Albert F. Nelson

As printed in 1914

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 History of Boone County, Iowa (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.