NELSON, JOHN S.

NELSON, ANDERSON, OLESON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 12/9/2003 at 15:34:47

Biography reproduced from page 302 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John S. Nelson is one of the progressive younger farmers of Kossuth county, where he has resided since 1902. He is connected with several business enterprises of the community and always gives his support to public movements calculated to better the conditions of his township and county. He was born in Sweden, January 7, 1872, a son of Nels A. and Ingrid Anderson, both natives of that country. The father was a stationary engineer and followed that trade most of his life. He has now retired from active work, and he and his wife still make their home in the old country. In their family were seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. The others are as follows: Oscar, a railroad man of Erie, Pennsylvania; Julius, a tailor of Warren, Pennsylvania; Alfred, a blacksmith of Erie, Pennsylvania; Fritz, also engaged in railroading in Erie; Ida, who died when twenty-two years of age; and William, who passed away at the age of six years.

John S. Nelson was reared and educated in Sweden and in 1889 emigrated to America and settled in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, near Ridgeway where he began to work as a fireman of stationary engines and driver in the coal mines. He also worked as a coal miner and at other occupations. Later he removed to Oil City, Pennsylvania, where for six months he was locomotive fireman and then began to learn the machinist’s trade in the shops of that city. He was later for six years a machinist for the Oil City Well Supply Company. In 1902 he came to Iowa and settled on the farm where he now resides. He engages in diversified farming and has a dairy herd of twenty Jersey cows, selling his milk to the creamery. He was the first man in Harrison township to build a silo and the one, which he now has, is of one hundred and twenty tons capacity, sixteen by thirty feet in dimensions. He makes a specialty of registered Poland China hogs and has become well known as a breeder. In addition to his farming activities he has taken a lively interest in the business welfare of the community and was one of the organizers of the Farmers Central Telephone Company, known as line No. 10, and has served as president of that and line No. 8. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Swea City and also of the Swea City Cooperative Creamery Company.

Mr. Nelson was married January 1, 1902, to Miss Jennie V. Oleson, the only child of C. A. and Augusta (Nelson) Oleson both natives of Sweden. Her father was a farmer in Sweden and on emigrating to the new world settled in Pennsylvania and was at one time a car inspector at Pittston. In 1882 he removed to Kossuth county, settling on the farm where the subject of this review now resides. He was highly respected wherever known and active in public life, serving for two terms as county supervisor. Mr. C. A. Oleson passed away April 1, 1904, while his wife survives him, residing in Swea City, Iowa. The second house built in Harrison township was owned by Mr. Oleson and is still standing on Mr. Nelson’s farm, being used as a machine shop. In this old house at an early day church and day-school were held. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born three children, namely: Junis, who was born October 7, 1902; Raymond Theodore, born November 28, 1907; and Helen, born January 2, 1911, who died June 20, 1912.

In political matters Mr. Nelson is independent, voting for the man irrespective of party and always endeavoring to support for office those candidates which he deems best fitted for the positions to which they aspire. He is highly respected wherever known and affiliates with the Swedish Lutheran church, being active in his support of that denomination. He is a progressive and successful young farmer, who gives careful attention to all of his business affairs and still finds time to serve the community by promoting its growth and being active in a political way. He is one of the most public-spirited men in the county and has as such rendered valuable service to his community.