Lewis B. Nelson

NELSON, BENDICKSON, WOLDEN

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/4/2011 at 20:23:47

Lewis B. Nelson, eldest of eleven children, was born May 27, 1881 at Lake Mills, Iowa, in Winnebago County and moved with his parents Olena Bendickson and Nels L. Nelson to Jack Creek Township in the fall of 1882 where he lived with his parents on a farm.

He was married on February 23, 1903 to Petra Wolden in High Lake Township at the Wolden home. They lived on several farms before moving to Wallingford where he operated a Livery, Dray and Feed Stable for a number of years. He then became involved in road construction using horses to pull dirt scrapers and graders. He put the first grade across Jack Creek slough.

During this time a large house and hatchery along with a dairy barn was built on the east edge of Wallingford which he operated for a number of years. Some eighty acres of land was acquired for the dairy herd to graze. They milked a large herd of Guernsey, supplying milk to people in town as well as local groceries and cream to the creamery. After retiring from the hatchery and dairy herd, they continued to live in their home, while renting out their farm land.

Mrs. Nelson died October 8, 1961 at the age of 83 years, 10 months and 24 days, and he continued to live there for several years until he entered Rosewood Manor in Estherville where he passed away May 5, 1971 at the age of 89 years, 1l months and 8 days.

Six daughters were born to this family: Mrs. Jeffrey (Bertha) Olson of Wallingford, Iowa; Mrs. O J. (Nora) Martyr, Yelm, Washington; Mrs. Palma Pool, Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Gilford (Myrtle) Osher of Wallingford, Iowa; Mrs. Ralph (Gladyce) Robinson, Spearfish, South Dakota; Mrs. Wayne (Lila) Bryan, Estherville, and one son Laverne Nelson of Minneapolis, Minn.

He was a longtime member of Wallingford Lutheran Church and did much work to get Ingham Bible Camp organized. He was also mayor of Wallingford for a number of years and very active in church and civic affairs.

Source: History of Emmet County, Iowa, Vol.III, page 307