Thomas Nelson

As printed in 1912

THOMAS NELSON (1872) is one of the Custer township farmers who came to the county in the early days, when the settlers were few and when the nearest trading points were New Ulm and Redwood Falls. He remembers how the farm work was done with the aid of oxen and that the trips to New Ulm after supplies took at least a week. Mr. Nelson of late years has been leaving much of the management of the farm to his son Edwin and has been enjoying a deserved rest from active cares.

Norway is the native home of Thomas Nelson and he was born in September, 1833, a son of Nels and Sarah (Yoe) Nelson, both of whom are dead. Thomas received his education in Norway and at the age of sixteen commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, which occupation he followed for several years. Later, for a period of years, the young man served in the army.

Coming to America in 1865, the subject of our sketch located in Decorah, Iowa, where he worked at his trade a few years; then he moved to Rochester, Minnesota, and followed the same line of work. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Nelson moved to Lyon county, locating in Custer township and taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 34. In addition to general farming, Mr. Nelson takes much pride in his herd of Hereford cattle and in his Duroc- Jersey swine. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Independent Elevator Company of Garvin and in the Garvin Telephone Company.

In 1872 Thomas Nelson was manner to Karen Evanson, a native of Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of four children, Henry, Neil, Edwin and Emma (Mrs. Christ Nelson), of Garvin. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Monroe township, of which he was at one time treasurer.

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.