Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Nelson, Ole J ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 3:29 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 OLE J. NELSON. Among the well-known representatives of business interests in Morris is this gentleman, who is connected with the fire and life insurance business of this city. He is also well known as an official, for during a period of seventeen years he has represented his township on the county board of supervisors, of which he is now the chairman. In life's relations his conduct has been such as to gain him the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. Energetic, prompt and reliable in business affairs, he has gained the well deserved success which is the result of tireless energy and keen discrimination. Mr. Nelson is a native of Norway, his birth having occurred in the land of the "midnight sun" on the 22d of January, 1847. His parents were John and Anna (Oleson) Nelson, and with them, he came to the United States in 1858, locating upon a farm near Lisbon, Kendall county, Illinois. There the father carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1879, when he had attained the age of sixty-four years. In 1886 Mrs. Nelson departed this life, being then in the sixty-sixth year of her age. Ole J. Nelson was the second in order of birth in their family of ten children. His boyhood days were passed in the usual manner of farm lads of that period. He assisted in the work of field and meadow and in the winter months he attended the public schools. He was only eleven years of age when the family arrived in Illinois. His educational privileges were somewhat limited, but through the avenue of books and papers and through the experience gained in a practical business career he has gathered a useful fund of information, and is indeed a well-informed man. He pursued a course in the local business college in Morris, and was then well-equipped for the practical duties of life. At the early age of sixteen years he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, and joined the "boys in blue" of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry. The date of his enlistment was April 14, 1864, and the term one hundred days. He served for more than five months in Missouri and Kansas, and with an honorable military record was mustered out. Although so young he displayed the valor and loyalty of many a time-tried veteran, and he now maintains pleasant relations with his army comrades through his membership in Darveaux Post, No. 329, G. A. R., of which he has served as the commander. After his return from the war Mr. Nelson engaged in farming for a year, and then turned his attention to merchandising in Morris. For six years he occupied a clerical position with the grain company on Canal street, and in 1874 formed a partnership with his brother, Nels J. Nelson, in the grain business, which he continued until 1891. In that year their warehouse was destroyed by fire, and their losses were so great as to compel them to retire from the grain trade. Our subject then turned his attention to the fire and life insurance business, in which he has met with pleasing success. He is one of the able representatives of that enterprise in this section of the state and has written a large amount of business, which has gained him the confidence and commendation of the company. In 1872 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Erickson, and to them have been born two daughters, Ettie and Josephine. Their pleasant home in Morris is the center of a cultured society circle, and their household is noted for its gracious hospitality. In politics Mr. Nelson is a stanch Republican, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party which stood by the Union in the civil war, which has ever upheld American institutions and industries, and which is now advocating the policy of the McKinley administration and the sovereignty of our flag upon foreign soil. He is prominent in political circles, and his worth and ability have occasioned his election to various offices of trust and responsibility. He served six years as city alderman, being elected to that position in 1877. In 1883 he was elected township supervisor and discharged his duties so ably that he has since been continued in the office—a period of seventeen consecutive years. This record is hardly equaled in the city, an indication of his fidelity to duty and his prompt and able service. He is now the president of the board of Grundy county supervisors, and by virtue of this position he was made the chairman of the board of review in 1899. He has a membership in the Masonic fraternity, and has attained the degree of Knight Templar. Throughout his life he has manifested the qualities which characterize the people of the Norwegian nation, being energetic, reliable and persevering. These elements have brought to him success and won him the high regard of his fellow men. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p632-634 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/nelson35gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb