Island Life, Island Toil: The House of David on High Island

Ramon Nelson was born into an Alabama farm family in 1912, but his family moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1917 to live in the House of David settlement there. In 1920, the family was ordered to High Island, apparently as a result of management's displeasure with the father. In the early 1920s, depletion of the island's timber, and legal troubles engulfing the House of David at that time, caused the House of David to lose interest in the island. Its inhabitants drifted away until all were gone by the end of 1927. The Nelson family were among the last to leave, returning to the Benton Harbor colony in that year. The father remained a faithful member throughout his life, but Ramon left in the early 1930s because Rules demanded celibacy. However, he continued to live near Benton Harbor, working a Bendix plant, and serving in the Navy during World War II. For many years he visited his former island home in July, and built his collection of island photographs. In 1998 he was enjoying a life of retirement at his home in St Joseph, Michigan.