Will County IL Archives Biographies.....BENSSON, NELS 
************************************************
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:
Paula Winke-Martisek wranglerjack@comcast.net September 18, 2007, 1:28 am

Author: GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

NELS BENSSON, who for years has held the position of engineer of the Joliet 
city water works, is the oldest engineer in this place in point of years of 
active business experience, and he is also recognized as one of the most 
efficient as well.  At once after coming to America in 1878 he settled in 
Joliet, and here his home has since been made.  For three months he worked in 
the blast furnace, and then, the water works being under process of 
construction, he was given employment as fireman, which position he held for 
three and one-half years.  Since then he has been engineer and superintendent 
of machinery, holding the position through all the changes in the political 
administration of the city. Successive generations of the Bensson family owned 
the estate called "Boglaxehutt," atSkane, Christianstad, Sweden.  There John 
Bensson, Sr., was born and engaged in farming.  He was succeeded by his son, 
John, Jr., who married Karina Munson, daughter of a farmer in Ronnebode.  They 
became the parents of eight children, all but one of whom are still living, 
four in Sweden, and a son and two daughters in Joliet.  The subject of this 
sketch was born at the family homestead August 11, 1853, and remained there 
until twenty years of age, after which he served for two years in the Swedish 
army.  At the age of twenty-three he hired as a farm hand, but after a year 
went to Stockholm and secured work in a large machine shop, where he learned 
the machinist's and engineer's trades.  For two and one-half years he was 
employed as engineer on the Swedish Railroad between Stockholm and 
Gottenburg.  On resigning his position he came to America to seek a livelihood 
in this country.  He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church and for some 
time has been one of its trustees; also served upon the building committee at 
the time of the erection of the house of worship.  He is a member of the North 
Star Association, and politically gives his support to the Republican party.   
In a residence which he built, on the corner of Clay street and Youngs avenue, 
Mr. Bensson has for some years made his home.  He was married in this city to 
Miss Nellie Nilson, who was born in Skane, Sweden, being a daughter of Peter 
Nilson, a woodworker in that town.  The two children born of their marriage 
are Nels Victor and Clara Mabel. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/bensson1718nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 2.9 Kb