The Nelson Families of Lyon County, Minnesota

HENRY NELSON (1876), a farmer of Lucas township and a continuous resident of the county since 187 6, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, March 20, 1870, and is a son of Evar and Aase (Olson) Nelson, both of whom are now deceased.

The parents were natives of Norway, and some idea of the times in which they immigrated to this country can be gained from the fact that Mr. Nelson was on the ocean nineteen weeks when coming to this country. He landed in New Orleans in 184 5 and served five years in the Mexican War, afterwards coming North and locating in Wisconsin. On his journey he visited St. Anthony Falls, Minnesota, and at that time Minnesota was still a territory and there was a single store on the present site of St. Paul. Evar Nelson was married in Wisconsin, and after a few years' residence in Fillmore county, Minnesota, he moved to Western Minnesota and purchased land in Yellow Medicine county and resided there four years.

In the spring of 1876 the Nelson family came to Lyon county and took a homestead in Lucas township. There the parents resided until their deaths, and the old homestead is now operated by their son Iver. The subject of this sketch came to Lyon county with his parents when six years old, and he attended the district schools until seventeen years of age. Afterward the boy helped his father until twenty-two years of age and then engaged in farming for himself on the place which he now owns, the northeast quarter of section 11. He has a well-improved place and is making a decided success of stock raising in addition to his general farming. Mr. Nelson has served several years as assessor of the township, as a director of school district No. 19, and for several years he was road overseer.

On November 11, 1891, our subject was married at Cottonwood to Minnie Prestegaard, a native of Yellow Medicine county. She was born November 18, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following children: Adelia Louise, born October 24, 1893; Gerhardt, born June 29, 1895; Hulda, born November 16, 1897; and Rudolph, born December 5, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of Silo Norwegian Lutheran Church of Cottonwood.

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

IVER NELSON (1876) is the owner and manager of a 209-acre farm on section 2, Lucas township. He has made his home on that farm thirty-six years, having moved there with his parents when two and one-half years of age. He has made a success of farming and stock raising and is one of the influential men of his precinct.

His parents were pioneers of Minnesota and of Lyon county. Iver Nelson, the father, was born in Norway, came to America in 1845, and shortly afterward enlisted in the army and fought in the war with Mexico. He served five years in the army and during the late forties was stationed at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Later Mr. Nelson was a resident of Wisconsin and later still of Fillmore county, Minnesota. He located in Yellow Medicine county in an early day, and in the spring of 1876 he came with his family to Lyon county, purchased a homestead right to the farm now conducted by his son in Lucas township, and resided there until his death in 1895 at the age of eighty years. Aase (Frygne) Nelson, our subject's mother, was also born in Norway; she died in Lyon county in 1889.

Besides our subject there are six other children in the Nelson family, as follows: Nicholas, of Ada, Minnesota; Thomas, of Williams county, North Dakota; Henry, of Lucas township; Martha (Mrs. Thomas Joel), of Canada; Anna (Mrs. Erick Roti), of Vallers township; and Caroline (Mrs. John Prestegaard), of Yellow Medicine county.

Iver Nelson of this review was born in Yellow Medicine county October 2, 1873. He was brought with the family to Lyon county in 1876 and has ever since lived on the farm in Lucas township. He attended the district school until eighteen years of age and then took a one-term course in Willmar Seminary. He worked for his father until he attained his majority and in the fall of 1894 assumed control of the farm, of which he later became the owner.

For a number of years Mr. Nelson was a member of the Lucas Township Board of Supervisors, part of the time being chairman, has been township treasurer the past three years, has been clerk of school district No. 19 for the past twelve years, and was road overseer one year. He is a member of Silo Norwegian Lutheran Church of Cottonwood. Iver Nelson was married in Yellow Medicine county December 1, 1897, to Mary Cole. His wife is a native of Columbia county, Wisconsin, and was born January 9, 1872. Her parents, Lars and Johanna (Dahl) Cole, were pioneer settlers of Yellow Medicine county. The father still lives in that county, at the age of seventy-eight years; the mother died in 1893.

Six children have been born to Iver Nelson and his wife, their names and dates of births being as follows: Lloyd Ingren, born November 13, 1898; Arthur Joseph (deceased), born November 10, 1900; Herbert Ray, born November 24, 1902; Wilbur Vernand, born June 2, 1905; [name withheld], born November 10, 1907; [name withheld], born February 23, 1910.

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

THOMAS NELSON (1872) is one of the Custer township farmers who came to the county in the early days, when the settlers were few and when the nearest trading points were New Ulm and Redwood Falls. He remembers how the farm work was done with the aid of oxen and that the trips to New Ulm after supplies took at least a week. Mr. Nelson of late years has been leaving much of the management of the farm to his son Edwin and has been enjoying a deserved rest from active cares.

Norway is the native home of Thomas Nelson and he was born in September, 1833, a son of Nels and Sarah (Yoe) Nelson, both of whom are dead. Thomas received his education in Norway and at the age of sixteen commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed for several years. Later, for a period of years, the young man served in the army.

Coming to America in 1865, the subject of our sketch located in Decorah, Iowa, where he worked at his trade a few years; then he moved to Rochester, Minnesota, and followed the same line of work. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Nelson moved to Lyon county, locating in Custer township and taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 34. In addition to general farming, Mr. Nelson takes much pride in his herd of Hereford cattle and in his Duroc- Jersey swine. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Independent Elevator Company of Garvin and in the Garvin Telephone Company.

In 1872 Thomas Nelson was manner to Karen Evanson, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of four children, Henry, Neil, Edwin and Emma (Mrs. Christ Nelson), of Garvin. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Monroe township, of which he was at one time treasurer.

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

CHRIS NELSON (1908), proprietor of the Garvin meat market, was born in Denmark December 29, 1877. In the old country he worked at the brick mason's and butcher's trades and in 1901 came to America. He settled in Redwood county and for two or three years worked as a farm laborer and in a livery stable at Milroy.

Mr. Nelson went to Lake Shetek in 1905 and for the next three years worked in a hotel. He located in Garvin in 1908 and for several years worked as a mason and butcher. He bought the meat market in March, 1911. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and the M. W. A. lodge.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Nelson was married at Tracy September 13, 1911, to Emma M. Nelson. She was born in Lyon county and is the daughter of one of the early settlers, Thomas Nelson, who lives near Garvin.

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

NELS NELSON (1886), of Coon Creek township, is a native of Jemtland, Sweden, where he was born December 31, 1858. He is a son of Nels and Mollin (Nelson) Erickson, the former being deceased and the latter residing in Sweden. Our subject received his schooling in the land of his birth, where he resided until twenty-eight years of age and then came to the United States. The first fifteen years of his life were spent in school, and from the age of fifteen until twenty-eight he worked out at farm labor.

In 1886 Mr. Nelson came to America, locating at Balaton, where he was employed for a year in a gravel pit. He then went to the northern part of Wisconsin, where he worked in a railroad camp four years. Then he returned to his old home in Sweden and remained a year. Returning again to America, he took up his residence in

Lyon county, buying the land in Coon Creek township upon which he still lives. He has a very fine home. In addition to general farming, he engaged in stock raising, such as Shorthorn cattle, Duroc-Jersey hogs and Langshang chickens. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen lodges and has been treasurer of school district No. 92 five years. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.

In 1892 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Katherine Lindstrom, a daughter of Henry Lindstrom. She was born in 1865 in Jemtland, Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following children: Nels, born August 23, 1892; Augusta, bom January 6, 1894; Oscar, born December 1, 1895; Ellen, born December 17, 1898; Mary, bom February 23, 1901; Eva, born March 9, 1903; Albert, born November 18, 1905. All the children except Augusta reside at home. Augusta is a member of the Royal Neighbors lodge, Nels of the M. W. A. lodge, and Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Degree of Honor.

Mr. Nelson owns 280 acres of fine land in Coon Creek township and is a successful farmer and stock raiser. He has two brothers and three sisters, as follows: Erick, of Pine county, Minnesota; Olaf, Mary, Ingeborg and Martha, all residing in Jemtland, Sweden. Mrs. Nelson has one sister, Mrs. Mathias Johnson, of Sweden.

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

JOHN P. NELSON (1887) is a Shelburne township farmer who has resided in Lyon county for a quarter of a century. His parents, Nels and Aluf Parson, are both deceased. John Nelson was born October 21, 1861, in Sweden, where he attended school until fourteen years of age. He then worked out as a farm hand two years,.when he went to Denmark and worked in a rope factory two years. Returning to Sweden, he worked at the* carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1887.

