gift to heal," and fellow churchgoer Mildred Neer recalled Reagan's strong passion for prayer:
Aside from her work with the church, Nelle acted in many plays. One 1926 review of the play The Ship of Faith said, "Mrs. Reagan is one of Dixon's favorite readers and has appeared before many audiences, always greatly pleasing them."
Later life
In 1938, after both Neil and Ronald Reagan had moved to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Ronald bought his parents a new home in Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
; it was the first home they had ever owned. Nelle's life also changed after her husband Jack's death on May 18, 1941, leaving her widowed. She maintained her connections to the church in Dixon and began working at a tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
sanitarium in Southern California. In her later years, however, Nelle had problems with her physical health and senility (later diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
). Speaking of her illness, she said "I just kept my mind on God." Nelle died from complications of the disease on July 25, 1962, aged 79.