John G. Nelson

As printed in 1916

JOHN G. NELSON.

It may be truthfully said that Otter Tail county has no citizen of whom she has more reason to be proud than John G. Nelson, who carries with him the distinction, now left to few men, of having served in the Federal army during the Civil War. The example furnished by his life is not only an enviable one. but of inspiring character. His influence during an eminently industrious life has made for the prosperity of the community whose business interests he has ever held close to his heart. John G. Nelson, who is known throughout the county in which he lives as Senator Nelson, was born on the 16th of March, 1844. in Fureby, Sweden, and is the sixth in order of birth of the children of N. D. Anderson and Martha Johnson, both of whom were born in Sweden between the years 1807 and 1808. The father of the subject of this sketch, who followed the occupation of a farmer in his native land, came to this country in 1854, bringing with him his wife and their seven children, one of the sons having died in Sweden before the family set sail. Upon arriving in this country the family located in Chiscago county, Minnesota, where the father bought two hundred acres of land for farming purposes, and where he lived until his death, which occurred in Septemher, 1869. Two of the daughters, Helena and Charlotta, died in 1855, aged seventeen and nineteen years respectively. Two other daughters, Christina and Josephine, married and lived in Chiscago county. Christina died in [89.6. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Nelson, mother of John G. Nelson, the subject of this sketch, came to Otter Tail county and lived the remainder of her life with her three sons, Anders P., John G. and Peter ( dying in 1889.

The early education received by John G. Nelson was obtained in the common schools of his native land and in the schools of Chiscago county, Minnesota. As a young man he worked on his father's farm and also at the lumber business whose interests carried him regularly on trips down the St. Croix river.

( )n August 15. 1862, the subject of this sketch unhesitatingly laid aside his business duties and offered his services to save the government, which at that time was in great danger. He enlisted in Company C. Seventh Regiment. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and during the first four months of service was assigned to Ft. Ripley to guard against attacks by the Chippewa Indians at that point. The government man agreeable settlement at the Chippewa agency with the Indians and Hole-in-the-Day. their chief, after leaving Ft. Ripley, the regiment went to Ft. Snelling and then to Mankato. Minnesota, where the company guarded a number of Sioux Indian prisoners. During the months spent in this locality John (i. Nelson had some of the most thrilling experiences of the war. During Christinas dav and the day following the subject of this sketch was on duty for forty-eight hours, "ii account of trouble with thirty-eight of the Indian-, who were sentenced to be hanged on the 26th of December. The company had charge of building the scaffold where all of the thirty-eight Indians were put tn death at the same time on that date. After the hanging had taken place the regiment guarded the remaining Indians until May of the following year when they took the prisoners by boat from Mankato to Davenport, Iowa, where the_\ were stockaded in charge of Major Anderson. After the return of the company to Mankato they with the balance of the regiment started oil what is known in history as the Indian Expedition of [863, under General Sibley. They marched first to a point about forty miles southeast of Devils Lake. X. I) where they camped. From this camp a detail of two companies of infantry, one company of cavalry, and two held pieces went to Devils lake, where they expected to meet in battle Indians who were reported to he there. In the meantime the main part of the regiment proceeded on to the Missouri river where they fought the battle of Big Mound on July _'4. Mr. Nelson was with the detail sent to Devils lake. On their arrival there, only the son of Little Crow was found, and the detail returned to the camp, where they were rejoined by the regiment, and camp was broken for the long march hack to Ft. Snelling.

They remained at the fort only a short time before leaving for St. Louis. Missouri, where they remained until spring. Upon leaving the West the regiment went to Paducah. Kentucky, where they were in camp three-weeks and then attached to the Sixteenth Army Corps, at that time in command of Gen. A. J. Smith. The next march was to Memphis, Tennessee, and from there to Tupelo. Mississippi, where the regiment fought in the battle of Tupelo, in which General Forrest, the until-then unconquered Confederate general, was decisively defeated in a battle hard fought and lasting three days. They then returned to Memphis for a few days and took part in the Oxford raid. After the Oxford raid. Smith's army started on what is known as Trice's raid through Missouri and Arkansas. The army struck the Mississippi river at Cape Girardeau. From there transports were taken to St. Louis. This was in the latter part of November. From St Louis the army went to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving there on the ist of December, and there joined General Thomas in the defense of Nashville against General Hood. On the 151I1 day of December, 1864. General Thomas made the attack which lasted two days, General Hood being defeated both days. The Southern army under Hood was completely defeated and the turning point in the Western campaign. After this battle they manded to Last Port, Mississippi, where they camped for two months. At die end of that time they left for Vicksburg and from there by boat to

01 rER I All. COUN I Y. MINNESOTA. 86l

New Orleans. Here on Andrew Jackson's old battle ground they camped for two weeks. They spent two weeks on Dauphine Island, to which place they had been transported, and at the end of that time went to Fish River, Alabama.

Mr. Nelson had part m the siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama, which lasted two weeks. After the siege the army marched to Blakely where they defeated a Confederate force in what was the last battle of the Civil War, being fought several days after the surrender of I.ee to Grant at Appomattox. From there they marched to Montgomery, Alabama, remaining there two weeks, and then to Selma where they stayed two months. While at Selma, the order was received by the Seventh Minnesota to return home. The return trip was by rail to Jackson. Mississippi, from where they marched tn Vicksburg, and from there to Ft. Snelling the transportation was by boat. During all these perilous engagements, John (i. Nelson escaped without injury, and remained with the regiment from the time they fired the first shot until he received his discharge in August, 1865. In the battle of Spanish Fort, Mr. Nelson, who was with his company on the skirmish line when the fnrt opened fire, stepped behind a large tree from which place he began to return their shots. The fire of the fort so filled the air and swept the ground that when the company was relieved there was nothing lefl of the protecting tree but a ten foot snag. Mr. Nelson looks upon this incident as nne of the most dangerous in his career as a soldier.

After the war the subject of this sketch returned to Chisago county, Minnesota, where for a time he was interested in farming and in the lumber business. In the summer of [868, he came to Otter Tail county, and located mi the place where he now resides in Parkers Prairie township. The farm is located in section 17, and since the time of its purchase has been extended over an area of two hundred and fifteen acres. The place in its original state was a tract of wilderness, and the owner is the only pioneer of that section now living, who had part in the development of the community at that time.

On the 23rd nf August, 1862, John ( i. Nelson was united in marriage to ('aniline Lindquist, and to this union one son, Ernest P., was born 011 the 26th nf August. t863, who met his death on May 18, 1910, in an explosion from a gas engine in Carmangay, Alberta. Canada, where he had charge of a range of elevators. lie was survived by his wife, Stella (DeMars) Nelson, and two children. Elise and Ernestine, The second marriage of the subjeel of this sketch took place when he was united to Alma M Carlson, who became the mother of one son, Daniel E., who was burn on the 15th day of July, 1004. just forty years after his father tired the first shot at the battle of Tupelo.

While the career of John G. Nelson as a soldier has been a notable one. it is probably as a politician and a member of the Republican party, that lie has received his greatest distinction. In 1872 he was elected senator, and is known throughout the state in which he lives as the "first senator (if Otter Tail county." He served in two sessions as senator, and in 1882 received additional honors by being chosen to serve as representative. He has held various offices of public trust in the township, and from 1871 to (872 served as county commissioner. Senator Nelson is a man who stands out as a member of the "old school" and in his various activities has left an indelible influence upon those whose lives have been touched by his.

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.