James P. Nelson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 835-836 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JAMES P. NELSON. 

	Every state in the Union and almost every country on the face of 
the globe has contributed to the citizenship of South Dakota. An 
important element therein is that which has come from Denmark and of 
this class James P. Nelson is a worthy representative. He was born in 
that country January 18, 1870, and is today a wide-awake and active 
merchant of Yankton, where he is engaged in dealing in sewing machines 
and musical instruments, having now a business that in volume and 
importance exceeds all other enterprises of similar character in his 
section of the state. While born across the water, the greater part of 
his life has been spent on this side of the Atlantic. His father, 
Christian Nelson, brought his family to South Dakota in 1881, when his 
son James P. Nelson was a lad of eleven years, and settled in Yankton 
and after living for a period there removed to Bon Homme county, where 
he still resides, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits. He 
married Christina Powellsen and they became the parents of seven 
children. 

	James P. Nelson, the third in order of birth is largely indebted 
to the public-school system of Yankton for educational opportunities 
which he enjoyed and which prepared him for life's practical and 
responsible duties. When his textbooks were put aside he began dealing 
in sewing machines and as the years passed built up a good trade. When 
a decade had gone by he extended the scope of his business to include 
the sale of pianos as well as other musical instruments and he is now 
the largest dealer in this line in his section of the state. 

	On the 4th of March, 1901, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Mary S. 
Christiansen, a native of Yankton and a daughter of Christian 
Christiansen, of this city. The six children born of this marriage are: 
Harvey, Vernon, Violet, Myrtle, Clifford and Olive Virginia. Mr. Nelson 
belongs to that great band of people who make the automobile their 
chief source of recreation. He also enjoys fishing and shooting and 
engages in those sports when opportunity offers. He is an independent 
republican, considering only the capability of the candidate at local 
elections, while on occasions when a national ballot must be cast he 
votes with the republican party. He and his family adhere to the faith 
of the Lutheran church and they occupy an enviable social position, 
having the warm friendship of many. Fraternally Mr. Nelson is connected 
with the Elks, the Odd Fellows and the Maccabees, and he is a member of 
the Commercial Club. Gradually he has advanced in his business career 
and has built up one of the largest trades in musical instruments in 
the state. He enjoys an unassailable reputation for thorough 
reliability and his advancement has been based upon close application 
and unremitting energy. Moreover, he is classed with the progressive 
citizens of Yankton and his district has benefited by his cooperation 
in many movements that have been beneficially resultant.