Mr. Nelson came to the United States in the year last mentioned and located at Balaton, where he resided about eight months. Then he moved to Burchard and worked on the section four years. Next he engaged in carpenter work for four years, two years for the Marfield Elevator Company, building and repairing elevators, and two years in Lyon county. He then purchased the eighty acre farm upon which his buildings now stand, and since that time has added 240 acres to his holdings. This land was all prairie when he purchased it, and he has improved it until now he has one of the finest farms in Lyon county. He raises considerable stock, including Poland China hogs, Shorthorn cattle and Plymouth Rock chickens. He is one of the most successful farmers in Lyon county.

Mr. Nelson is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. He holds membership in the following lodges: the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic order; the United Workmen and the Eastern Star. Mr. Nelson has been a director of school district No. 49 nine years and was road overseer in Shelburne township five years. He holds stock in the Florence Telephone Company, the State Bank of Florence, and the Farmers Co-operative Store Company of Balaton.

On November 28, 1886, Mr. Xelson was united in marriage to Anna Sanquist. a native of Sweden. Mrs. Xelson was born November 7, 1863, in Lunskroom. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of the following named children: Alfreada, born October 3, 1887; Charles, born February 4, 1889; Emil, born April 21, 1891; Edwin, born March 9, 1893; Lawrence, born May s. 1896. All except Charles reside at home. Alfreada is a graduate of the Shorthand Department of the Mankato Commercial College.

Mr. Nelson has two brothers and one sister: Andrew W. Nelson, of Rock Lake township; N. P. Nelson, of Two Harbors, Minnesota; Annie, of Rutledge. Minnesota.

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

ANDREW NELSON (1890) is the proprietor of Maplegrove Farm of Clifton township and has lived in that township since he was eight years of age. He was born in Sweden August 17, 1880. His father, Peter Nelson, lives in Dudley; his mother, Ida (Mortenson) Nelson, died in 1910.

In 1884 the family came to America and for six years lived in Michigan. They came to Lyon county in 1890 and bought the east half of the northeast quarter of section 17, Clifton township. On that farm Andrew grew up and in the nearby district school he was educated. He assisted his father with the farm work until he reached his majority. Then, his father having given him the east half of the southeast quarter of section 8, Clifton, he started farming for himself. In 190.8 he bought the home place from his father and an eighty-acre tract on section 17. He has a fine home and a well-improved farm. He raises stock and makes a specialty of the single-comb White Leghorn chickens.

Mr. Nelson was married in Marshall June 28, 1907, to Ida Clay, who is also a native of Sweden. She is a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Clay) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have two children, Florence M. and Iva A.

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

PETER C. NELSON (1890). One of the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Coon Creek township is Peter Nelson, who resides on the southeast quarter of section 5. Mr. Nelson was born in Ringsta, Denmark, on January 31, 1861. He is the son of Nels Peter Christianson, who resides with a son, Sam Nelson, in Coon Creek township.

Peter Nelson attended school in the land of his birth until thirteen years of age. Then he came to America with his father and located near Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he worked at farm labor twelve years. He then rented land in that vicinity and farmer for himself two years. In 1890 he came to Lyon county and farmer rented land near Tyler three years. At the end of that time he bought land in Coon Creek township, which he farmer four years and sold, later buying the farm he now owns and operates, the southeast quarter of section 5, Coon Creek township. He raises stock, among other breeds, Duroc-Jersey hogs, Polled Angus cattle and Brown Leghorn chickens. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company. Mr. Nelson has been a successful farmer and stock raiser. He has two brothers, Sam, of Coon Creek township, and Andrew, of Lincoln county.

Mr. Nelson is a man of family. He was married June 11, 1895, to Louise Benson, a daughter of Bangt Benssn, of Sweden. She was born February 18, 18 63. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of one child, Bennie, born May 5, 1896.

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

PHILIP A. NELSON (1893) is the proprietor of a" well-improved half section of land three and one-half miles north of Tracy, one of the best farms in Amiret township. Besides this place Mr. Nelson owns eighty acres of land in Redwood county. He raises Shorthorn cattle extensively and may well be proud of his stock.

Mr. Nelson was born in Nicollet county, Minnesota, July 5, 1869, and is a son of C. J. and Emily (Pierson) Nelson, natives of Sweden. His parents came to America in 18 59 and remained in New York one year, where C. J. Nelson found employment. They then moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and after spending one year in that county settled in Nicollet county, where they had taken a homestead. It was during the family's ten year residence in that county that the subject of this sketch was born.

