Magazine  (Jan 1924)  Page(s) 34.  
 
The History of the Pleas Peonies
By Sarah A. Pleas, H. F. N. H. S.
I noticed little seedlings near the Queen, but these were merely tolerated much as volunteer perennials are, until they must give way to better plants.  Some of these chance seedlings came up among rose bushes and other larger plants where they escaped the hoe.  These slowly gained in size, but with the garden full of really beautiful things they were of no particular interest to me for the time being.  While strolling leisurely adown the walk with little Nellie, a bloom half-concealed was seen among the bushes.  My surprise and delight were so manifest that Nellie, with the winsome assurance of the household pet, exultantly reached out her dimpled hand, gleefully exclaiming, "Nellie's pitty flower", thus unconsciously christening, whilst receiving it, the Nellie Pleas.  By whatever synonyms it may be burdened with hereafter, it will be known in my home only as Nellie Pleas.  When removed to a bed cut in the sod on the lawn, it developed the largest blooms borne in the largest clusters I have ever known.  The first division was sold to J. T. Lovett for $25.00 with exclusive right to sell it. [...]
Nellie Pleas and her royal sisters appeared on the scene many years before I began to plant seeds.  The Queen should be considered the mother of these, as well as the later originations.

Magazine  (Nov 1921)  Page(s) 159.  
 
"Mrs. Pleas on Raising Seedling Peonies"
...Kelway's single white, The Queen, was our only plant bearing seeds, blooming before any other kind was open; it was not hybridized, yet from this one planting I have every color and shade from White Swan to Black Beauty. [...]
From this one planting of single white seeds came Elwood Pleas, Midsummer Night's Dream, Gem, Mary, Quaker Lady, Shabona, Mad. Pleas, Walter Morgan, Golden Wedding, Nellie Pleas, Gypsy Queen, Laura E. Pleas, and Rosy Dawn in doubles; and in singles, White Swan, Wild Rose, Golden Cushion, Pocahantas; among the Japanese, Dr. Edgar Pleas, Novelty, Altar Candles, and Golden Nugget represent the best. [...]
—Sarah A. Pleas, Whittier, California

Magazine  (Jul 1921)  Page(s) 129.  
 
Mrs. Pleas' Estimate of Her Own Peonies
Standard Double Varieties
Nellie Pleas — The first Pleas' Peony to be named; also called Multiflora; unsurpassed in its clusters of blooms, averaging nine to ten on each stem, but having up to thirteen on many; loosely double, silvery pink, of pleasant odor; no other so long in bloom, or so silky; may easily be had in flower for fully four weeks; the very first full double to open on the heels of Officinalis.

Magazine  (Oct 1917)  Page(s) 31.  
 
Proceedings of the American Peony Society for the Year 1917
Fifteenth Annual Meeting held at Philadelphia, June 13 and 14, 1917.
From Mrs. Sarah A. Pleas, Whittier, California.
Meanwhile I had added to my list, Kelway's "The Queen", the only single peony in my collection. A few volunteer seedlings appearing near their mother, The Queen, remained unmolested until they were dug up and re-set to fill a new space and embellish the lawn.  Before very long they began to bloom.  The first was called Nellie Pleas, and was sold to a nurseryman.  Another christened Bouquet de Flora was also sold, but never since heard from.

Website/Catalog  (1915)  Page(s) 20.  
 
Herbaceous Peonies
Select Double Peonies
Nellie Pleas.— Silver rose, very fragrant.

Website/Catalog  (1907)  Page(s) 33.  
 
Herbaceous Peonias.
Select Double Peonias.
Nellie Pleas. — American origin.  Silvery rose and very fragrant; strong grower and free bloomer.