Karelius Nelson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 702-703 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				KARELIUS NELSON. 

	Karelius Nelson, of Sisseton, who is now devoting his time to his 
duties as clerk of the courts, was for a number of years actively 
engaged in farming and still owns three hundred acres of splendid land. 
He was born in Sweden, on the 2d of May, 1868, and is a son of Nils 
Erickson and Karin (Persson) Nelson. The family originally lived in 
Finland but in 1664 one of its representatives removed to Sweden, 
walking for almost a thousand miles. For generations the ancestors of 
our subject followed agricultural pursuits, His grandfather, Eric 
Erickson, passed his entire life in Sweden. Nils Erickson, the father, 
was born in that country in 1825 and was married in 1847 to Karin 
Persson, whose birth occurred in Sweden in 1831. He was successful as 
an agriculturist and left a well improved farm. His religious faith was 
that of the Lutheran church. Both he and his wife spent their entire 
lives in Sweden and his demise occurred in 1911, while she died in 
1908. They were the parents of fourteen children, six of whom survive. 
Mathes is a farmer residing dear Wheaton, Minnesota. Johan is farming 
in Sweden. Maria is the wife of Edward Ahlberg, who for the last thirty 
years has taught school in Sweden. Their d&tighter, Astrid, holds the 
chair of philosophy in the Upsala University, which is one of the 
oldest schools in Europe. Peter is farming in Roberts county, this 
state. Karelius is the next in order of birth. Valborg is still living 
in Sweden. 

	Karelius Nelson entered the public schools of Sweden at the usual 
age and after completing his course there took special work in 
mathematics. When eighteen years of age he came to the United States 
and made his way to Minnesota. For about six years he worked in 
different places and during part of the time was employed as a farm 
hand and on railroads. On the 15th of April, 1892, he removed to 
Roberts county, South Dakota, and entered a homestead, on which he 
proved up on the 9th of October, 1900. He has added to that quarter 
section and his holdings now comprise three hundred acres of fine land, 
which is in a high state of cultivation and well improved. He largely 
concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits for a number of 
years but has rented his land since taking the office of clerk of the 
courts. While living upon his farm he conducted a telephone company for 
four years and he also organized an elevator company. On the 3d of 
November, 1914, he was elected clerk of the courts and has already 
proved his fitness for the position, performing the work devolving upon 
him with conscientiousness and ability. 

	Mr. Nelson was married on the 6th of October, 1894, to Miss Maria 
Sophia Erickson, who was born in Sweden, where her parents passed their 
entire lives. In 1893 she made the long journey to the United States 
alone. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have seven children: Cora, who after 
completing the public-school course took up the study of domestic 
science; Mamie, Arthur and Mabel, who are attending high school; Agnes 
and Karin, also in school; and Gottfried, born in 1909. 

	Mr. Nelson is a Lutheran in his religious faith and conforms his 
life to the teachings of that church. He casts his ballot in support of 
the republican party and has held a number of offices of trust. While 
living on his farm he served as township supervisor, as justice of the 
peace and as school clerk and was recognized as one of the leaders in 
public affairs in his township. He came to the United States a poor boy 
but through the exercise of sound judgment and close application to the 
task at hand he has gained a gratifying measure of financial success. 
He has also won the confidence and respect of all who know him, and his 
circle of acquaintanceship is wide.