Nelson, C. C.

NELSON, OLSON, CHRISTIANSON, MELBERG, HENDERSON, TGERNAGEL TJERNAGEL

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/8/2011 at 15:08:39

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee, pp. 217-219.

C. C. Nelson has many claims to recognition as a man whose past activities have been effective for good and whose present career is useful and worthy. He was among the early settlers in Hamilton county and has witnessed the development of the section and participated in it. He served with distinction during the Civil war and at the present time is one of the prosperous, enterprising and representative farmers of Ellsworth township. He owns eighty acres of choice land in this section and by capable management of his enterprise has gained a place in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, March 26, 1844, a son of Jonas and Sophia (Olson) Nelson, natives of Norway. His father came to America and settled in Illinois at a time when there were but two log cabins on the site where the city of Chicago now stands. He was twice married. By his first union he had two children : Mrs. Julia Christianson, deceased; and C. C, of this review. He and his second wife became the parents of four children: Mrs. Delia Melberg, of Benton county; Mrs. Josephine Henderson, of Randall; Mrs. Sarah Tgernagel [Tjernagel], who resides in Story City; and Martin of Scott township. All the children in this family were born in Illinois with the exception of the last mentioned whose birth occurred in Hamilton county.

Mr. Nelson attended the public schools of his native section and grew to manhood in La Salle county. His early life was spent upon his father's farm and he was still active in its various duties at the outbreak of the Civil war. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was in the First Division Fourteenth Army Corps, serving under Generals Rosecrans and Grant. He participated in the engagements at Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, his regiment planting the first flag upon the battlefield at the latter place. At the time of his enlistment he was a member of a regiment of one thousand men and when he was mustered out there were but three hundred and fifty-three of this number surviving. One half of his comrades were captured by the famous John H. Morgan, at Hartford, Tennessee, but were later paroled and exchanged. Mr. Nelson received his honorable discharge at the close of the war and immediately returned to Illinois, where, however, he remained only a short time. In 1866 he came west and located in Hamilton county where he has resided since that time. He is now the owner of eighty acres of choice land in Ellsworth township, constituting one of the finest farms in the district. The improvements which he has made upon his property and the new and progressive standards to which he has steadily adhered have made a model agricultural enterprise and have gained him recognition as a deservedly successful farmer. He lives upon his holdings in a pleasant home, well furnished and supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories and has many friends in Hamilton county, which he has seen develop and progress during his period of residence.

Mr. Nelson was married in Ellsworth township in 1866 to Miss Bertha Tgernagel [Tjernagel], a native of Norway. They became the parents of six children : Carl, who is residing in Jewell ; Jonas, who makes his home in Ellsworth township; Henry, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Frank, who is residing in Portland, Oregon; John, also of Portland; and Mollie, who makes her home in Minneapolis. All the children in this family were born in Ellsworth township, with the exception of the eldest son whose birth occurred in Scott township.

Mr. Nelson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and takes an intelligent interest in local affairs. He has served with ability and efficiency as school director and has also held the position of road supervisor. He is the sole survivor of the Civil war in Ellsworth township and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Webster City. He is one of the important and successful citizens of this section of the state and has based his attainments in agricultural pursuits upon experience and efficiency. In the business activities of his life he has been successful because his methods are practical and his standards of integrity high. He is a valuable addition to the resources of the county in the progressive qualities of his public spirit and is an early settler whose career has been an effective force in local development.