The Nelson Families of Boone County, Iowa

OSCAR A. NELSON.

Oscar A. Nelson, who controls most of the stock of the McCune Shoe Company of Boone, is one of the city's most successful merchants, serving at present as secretary and treasurer of this firm. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, November 3. 1868, and is a son of Andrew and Elna (Anderson) Nelson. The paternal grandfather was Nels Torkelson. whose wife died when the father of our subject was in his infancy. The grandfather, a widower, came to the United States, landing in New York, whither his son Andrew had preceded him one year before, locating shortly afterward in Rockford, Illinois. In 1868 Andrew Nelson came to Montana City, as it was then called — now Boone — and there he was joined by his father and his four other children. The grandfather was a tailor by trade and already well along in years when he came to this country. After locating in Boone he followed his trade to some extent and died there in 1880.

Andrew Nelson learned the trade of a tailor in Sweden, where he attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education. He remained throughout his life in the tailoring business and died July 17, 1912. He married in Sweden Miss Elna Anderson, who came to the United States with him and who passed away in Boone, May 27, 191 3. All of their children were born in this country. The parents were members of the Swedish Evangelical Mission church, of which the father was a charter member and in which he served as deacon and trustee. He was an adherent of the republican party until a few years prior to his death, when he became an independent, giving his support to such candidates as he considered best adapted for the office to which they aspired without regard to party dictates.

Oscar A. Nelson attended the public schools of Boone until fifteen years of age, completing his education by two years' attendance in high school. He entered upon his business career as clerk in the book store of F. A. Bolt, later accepting a position in a grocery store which was conducted by G. F. Miller. After severing this connection he entered the shoe store of C. A. McCune, the business being incorporated in 1890 as the McCune Shoe Company. At that time Mr. Nelson acquired stock in the concern, continuing as clerk therein, and

Vnl II, 2 N was made vice president of the company, serving as such until 1900. He then was elected president, in which capacity he continued until 1907, when he acquired the controlling interest in the firm and has since served as secretary-treasurer. The McCune Shoe Company conduct a prosperous retail business at No. 721 Story street and enjoy a high reputation for carrying a most reliable and up-to-date stock. The success of the firm is largely due to the methods and policy instituted by Oscar A. Nelson, its secretary-treasurer, who is considered one of the most shrewd and able business men in the town. Personally he is courteous and affable, having attracted many customers to his store by his pleasing personality.

On August 12, 1896, Mr. Nelson married Miss Agnes G. Zandell of Boone, a daughter of Alfred and Ida (Blomberg) Zandell. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have two children: Eloise G. and Myron A. The parents are devout members of the Swedish Evangelical Mission, in which the father has served as a trustee for ten years. Politically he is a member of the progressive party, completely in sympathy with the ideals which that party has set out to realize. Mr. Nelson has ever been interested in educational matters and served on the town board of education for six years, rendering valuable help in making possible the erection of a beautiful new schoolhouse, which was opened in January, 1914, and is one of the most practical, sanitary and best equipped in the state. Mr. Nelson is a public-spirited and patriotic citizen who by his activities has contributed toward the development of his city and who is ever ready to sacrifice personal interest in order to promote community welfare. He is justly entitled to the predicate of self-made man, for he has succeeded through his own efforts only, efforts which have been based upon ambition, industry, determination and honesty.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE W. NELSON.

George W. Nelson is to be numbered among the enterprising younger business men of Boone, where he now is the owner of the Boone Bottling Works, a prosperous establishment the ownership of which he acquired only about a year ago. Mr. Nelson was born in Boone, September 7, 1877, and is a son of Andrew and Ellen Nelson, natives of Sweden. They came to America soon after their marriage, settling in Rockford, Illinois. In that city they remained for a time, the father following the trade of tailor. In 1868 they came to Boone, Andrew Nelson becoming one of the earlier settlers of that city. He was the first tailor of Boone, working for his brother, John T., who came to that city about the same time. He continued in that association for a number of years and then retired, passing away June 17, 191 2. His widow survived him until May 27, 1913. The father was one of the organizers and a trustee of the Swedish Mission church, of which both he and his wife were members. He was a republican and stanchly upheld the principles of that party. To him and his wife were born the following children: Oscar A., of Boone; Theodore E., who is a business man of that city; Charles, who passed away at the age of fifteen; George W., of this review; and three who died in infancy.

