Christian M Nelson

NELSON MADSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/24/2010 at 22:42:19

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Christian M Nelson
By Helen Campbell Garrotto

Christian M Nelson was born in Alborg, Denmark, July 22, 1842. He came to this country when he was 19 years old. However, he returned to Alborg to help other people from Denmark to come to this country. Mary Louise Madsen was also born in Alborg, in 1846, coming to this country in 1862. Mary Louise Madsen and Christian M Nelson were married in Rochester, Minnesota, December 28, 1873. At Rochester, he operated one of the first brick plants in this section of the country. He manufactured the brick for the original portion of St Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

In 1892, Christian and Mary Nelson moved to Leeds, Iowa, and purchased the Leeds Brick Works, located about one and one-half miles east of Leeds. They built the family home close to the brick yard and moved in in 1893. In those days bricks were fired in wood-fired kilns.

In 1914, they built a new brick home at 4003 Jefferson Street in Sioux City. At that time it was really pretty much in the country. They retired in this home and it was in the family until 1980. They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary December 23, 1923, at their home in Leeds with their family.

Eight children were born to the Nelsons: Laura and Conrad who died early in life; Albert, Burwell, Nebraska; Paul, Sioux City, Iowa; Emma Campbell, Vermillion, South Dakota; Elizabeth Christiansen, Rochester, Minnesota; Nan Scharm, Norfolk, Nebraska; and Lenore Bragg, Sioux City, Iowa.

Albert and Nan Nelson went to Burwell, Nebraska, and homesteaded land, living in a sod house. Nan taught school while Albert started a cattle ranch. The grandchildren of the Nelsons were Paul’s children-Laura Mae, Phyllis, Frances, Jean and Paul. Nan’s child was Joyce. Emma Campbell’s children were Russell, Harold, Mary, Dorothy and Helen.

I remember a story Grandpa used to talk when he went out to chop wood in the winter, he used to carry his axe under his coat to keep it warm to prevent the cutting edge of the axe from chipping due to the cold. Another story Grandpa used to tell is how he would have to go after the children to bring them home form school during a blizzard. In order to keep any of the children from getting lost, he tied them all to reach other by using their scarves.

Mrs. Christian Nelson died in March of 1925 and Mr Nelson died July 22, 1928. The children of the Nelsons are now also all deceased.