Jens Nelson

As printed in 1916

JENS NELSON.

One of the venerable citizens and successful farmers of Clitherall township. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is Jens Nelson, who was born at Skane, Sweden July 21, 1831. He is the son of Nels and Elsie Okeson. who spent their entire lives in Sweden. The father was a farmer and landowner, and was born in 1804. his death occurring in 1851. His wife was born in 1808 and died in 1869. They were earnest and devoted members of the Lutheran church and were the parents of a family of eight children.

Of the children born to Xels and Elsie Okeson. Oke was born in 1826 r Nels in 1827; John, who was born in 1830. is a farmer of Clitherall township; Peter born in 1833, was also a farmer in Clitherall township until his death in 10,13; Burnet was born in 1830; Anna, who was born in [839, married Nels Matheson, and died in Denmark: Louis, horn in 1842, died at the age of seventeen years; Frank, the youngest, was born in 1845.

Jens Nelson was educated in the public schools of his native country, and after his marriage and the birth of four children, and the death of one, emigrated to America in 1870, making the voyage on a steamship. Upon the arrival of the Nelson family in the United States, they settled at Litchfield, Minnesota, where they lived for one year, when they moved to Otter- Tail county, where they homesteaded one hundred and siNty acres of land in Clitherall township The land was largely covered with timber. Mr. Nelson started life in the new country by constructing a dugout, but in 1878 built a log house, which is still standing, and which is still used as a residence.

Jens Nelson was married in his native land to Elna Anderson and to this union have been born, ten children: Nels, who died at the age of three in Sweden; Andrew, who died at Moorhead, Minnesota, at the age of sixteen; Johanna, the wife of Charles Larson, lives at Liberty, Canada; Emma, the wife of William Curinger, lives at Cass Lake. Minnesota; John, who died at the age of eleven; Frank who is referred to later on in this sketch, lives at home and operates the home farm; Ella, who died at the age of nineteen; August, a resident of Lunds Valley, is a wheat buyer; Ida, the wife of William McCormick, lives at Minot, North Dakota; Amanda. the wife of \11toi1 Morrau. lives at Delaware, North Dakota.

( )f these children. Frank V, who was born on the farm where he now

378 OTTER TAIL riU'VTY MINNESOTA;

lives, and which he now operates, was educated in the public schools of his home township, and reared to the life of a farmer. Since he was old enough he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and during the past eight or ten years, has rented the farm of his father. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a constable in Clitherall township.

Jens Nelson was i nc of the founders of the Swedish Lutheran church 111 Clitherall township, of which his family are devoted and earnest members.

As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.