Nels H. Nelson

NELSON, LARSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/4/2011 at 20:25:14

On coming to the new world Nels H. Nelson was in limited circumstances but as a result of his own untiring efforts and sound judgment is today the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Emmet County, his home being on section 27, Denmark Township. He was born in Sweden on the 19th of June, 1849, and is the son of Nels P. and Christina Catherine (Larson) Nelson, who continued to make their home in that country throughout life, the father following the occupation of farming to support himself and family. There were eight children, of whom Nels H. is the second in order of birth. At the usual age he entered the common schools, where he continued his studies until con firmed and for two years he trained for the army as is the custom in Sweden. Leaving home he worked on neighboring farms until twenty-two years of age and then engaged in cutting and hauling lumber until coming to the United States at the age of thirty one years.

Before leaving Sweden Mr. Nelson married Miss Mary F. Johnson, whose parents were lifelong residents of that country, and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have four children: Henry, born in Sweden; Herman born in Fulton County, Illinois; Charles, who was born in Clinton, Iowa; and Esther, who was born in Emmet County, Iowa, and is connected to a bank at Tyler, Minnesota. Charles is married and has one child, Richard Charles.

It was in 1880 that Mr. Nelson, accompanied by his family, sailed for the United States and on reaching this country proceeded to Fulton, Illinois, where he worked in a lumber yard for a time. Subsequently he moved across the Mississippi River to Clinton, Iowa, where seven years were spent, and in the spring of 1888 came to Emmet County and took up his abode in Denmark Township, purchasing eighty acres of land comprising the north half of the southwest quarter of section 27. Later he bought the west half of the Northwest quarter of the same section, and the southeast quarter of Section 28, so that he now has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres which he has placed under excellent cultivation. He has been the director of the Forsyth Creamery Company and has served as its president and treasurer. In politics he is a republican and in religious faith is a Lutheran, belonging to St. Paul's Church. He is a progressive, up-to-date farmer who has met with success in his undertakings.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.