Andrew Nelson (1842-1935)

NELSON, ERSLAND, KALSEM, BARKE, TOMLINSON, WAUD, LARSON, BLAIR, GILL

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:12

From Nevada Evening Journal December 13, 1935 (page 6)

Life Sketch of Andrew Nelson; County Pioneer

Special to the Journal.
Huxley, Dec. 13--Andrew Nelson was born in Sveland, Norway, Nov. 20, 1842. He came to America with his parents in July 1849 and settled near Lisbon, Ill. At the outbreak of the Civil war, Mr. Nelson enlisted in E Company 91st Illinois Infantry and he served throughout the war. While he was in service his mother, sister Randa and father died, three weeks apart in the year 1864.

After the Civil war he came to Iowa and located on what in now known as the Andrew Nelson homestead about five miles southeast of Huxley.

On Sept. 20, 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Ersland. To this union seven children were born. Five children survive him. They are Mrs. Jennie Nelson, Ottawa, Ill., Mrs. Anna Kalsem, Huxley, Andy of Des Moines, Knute and Martin of southeast of Huxley. His wife and two children Seward and Mrs. Carrie Kalsem, preceded him in death. He is also survived by one brother, J. S. Nelson of Pasadena, Calif., one sister, Mrs. Bertha Barke of Fergus Falls, Minn., 28 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

The deceased was a prominent citizen of the community. He had a beautiful home and mush real estate. For years he was one of the most prominent auctioneers of central Iowa and his work in that capacity kept him busy much of the time. For many years he was a member of the Fjeldbert Lutheran congregation. In January 1913 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ada Tomlinson who survives him. There are also five step children, Mrs. Ruth Ward of Marshalltown, Mrs. Grace Larson of Madrid, Mrs. Myrtle Blair of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. Marion Gill and C. E. Tomlinson of Cambridge.

The deceased was a prominent citizen of the community. He had a beautiful home and much real estate. For years he was one of the prominent auctioneers of central Iowa and his work in that capacity kept busy much of the time For many years he was a member of the Fjeldberg Lutheran congregation. In January 1913 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ada Tomlinson who survives him. There are also five step children, Mrs. Ruth Ward of Marshalltown, Mrs. Grace Larson of Madrid, Mrs. Myrtle Blair of St. Paul, Minn., Mrs. Marion Gill and C. E. Tomlinson of Cambridge.

The deceased served as a member of the Polk county board of supervisors from 1892 to 1898. He moved to Cambridge in 1913 and had lived there since. Mr. Nelson was the last surviving charter member of Ersland G. A. R. Post No. 234 and was also the last commander of the post. He was in failing health for some time and of late he was very poorly. He passed away at an early hour Friday morning Nov. 29, 1935 having reached an age of 93 years and 9 days.

Tuesday, Dec. 3, funeral services were held. There was a brief service at the home at 1 p. m. and at the Nazareth Lutheran church in Cambridge at 1:30 p. m. Services were conducted by Rev. Peder Ersland of near Huxley who preached on the text "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go in the house of feasting" from Ecclesiastes 7:2 and was assisted by Dr. J. N. Andersen of Huxley who spoke on the text "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek the one to come" from Hebrews 13:14. Hon. Ole Nelson of Slater, National G. A. R. Commander also gave a talk in behalf of the Grand Army of the Republic. The choir rendered several songs and Mrs. L. S. Kloster of Des Moines sang a solo "The Great White Host," which was a favorite of the deceased.

The floral offerings were numerous and beautiful. Military services were conducted at the grave by the Legion post of Cambridge. The Auxiliary had charge of the flowers and they attended the funeral in a body. Several sums of money were given to missions, in his memory. The pall bearers were Joseph Kalsem of Mendota, Ill., Orville Kalsem of Huxley, Miller Nelson of Des Moines, Eldon Nelsn of Northwood, Dr. Arnold Nelson of Winterset and Jesse Nelson of Cambridge, all grandsons of the deceased. Interment was in the Fjeldberg cemetery one mile south of Huxley.