Knudt NELSON

NELSON, OLESON, INGEBRETSON, PAULSEN, HAGERSON, LEWIS, BENWITCH

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/16/2013 at 14:41:38

Knudt Nelson was born in Norway but found here in America the opportunities for an independent career. He is an agriculturist of Franklin county, owning a farm in Oakland township, and also has property interests in Wright county. Mr. Nelson was born on the 8th of February, 1845, and is a son of Nels and Caroline Nelson natives of Norway. Both crossed the ocean, making their way to the middle west, settling in Wisconsin, where they passed away. They had six children: Henry, of North Dakota; Helga and Thomas, deceased; Knudt, our subject; Johanna, who married Knute Oleson, of Hardin county; and Carrie, deceased.

Mr. Nelson after coming to this country enlisted from Monroe, Wisconsin, in Company A, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, for service in the Civil war. This was in the year 1865, and he served until the conflict ended. He then returned to Wisconsin, where he remained for one year, at the end of which period he made his way to Minnesota, making that state his home for three years. The year 1875 marks his arrival in Franklin county, where he located in the southeast part, buying eighty acres of land in Morgan township. Upon selling that he secured title to one hundred and sixty-six acres, but again disposed of his interests and bought fifty-seven acres in Oakland township on section 6. He also owns forty-seven acres in Wright county. He devotes his land to general farming and has been quite successful in his efforts as a farmer.

On March 11, 1882, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Inger Oleson, a daughter of William and Inger Oleson, natives of Norway, who had nine children: Betsey, the widow of A. Ingebretson, of Franklin county; Ole, of Morgan township; Michael, of Franklin county; Cynthia, deceased; Sweiden, of South Dakota; Inger, the wife of our subject; Elizabeth, who married O. Paulsen, of New Hampton, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Albert Hagerson, of Minnesota; and a son, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have fourteen children: Nels, at home; Oscar, of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Samuel, at home; Lena, the wife of Arthur Lewis, of Austin, Minnesota; Isabelle, of Iowa Falls; William, at home; Eda, the wife of W. Benwitch, of Franklin county; Amos, Clara, Martha, Alma, Mamie, Herbert and Raymond, at home.

Mr. Nelson is highly respected in Oakland township, where he has made many friends who all esteem him for the high qualities of his character. He is a republican and staunchly votes for the candidates and measures of that party. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. Although a Norwegian by birth, Mr. Nelson has become in thought and ideal a patriotic American and is a public-spirited citizen who gives his support to all measures that make for the progress and advancement of the township and the county.

History of Franklin County, Iowa by I. L. Stuart. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1914.