Nelson Mullin (July 21, 1887–July 16, 1944)

By Harper Norris

Early Life

Nelson Mullin was born in Camilla, Georgia, on July 21, 1887. The only available information regarding his parents is that they were both born in Georgia, and it is unclear whether he had any siblings. In 1908, Mullin married Clara Mullin, and they had a child, Liola Mullin, in 1909. As seen on his 1910 Census, Mullin could read and write, although there is no more information to shed any light on his education.¹

By 1910, Mullin worked as a farmer in a turpentine camp in Liberty County, Florida.² Turpentine harvesting became prevalent in South Carolina and Georgia in the nineteenth century, as it involved using pine forests to collect rubber and pitch. By the early twentieth century, the industry had destroyed much of the native pine forests in South Carolina and Georgia, and so turpentine companies began using the lush forests of Florida for harvesting. Many of these Florida turpentine camps employed black laborers, like Mullin, in exchange for housing, food, and tokens that the farmers could use at company stores.³ Mullin and other African American laborers would have made little to no money from these camps, but they did provide a place for his family to live.⁴ He likely moved to Clay County, Florida, before he was drafted on June 21, 1918, as he was inducted in Green Cove Springs, Clay County, Florida.⁵

Military Service

Nelson Mullin began his service as a Private with the 520th Engineers Service Battalion, stationed at Camp Humphreys, Virginia.⁶ On August 1, he was transferred to the 522nd Engineers.⁷ He embarked with the 522nd from Hoboken, New Jersey, and arrived in France on August 30.⁸ The 522nd supported the Meuse-Argonne campaign in France—the Allies’ last major offensive that led to the Armistice of 1918.⁹ This is supported by the engagement list on his service card, as seen here, which lists two X’s under his engagements, possibly highlighting that he took part in engagements while overseas. On December 31, he was transferred to the supply company for the 368th Infantry, of the Ninety-Second Division. He remained with he 368th overseas until February 15, 1919.¹⁰ Mullin was honorably discharged March 8, 1919.¹¹

Post-Service Life

There is very little documentation on Mullin’s life after the war. Records indicate that he married Florence King on April 21, 1931 in Clay County, Florida. He died on July 16, 1944 in Columbia County, Florida, and is buried in the Saint Augustine National cemetery in section D, plot 38.¹²

© 2018, University of Central Florida