George W. Nelson attended the public schools of Boone until fifteen years of age, receiving his first instruction under a Mrs. Joseph Whittaker. After laying aside his text-books he became a clerk in the shoe store of C. A. McCune, *so remaining until Mr. McCune sold out his interest to Oscar A. Nelson and George W. Nelson. Mr. Nelson of this review a few years later sold out to his brother and bought the Westerberg Bottling Works, changing the name to the Boone Bottling Works. Although Mr. Nelson has conducted this business only a short time, he has already laid the foundations of a decided success. There is great credit due him for what he has achieved, as his success has come to him entirely through his own efforts.

On May 3. 191 1, Mr. Nelson married Miss Theresa A. Anderson, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a daughter of Gustave A..Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson reside in a handsome home at No. 427 South Boone street, where they often entertain their many friends. They are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and interested in its work. Politically Mr. Nelson preserves independence, giving his vote to the candidates whom he considers best fitted for the office irrespective of party affiliation. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and popular in that organization. He is a public-spirited citizen who promotes enterprise wherever and whenever possible and who in a quiet way has done his share for the development of his city.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PETER T. NELSON.

Peter T. Nelson, a resident of Boone for the past forty-five years, has been actively engaged in the lumber business here for three decades and is now at the head of the well known firm of P. T. Nelson & Sons. His birth occurred in Sweden on the 28th of March, 1845, his parents being Thorkel and Ellen (Peterson) Nelson, who were likewise natives of that country and have passed away. To them were born six children, as follows: Nelse, Andrew T. and Olaf. all of whom are deceased; Peter T., of this review; John T., a resident of Los Angeles, California; and Hans T., living in Boone, Iowa.

Peter T. Nelson became identified with the milling business when a youth of sixteen and was thus engaged until he had attained the age of twenty-three. In 1869 he emigrated to the United States and took up his above in Boone, Iowa, being here employed at railroad work for three years. Subsequently he spent twelve years at the tailor's trade and on the expiration of that period embarked in the lumber business, in which he has been engaged continuously and successfully since. He purchased an interest in the Farrow Lumber Company and in 1905 bought out his associates and admitted his two sons, Emil L. and Alfred E., to a partnership. The firm has since conducted business under the style of P. T. Nelson & Sons and is a successful enterprise, its members being widely recognized as men of excellent executive ability, sound judgment and unassailable integrity.

On the 26th of November. 1872, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Norlin, who passed away in 1893 and who bore him six children, namely: Charles and Edward, both of whom are deceased; Emil L. and Alfred E., who are associated with their father in business; Nellie, the wife of A. F. Nelson, of Boone; and Arthur, who has passed away. On the 6th of January, 1897, Mr. Nelson was again married, his second union being with Miss Augusta Gustafson.

In his political views Mr. Nelson is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. He has never sought nor desired the honors and emoluments of office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business interests, which have brought him well merited prosperity. He is now the only surviving organizer of the Swedish Mission church and still resides on the same lot where he was first married more than four decades ago. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he eagerly availed himself of the opportunities here afforded and worked his way steadily upward to a foremost place among the substantial and respected citizens of Boone county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM H. NELSON.

Through enterprising methods, William H. Nelson has built up a good business in the marble and granite monument trade at Boone. Determination and energy have constituted the salient features of his success, bringing him to a position where the consensus of public opinion places him among the foremost and representative business men of his city. His parents are Benjamin R. and Nancy (Forsythe) Nelson. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Nelson, born at Redstone, Pennsylvania, in 1786, served throughout the War of 1812 in the Second Ohio Militia and when his military duties were over took up the occupation of farming, which he made his life work, passing away in Ohio.

The father was born December 21, 1830, in Harrison county. Ohio, where he learned and followed the blacksmith's trade. He was afterward employed on the national turnpike in shoeing government horses. With the outbreak of the Civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused and he enlisted at Zanesville, Ohio, in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, with which he served, throughout the war, being advanced from the ranks to the position of corporal. Twice he was wounded, and because of his injuries he was honorably discharged on the Qth of June, 1865. In April, 1866, he removed to Cambridge, Ohio, and was made gatekeeper on the national turnpike, continuing in that position until 1872, when he went to Zanesville. He was afterward at St. Clairsville and finally returned to Cambridge, where he passed away May 22, 1890. On the ist of April, 1851, Benjamin R. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Forsythe, a daughter of Thomas Forsythe, who was born in Ireland, March 14, 1808, and passed away on the 30th of April, 1881. He was but three years of age when brought to the new world and after living in Pennsylvania for a number of years became a resident of Ohio in 1837 and there engaged in the dry-goods business. He was married February 2, 1832, and it was his daughter Nancy who became the wife of Benjamin R. Nelson. Of this marriage there were born eight children: Thomas Forsythe, who was born March 31, 1852, and is now in Washington, D. C.: Mary Jane, who was born March 25, 1854, and is the wife of Levi D. Anker of Cambridge, Ohio; William H., of this review, born March 1, 1857; John

