age, though himself a native of Wisconsin, born August 10, 1845. His father was Nels Oleson Evensrude, of Numedahl, Norway. He married Miss Aase Crestensdatter, of Numedahl, Norway. Oley obtained his early education in log school-houses, supplemented first by an attendance at the common district schools, and later at a commercial college in Madison, Wis., where he graduated in mathematics and book-keeping. His father was warmly attached to his adopted country, and in the time of her peril and under Lincoln's second call for full service volunteers, he shouldered his musket, and in August, 1861, entered the United States army, becoming a member of the famous Eagle Regiment, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteers. Among the battles in which he participated were Belmont, Island No. 10, Iron Mountain, Fort Donelson and Corinth, at the latter of which he received a furlough and started home. But, alas, for human hopes. Sickness overcame him, and he laid down his life for the cause he loved so well, his remains being interred at Keokuk, Iowa. Oley, strengthened by a sense of the obligation resting upon him, became a member of Company D, Fortieth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, being mustered into service at Madison, in April, 1864, and assigned to the Western Division. His army duties led him to Memphis, Holly Springs and Jackson, he participating in the last capture of the first named city. He was mustered out at Madison in the fall of 1864. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Nelson entered with vigor upon life's field of action. Having had an inclination to seek a home in the oft-heard-of West, his mother and himself, in a prairie schooner, started from the old home in Dane County, Wis., and settled in Polk County, Iowa, just across the line from Story. To-day he stands at the head of the general mercantile interests of this section; he is also a heavy grain dealer.
Educational matters have always found in him a stanch supporter. Mr. Nelson's estimable wife was formerly Miss Lizzie Ersland, who was born near the ancient city of Bergen, Norway, July 7, 1850. She was educated, however, in the common schools of Iowa, and the Lutheran parochial schools, and is a lady of intellectual worth and culture. This happy union has been blessed by the presence of four sons and five daughters. The eldest is George E. (aged nineteen), Elsie C., Carrie N. These three children are graduates of the Lutheran parochial schools. The remaining children are Anna G., Belle O., Kimte A. (now deceased), Amos K. (also deceased), Mattie (aged four years), and Elmer Oley (the youngest in the family). Mr. Nelson in his political references has always been a Republican, active and decided in the arena of political life, though never an office-seeker. His first presidential vote was cast for Lincoln during his second term. He has responded on several occasions to the wishes of his fellow-citizens and served in official capacities of a local nature, and in 1885 was chosen by acclamation to represent Story County in the State Legislature. The best comment upon the two years of his service from 1885 to 1887 is that at the expiration of his term he was made his own successor. He prosecuted with vigor and persistency the passage of numerous bills of immense value to the people, among them those referring to " Tile Drainage in General " and "Across Public Highways and the Right of Railroads," also Partition Fences Between Individual Land-owners," etc. The most important measure introduced was that lessening the cost of text books, and optional uniformity in the general use of text books throughout the State, which, in honor to him, was made a private bill, and defeated the two extremes, State publication and the committee plan, or the district purchase