Bio for BENGTSON, Nels (b.1825 d.1911), Wright Co., MN

(Partial Bio)

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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Diane Hanson

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542 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY 



Nels Bengtson, a sturdy pioneer, was one of the men who, by undergoing 

all the hardships and privations of frontier life, won for himself a 

position as one of the makers of the county, and left to his family a 

splendid heritage of honor.   He was born in Sweden, October 6, 1825, and 

died October 16, 1911. In 1851 he married Mary Larson, who was born 

October 26, 1826, and died May 3, 1913. In 1866, they set out for 

America, with their six children, Christine, Carrie, Bengt (deceased), 

Louis, Mary and Nels August. The voyage was made on the sailing vessel 

"Superior," and occupied a period of four weeks. Upon landing, they made 

their way westward to Minnesota, and came as far as Big Lake, in 

Sherbourne county, where the railroad ended. Then with friends they came 

with an ox team to Wright county. For a month they lived in Marysville 

township. About the first of August they filed on a claim of eighty acres 

in Rockford town- ship, section 8. This was the only claim left in the 

neighbor- hood, and the last one to be taken. The tract was entirely cov- 

ered with trees, and no roads led to the place. The first log cabin was 

erected with but three walls, the fourth side being left open for light 

and air. Later a log house with two windows and a door was erected. It 

stood about twenty rods south of the present home. For a time, having no 

money, Nels Bengtson worked about among the neighbors. He put in his 

first potatoes by planting them with a "grub" hoe among the stumps. 

Sometimes the flour was made by pounding grain between two stones. 

Sometimes he walked to Rockford and Minneapolis and brought 

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