Anderson, who was born November 25, 1859, and is living in Cambridge, Ohio; Clara Margaret, who was born October 24, 1862, and is the wife of Robert Rickard of Goldtield, Iowa; James McFarland, who was born September 12, 1868, and is living in Cleveland, Ohio; Anna Belle, who was born February 17, 1871, and is the wife of Charles Carnes of Cambridge, Ohio, and Bertha Rosella, who was born May 21, 1873, and is with her mother in Cambridge.

William H. Nelson acquired his early education in the country schools and also continued his studies in Cambridge and in the St. Clairsville (Ohio) high school. He was connected with the optical business in Chicago from 1876 until 1878 and on the expiration of that period went to Des Moines. He afterward engaged in the abstract business in various places in Iowa, including Des Moines, Indianola and Nevada. Subsequently he removed to Cedar Rapids and there began the publication of Nelson's Railway Guide, which is now known as Russell's Railway Guide. At a later period he went to Marshalltown, where he was engaged in the oil business for thirteen years. He likewise became prominent in local politics and during his residence there served as a member of the city council for several terms and also as justice of the peace. In fact, he was one of the leading and influential residents of that locality.

When Mr. Nelson had disposed of his interests at Marshalltown he turned his attention to farming, but after a year entered the hotel business at Gilbert, Iowa, whence he went to Ames and from that point came to Boone. This was in the year 1905 and for a brief period he conducted a hotel in this city. He then sold out and is now engaged in the marble monument business in Boone, in which he has been accorded a liberal patronage. He devotes his entire attention to this business and for the products of his shop finds a ready sale. His enterprise is unfaltering and his energy places him among those who are most active and progressive in the business circles of the city.

Mr. Nelson was married in Gilbert, Iowa, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Mac- Farlane, who was born July 30, 1856, in Princeton, New York, a daughter of John Alexander and Mary Jean (Hannay) MacFarlane, natives of Scotland. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Nelson was Parian MacP'arlane, who was one of the last chiefs of the celebrated MacFarlane clan of the Scotch highlands. He was born in Scotland in 1769 and passed away August 12, 1814. The grandfather, John MacFarlane, born May 19, 1796, left his native Scotland to become a resident of the new world and passed away in the state of New York in 1867. The father, John Alexander MacFarlane, arrived in the United States in his youthful days and during the period of the Civil war, from 1861 to 1865, was on active duty with the Thirteenth New York Heavy Artillery. He made farming his life occupation and thus provided for his family of eight children, of whom four are yet living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born five children; Alice M., born May 28, 1882; John Archibald, born November 20, 1883; Anna Richmond, who was born May 18, 1888, and passed away July 24. 1893; Ethelyn Marie, who was born September 28, 1890; and Ruth MacFarlane, born January 16, 1894.

The family attend the Presbyterian church, in which the parents hold membership. Mr. Nelson is also a Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias and a Modern Woodman, and he belongs to the grand lodge of I. O. O. F. of Des Moines. His wife is a past president of the Rebekah assembly of the state of

Iowa and a past grand chief of the Pythian Sisters of Iowa. In his political views Mr. Nelson is a stalwart republican, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He is a man of notable energy in business affairs, of fidelity in friendship and of trustworthiness in every relation of life. Wherever known he is held in high esteem and most of all where he is best known.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALBERT F. NELSON.

Business enterprise finds an exponent in Albert F. Nelson, who is a member of the Nelson Dairy Company at Boone. He was born in Fillmore county, Nebraska, May 8, 1885, a son of Peter P. and Alexandria ( Benson ) Nelson. His education was acquired in the schools of his native town to the age of sixteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Nebraska to Boone.

His grandfather. Peter P. Nelson, was a farmer of Sweden and came to the United States in 1854. He followed farming near Knoxville, Illinois, and there passed away. He married Ellen Nelson, who died in Sweden.