The Nelson family moved to Minneapolis from Nicollet county, and after one year's residence in that city they went to Redwood county, in 1873, and took preemption and tree claims. There Philip received his education, remaining at home until twenty-one years of age. He then bought eighty acres of railroad land in the county and started farming for himself, shortly after buying an additional eighty. After three years of farming our subject traded his quarter section for the southeast quarter of section 36, Amiret township, Lyon county, and has since acquired additional land.

.Mr. Nelson was married in Redwood county December 31, 189 5, to Anna Johnson. She was born in England September 7, 1871, and is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Charlton) Johnson, natives of England. The parents now reside in Amiret township. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson three children have been born: William, born April 7, 1897, and [name withheld], born October 12, 1906.

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

JOSEPH L. NELSON (1904) is the proprietor of a billiard and pool hall in Cottonwood. He is a native Minnesotan and was born at Pipestone October 12, 1879. His parents are John and Annie Randena (Okre) Nelson, natives of Allamakee county, Iowa. The father died in 1890. They were the parents of five children, named as follows: Ofto, Selma, Clara, Hulda and Joseph L. The mother was married a second time, to Ole Ostenson. The grandparents of our subject are Ole and Aslank Nelson, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in a very early day and settled in Allamakee county.

Joseph Nelson resided at Pipestone, where he received his education and also learned the carpenter's trade, until 1903. In 1904 he came to Lyon county with his mother and sisters and located at Cottonwood. He later went to Hanley, Saskatchewan, Canada, and worked at the carpenter's trade a year. He then worked at Minot, Aneta and Cooperstown, North Dakota, at the same trade two years, when he returned to Cottonwood. Upon his return he purchased his mother's restaurant and conducted it until February, 1911, when he sold and opened a pool and billiard hall. He installed an entirely new outfit.

Mr. Nelson was married at Cottonwood June 29, 1910, to Clara Elmer, a native of Cottonwood and a daughter of John Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have one child, [name withheld], born April 12, 1911.

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

HANS P. NELSON (1906) is one of Clifton township's farmers and he rents the north half of section 36. He has a well improved farm and raises considerable stock.

Mr. Nelson is a son of Nels Albertson and Annie Hanson and was born in Denmark May 2 9, 1857. There he was brought up and there he received the customary education of the farmer boy of that country. He was fourteen years of age when he commenced to learn the tailor's trade and he continued in that business in the Fatherland until 1879. That year hen came to this country, located in Chicago and worked at his trade a few months. Then he moved to St. Paul and continued working at his trade.

After working in St. Paul several years Mr. Nelson started a shop of his own and remained in that city two years. He then sold out, and during the next seven years at different times he conducted shops in Pipestone and Redwood Falls. Finally he sold his business and invested in 160 acres of farm land in Redwood county, near Redwood Falls, which he operated eighteen years. He sold his land in 1906 and came to Lyon county. He has since been living on the north half of section 36. While in Redwood county Mr. Nelson served seven years as school clerk and six years as a member of the township board.

The marriage of Hans Nelson and Lenora C. Peterson was celebrated in St. Paul February 2, 1881. She was born in Veile, Denmark, April 20, 1862, and is a daughter of Peter and Annie (Raarup) Peterson, both of whom died in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of eleven children, Nels, Edward, Walter, Anton, Dewey, Louis, Ida, Selma, Helga, Daisie and Alice.

Our subject is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and his fraternal associations are with the I. O. O. F. lodge.

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

GUST NELSON (1907), Rock Lake township farmer, was born in Motolo, Sweden, June 9, 1862. His parents, Anders P. and Matilda Nelson, are deceased, the father having passed away in the old country and the mother in New York City.

Gust was a student of the public schools until fifteen years old and thereafter until 1881 he worked at farm labor in his native land. In June of the last named year Mr.

Nelson crossed the sea, worked in a blacksmith shop in New York City one year, was in Chicago for a time, and then located in Ida county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming eighteen years. Mr. Nelson then bought land in Murray county, Minnesota, and resided on the farm until the fall of 1907. At that time he came to Lyon county and has since farmer the southeast quarter of section 17, Rock Lake township. He engaged in stock raising as well as grain farming and has been successful. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Wilson.

Mr. Nelson was married in 1890 to Anna Matilda Larson, who was born in Sweden June 9, 1863. They have two children, Albert and Ellen (Mrs. Albin W. Nelson), both of Rock Lake township.

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

ANDREW NELSON (1868), of Marshall, is the earliest living settler in Lyon county. He was born in Denmark February 1, 1852, and when twenty-three years of age came to the United States. On arriving in his adopted country, Mr. Nelson settled in Wis cousin, where he resided until 1868.

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