In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1863
From An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910)
J. P. NELSON (1907), the manager of the Farmers Mercantile company's store at Jackson, was born in Argyle, Wisconsin, March 25, 1803, the son of Lars and Karen (Gaukrud) Nelson. He secured a common school education in Argyle and was a student at Valparaiso (Indiana) college one year. After his school days he accepted a position as clerk in a store ill Argyle. and in 1SS9, in partnership with a brother, engaged in the general merchandise business. Two years later he sold out, and iji 1802 moved to Superioi, Iowa, where he was engaged in the general merchandise business fifteen years. In the spring of 1907 Mr. Nelson moved to Jackson, and has since been the manager of the Farmers Mercantile company's store.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.