Bio of NELSON, Swan (b.1866 d.1908), Hennepin Co., MN
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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
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Vol II, pg 721
SWAN NELSON
Swan Nelson, who for a number of years successfully carried on business in
Minneapolis as head of the Swan Nelson Sidewalk Company, engaged in the
manufacture of sidewalk and building stone, was in the forty-second year of his
age when called to his final rest, on the 20th of April, 1908. He had also
become a prominent factor in public life and at the time of his demise was
serving as representative to the state legislature from the forty-second
district. His birth occurred July 30, 1866, in Skane, Sweden, where he attended
the public schools to the age of sixteen years, when he bade adieu to friends
and native land and crossed the Atlantic to the United States. Making his way to
Minneapolis, Minnesota, he here attended evening school in order to acquaint
him­self with the English language and also pursued a course of study in the
Northwestern Business College. From this city he traveled across the country to
Seattle, Washington, where he worked in the employ of others for eight years, on
the expiration of which period he returned to Minneapolis and here spent the
remainder of his life. He developed an extensive business as a manufacturer of
sidewalk and building stone, carrying on his interests under the name of the
Swan Nelson Sidewalk Company, which he conducted with profit to the time of his
death. He earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business
and in his dealings was known for his prompt and honorable methods, which won
him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.
In 1899 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Ida Swanson and they became
parents of a son, Conrad T. A stanch republican in politics, he was made an
aldermanic candidate in 1904, but met defeat. Later, however, he was chosen to
represent the forty-second district in the state legislature, in which he was
serving at the time of his demise, giving thoughtful and earnest consideration
to all the vital questions which came up for settlement in that body.
Fraternally he was identified with the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen and the Yeomen,
while his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Swedish
Tabernacle. He was a member of the Odin Club and of the Vasar Order. The hope
that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America was more than
realized. He found the opportunities he sought-which, by the way, are always
open to the ambitious, energetic man-and making the best of these, he steadily
worked his way upward. In his untimely passing Minneapolis lost one of her
representative and substantial business men, his friends an appreciated
companion and his family a devoted husband and father. Mrs. Nelson makes her
home at No. 3804 Twelfth avenue South, and is widely and favorably known In
Minneapolis.