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 1861
From An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912)
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 An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.