Their son, Peter P. Nelson, Jr., the father of Albert F. Nelson, was for many years engaged in farming in Worth township, but is now living retired. He was born in Sweden, May 2, 1852, and attended school until fourteen years of age, after which he began work upon farms, being thus engaged until he came to the United States. He was married in Sweden to Miss Hannah Abrahamson and in 1873 they arrived in New York. They made their way direct to Knoxville, Knox county, Illinois. In the following spring Mr. Nelson returned to his native land but in the meantime had purchased forty acres in Knox county. In October, of the same year, he once more came to America and settled upon his farm in Illinois, where he lived for four years. On the expiration of that period he sold his land and removed to Chase county, Nebraska, where he took up a homestead claim, upon which he lived for seventeen years, being quite successful in its development and management. He then sold that property and brought his family to Boone county, Iowa, where he purchased one hundred and seventy-four acres of land in Worth township. With characteristic energy he began the development and improvement of the place and lived there until his retirement from active business life when he took up his above in Boone, trading his farm for his town property. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also conducted a dairy business, and the products of his dairy found a ready sale upon the market. In 1880 he and his first wife returned to their native land upon a visit and while there Mrs. Nelson passed away. On the 15th of November, 1881, in Chicago, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to the mother of our subject, who was born in Copenhagen,.April 23, 1864. She came to the United States in 1881 and was living in Chicago at the time of her marriage. The children born unto Peter P. and Alexandria Nelson were eight in number: Lillie, now the wife of Levi Wells, of Columbus, Ohio; Albert F.. whose name introduces this review; Henry H., of Boone; Ernest W., who follows farming; Chester V.; Edith H.; Floyd V.; and Glenn, all at home. The parents are members of the Swedish Mission church and Mr. Nelson gives his political support to the republican party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen. He has gained many warm friends during the period of his residence in this county and his many substantial qualities have won for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

Albert F. Nelson, following the removal of the family to Boone county, began work upon the home farm in the employ of his father and spent five years in that way, at the end of which time he purchased his father's farm and continued its cultivation and development alone until the spring of 1914, when he admitted his brothers, Ernest W. and Henry H., to a partnership in what is now known as the Nelson Dairy Company. In this connection they are doing a good business. They keep a large number of cows for dairy purposes and the product of their dairy finds a ready sale on the market. Neatness and sanitation are characteristic features of the place and the results achieved indicate careful management and unfaltering enterprise.

On the lath of December, 191 1, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Melle M. Nelson, and they have a daughter, Irma Elizabeth. The parents hold membership in the Swedish Evangelical Mission church and Mr. Nelson has acted as a teacher in the Sunday school. He contributes generously to the support of the church and does all in his power to further the moral progress of the community. He was one of the organizers of the C. B. C, the largest in the state. and was its first president. He votes with the republican party and is unfaltering in his support of its principles which he deems best qualified to promote good government. His life has been well spent, his actions many and sincere, and the sterling traits of his character are attested in the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CARL O. NELSON, M. D. C.

Dr. Carl O. Nelson, of Ogden, Iowa, is not only very successful in the field of veterinary surgery but also conducts a profitable livery business. Dr. Nelson is yet a comparatively young man and stands but on the threshold of a successful career. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, July 23, 1880, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Anderson) Nelson, natives of Sweden, who after crossing the ocean located in Des Moines, Iowa, at an early day in that city's history. The father was a grading contractor and also gave considerable attention to farming, following both occupations to the end of his days. He passed away March 15, 1905, being survived by his wife.

Dr. Nelson was reared and educated in Des.Moines. After completing his preliminary education he entered the Chicago \"veterinary College, from which he graduated with the class of 1908. on April 1 of that year. Shortly thereafter he came to Ogden, where he established himself in practice. He has ever since been located in this city and has built up a large and profitable patronage. He is well versed in the scientific branches of veterinary surgery and in the years that have passed has gained in experience. Some time after locating here Dr. Nelson acquired a livery barn, which he is now conducting and which is the only barn in Ogden. He buys and sells horses and mules and his judgment of these animals is entirely to be relied upon. In all his business pursuits he has proven himself a man of honorable principles and in full measure enjoys the confidence of those who have business relations with him.

In March, 1910, Dr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Effie Olson, a daughter of Carl and Mary Olson, natives of Sweden, who were pioneers of Sac county, this state. Both father and mother are now living retired at Odebolt, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are popular in social circles of Ogden. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, although he has no aspirations for public office. He takes a lively interest in the development of his section and is ever ready to give his support to beneficial measures. Although yet young in years, he owns a valuable business and a handsome residence. Along professional lines he is connected with the Iowa and Missouri Walley \"veterinary Associations and in exchanging views with the brethren of his profession keeps in touch with the latest scientific developments in veterinary science., His religious faith is that of the Swedish Lutheran church. Dr. Nelson is a valuable citizen of Ogden, who through his activities contributes toward the advancement of this city.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.