Michael Nelson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 709-710 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				MICHAEL NELSON. 

	Michael Nelson, who is engaged in the feed and lumber business at 
Buffalo Gap, Custer county, is also a landowner and is a factor in the 
business and agricultural development of his locality. He was born in 
Erie county, New York, on the 22d of August, 1842, a son of Thomas and 
Mary (McMahon) Nelson, both natives of Ireland, where they were reared 
and married. Upon emigrating to the United States they settled in Erie 
county, New York, and the father was a sailor on the Great Lakes during 
the remainder of his life. 

	Michael Nelson attended school in Buffalo, New York, but when 
eighteen years of age went to Texas, driving a government team from 
Leavenworth, Kansas, where he had entered the employ of the government. 
He continued in the freighting service until the close of the Civil war 
and then became a cowboy upon the Canadian river in New Mexico. After 
spending about three years upon the plains he enlisted in the regular 
army at Leavenworth, Kansas, and served one term in the Fifth Infantry, 
one in the Tenth infantry and one in the Ninth Infantry. He was 
discharged from service on account of disability and after recovering 
his health he again entered the freighting service and continued 
therein until 1876. He then journeyed northward from Texas with the 
Black Hills as his destination, but at Fort Laramie was stopped by 
soldiers. The party of thirteen of which he was a member sold their 
outfit and went to Bismarck, North Dakota, where they purchased a new 
outfit. They then entered the Black Hills from the north by way of Bear 
Butte and, stopping on Iron creek, prospected there for a time and also 
on Bear Gulch. They had located a number of fine prospects when they 
were driven out by the soldiers. At that time about two hundred 
prospectors were forced to leave the Hills and Mr. Nelson and his party 
were taken to Fort Laramie, Wyoming, where they were freed. They went 
to Cheyenne, where they again purchased outfits, and on returning to 
the Hills they made their way directly to Deadwood, which had just been 
discovered. Those thirteen men were the first prospectors in Deadwood 
and Mr. Nelson has many interesting reminiscences of that early period. 
After prospecting for a short time in Deadwood and its vicinity he and 
another man went to Bear Gulch, where they had previously discovered 
gold. For about six months they prospected along the various creeks and 
then when the railroad was being surveyed to Buffalo Gap Mr. Nelson 
found employment on the survey. After spending a year in that 
connection he took up a ranch near Buffalo Gap, where he engaged in 
raising cattle and horses until 1907. In that year he sold his stock 
and removed to Buffalo Gap, establishing a feed and lumber business, 
which he is still conducting. He is meeting with gratifying success in 
his undertaking and is recognized as a reliable and energetic business 
man. He still owns three hundred and twenty acres of the ranch, which 
he rents and from which he derives a gratifying addition to his income. 

	Mr. Nelson was married in 1872 to Miss Rebecca Cline, who was 
born in Pennsylvania and was of German descent, although her parents 
were likewise natives of the keystone state. In 1908 she was called to 
the home beyond, her demise being the occasion of much sincere grief. 

	Mr. Nelson is a devout communicant of the Roman Catholic church 
and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His political belief 
is in accordance with the principles of the democratic party and he 
supports its candidates at the polls. While actively engaged in 
ranching Mr. Nelson was attacked by Indians a number of times when some 
marauding band was attempting to steal his stock and in his varied 
experiences in the west in the early day he was often fired upon, but 
to the men of that period such danger was a part of the ordinary risk 
of life and was taken largely as a matter of course. His resolution, 
fearlessness and faith in the future of the country are characteristic 
of the west and it is such qualities that have made possible the rapid 
development of this section of the country, which a comparatively few 
years ago was a wilderness and is now populous and productive of great 
wealth.