Ole Nelson. Prominent among the farmers of this section of the country who are prosperous and successful is the subject of this biography, who ranks high among the representative men of the county. He was born in Norway in 1840, and is the son of Nels and Margaretta (Evans) Anderson, who were both natives of the same place. They emigrated to this country in 1862, and landing in New York City, remained there for a short time, when they came to Clayton county, Iowa, where the father of our subject worked at farming for two years, and then left for Minnesota; he there purchased a homestead on which he lived until his death in 1886. The mother of our subject died in the year 1884. There were six children born to them, as follows: Jaren, Andrews, Even, Ole, Nels and Emma.

Ole Nelson, our subject, came to the United States in 1861, and landed in Quebec, Canada; he went immediately to Chicago, and after remaining there a short time came to Clayton County, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for six months; he then answered the call of our "martyred president" for volunteers, and enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Wisconsin Regiment, and remained in the war for two years, when he was wounded and honorably discharged. Two months later he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-third Illinois Regiment, and remained for a hundred days. He held the rank of Corporal in his company. He came back to Clayton County, where he worked on a farm for two years, and then following the example of his father, went to Minnesota, where he purchased a homestead, upon which he lived for six years. Selling out he returned to Clayton county, and bought forty acres of land, on which he lived for twenty-two years, selling it in 1893. He has since erected the finest residence in that part of the county, and in this he now lives.

Our subject was united in marriage in April, 1871, with Mrs. Julia Gundelfinger. She was the daughter of Ole and Ingeber Anderson; they were natives of Norway, and came to the United States in April, 1868. Both are deceased.

Our subject has been Township Assessor, and is interested in a creamery at Clearmont Valley. Mr. Nelson may well have the name of entering the wilderness, and it has prospered under his skillful hand; instead of the thorn has come up the myrtle, while the desert has blossomed as abundantly as the rose. He is a zealous member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics the Republican party finds in him an earnest supporter.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 415-416
-transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall