Bio of NELSON, Dr. Frank (b.1865), Hennepin Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden Submitted: June 2003 ========================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ======================================================== EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical ======================================================== Vol III, pg 480, 483-484 FRANK NELSON, L. H. D. No name is more familiar in educational circles of the Northwest and through­out the United States than that of Dr. Frank Nelson who, since the 12th of July, 1907, has been president of Minnesota College in Minneapolis. He was born in Andover, Illinois, on the 14th of December, 1865, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Nelson. His parents settled on a farm in Andover in 1861. From there they moved to a farm at Swedesburgh, Henry county, Iowa, in 1866. They were among the pioneer settlers of those communities and they suffered the privations and hardships of those early days. Mr. Nelson died on the 28th of September, 1874, and left to survive him his widow and three sons. Mrs. Nelson died on the 26th of January, 1913. In the acquirement of his education Frank Nelson attended Howe's Academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield, Iowa, and the State University of Iowa at Iowa City. He graduated from the southern Iowa Normal School on the 13th of June, 1888, with the B. D. and B. Sc. degrees, and he received the Ph. B. degree from the University of Iowa on the 16th of June, 1892. The honorary degree of L. H. D. was conferred upon him by Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1908. Frank Nelson remained on the parental farm during his boyhood days, working for his mother, and subsequently he taught in the public schools in Iowa, thereby accumulating sufficient funds to complete his education. He worked his way through the State University and he was one of the most brilliant students at that institution and one of the most popular men on the campus. In September, 1892, he became a member of the faculty at Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas, and he was active in that capacity five years. He taught during the summer months in the County Normal institutes and lectured at schools and at educational meetings. In November, 1898, he was elected state superintendent of public instruction of Kansas and he held that important position four years. He was secretary of the Kansas State Textbook Commission, secretary of the Kansas State Teachers Association, and is a member of the National Education Association. One of the dominant factors in Dr. Nelson's continued success is his tireless energy. He raised thirty-two thousand dollars in six months in 1906, to pay the debt on Bethany College at Lindsborg. Since July 12, 1907, he has been president of the Minnesota College and he has discharged the many duties devolving upon him in that important position in a manner to command the respect of all. Dr. Nelson has achieved prominence as an author and has contributed to church and educational journals for a period of twenty years. At one time he owned a news­paper and he has written many articles for various newspapers throughout the country. Although the greater part of Dr. Nelson's time and attention has been devoted to his educational work he has been active in financial circles and is now one of the directors of the University State Bank, of which institution he was one of the founders and he is likewise a director in the University Investment Company of Minneapolis. A portion of his time has also been given over to lecturing and he has lectured at Chautauquas and under the auspices of different organizations in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington. On the 7th of August, 1895, at Swedesburgh, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Nelson and Miss Emilia Morgan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Morgan. Her parents were among the pioneer residents of Illinois and Iowa. Mr. Morgan is interested in banking and owns many large farms in Henry county, Iowa. Mrs. Nelson received her education in the public schools of her birthplace and subsequently enrolled in the Iowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant. To Dr. and Mrs. Nelson two children have been born: Ruth and Ruby. Since attaining his majority Dr. Nelson has been a stanch republican and has been active in party affairs. He has campaigned under direction of the Republican National committee in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas. He has served as a member of the Republican State Central committee of Minnesota and has taken an active part in state campaigns in this state; he was republican candidate for governor of Minnesota before the republican state conven­tion in May, 1920; and he was chairman of the Citizens committee in the Minne­apolis city election which resulted in the election of Colonel George Leach as mayor in June, 1921. He has been urged at different times by leading citizens to become a candidate for mayor of Minneapolis, for congress and for the United States senate, but so far he has declined to run for those offices. The religious faith of Dr. Nelson is that of the Lutheran church and he is a member of the Church of the Augustana Synod. He organized the Synodical Lutheran League of the Augustana Synod and served as president of the body for many years. He has always been active in the interests of prohibition and was for many years a member of the Minnesota State Anti-Saloon League. As a public-spirited citizen Dr. Nelson holds membership in the Better Minneapolis Committee of One Hundred and socially he is identified with the Lincoln Club. During the World War Dr. Nelson gave generously of his time and money in the furtherance of the government's interests. He took an active part in all Liberty Loan drives and was chairman of the Hennepin county war organization that raised fifty thousand dollars in cash for Lutheran soldiers and sailors. He contributed many articles to papers and magazines in support of the government and war measures and he made many speeches throughout the country in campaigns for Liberty Loans, etc.