Nelson, Julia (Knutson) 1852-1932

NELSON, KNUTSON, ERICKSON, STINERSON, LINDGREN, HANSON

Posted By: S. Ferrall - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/14/2010 at 12:41:37

Heavenly Relief Comes to Mrs. Julia Nelson

The funeral of Mrs. Julia Nelson, mother of our townsman, Martin Nelson, whose death was briefly mentioned in the Enterprise last week, was held on Friday afternoon, Sept. 30, and thus ended the earthly career of one of the noblest characters and most saintly mothers that ever blessed the community. For Mrs. Nelson, all through her better years and even in her period of feeble health, was noted for her midnfulness to her neighbors, friends and home folks, the church and community welfare matters. Not withstanding an overshelming amount of home and personal duties and responsibilities, Mrs. Nelson always found time to take a leading part in all matters that pertained to the betterment of the community, especially her church, and the happiness of her great army of friends and loved ones.

Mrs. Julia Nelson was born at Rock Prairie, Wis., on Feb. 3, 1852, having reached at the time of her death the ripe old age of eighty years, seven months and twenty-three days. She was a daughter of Anuld and Johanna Knutson, pioneer settlers in that part of the Badger state. When she was still a small child the family moved to Clayton county, Iowa, where they established their life-home and where the daughter was educated and advanced to the age of maturity. On May 24, 1868, she was united in marriage to Nels Nelson, the son of another of the pioneer families of western Clayton county. The union was blessed with sixteen children, twelve of whom died in infancy.

Mrs. Josephine Erickson, one of the only four children who lived to maturity, died on June 25, 1923. The three other survivors are, Mrs. Nina Stinerson, of Ossian, Martin Nelson of Clermont, and Mrs. Alma J. Erickson of Lavina, Montana. In addition to her own children she also leaves an adopted daughter, Elsie Lindgren. The children, including the adopted daughter, are all engaged in honorable occupations, standing among the foremost people in their respective communities and are an honor to the deceased parents.

The Nelson family lived on their old homestead near Gunder until 1894, when they moved to the town of Gunder, where Mr. Nelson died in June, 1916. Mrs. Nelson continued her residence at Gunder after the death of her husband until her own health began to fail about four years ago when she came to Clermont to take up her abode at the home of her son Martin Nelson, occasionally returning for short intervals for a visit with friends and neighbors in the old home neighborhood. Her illness extended over a period of several years, brought on as a result of a long life of usefulness, blessedness and devoted service to God and home and native land.

Her sweet spirit passed on silently to her Maker at 3 o'clock Monday morning, Sept. 26, 1932, at her son's home in Clermont. The funeral services were held at the Martin Nelson home an dlater at the Marion Lutheran church at Gunder, of which the deceased was a charter member and where the remains were laid to rest in the church yard by the side of her departed loved ones. Among others from a distance who came to attend the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Knutson, Adolph Knutson and Albert Knutson, all of Callendar.

Among the surviving relatives besides her children, Mrs. Nelson leaves one sister, Mrs. Rachel Hanson of Decorah, and two brothers, Adolph and Gilbert Knutson of Callendar, Iowa, also sixteen grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

~Clermont Enterprise, October 6, 1932