Nicholas Nielsen Biography


	This biography appears on page 485 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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				NICHOLAS NIELSEN. 

	Nicholas Nielsen, secretary and treasurer of the Florence 
Mercantile Company, one of the leading enterprises of Codington county, 
was born in Schleswig, Holstein, Germany, on the 19th of July, 1879, a 
son of Asmus and Mary (Albrecht) Nielsen. The father, a farmer by 
occupation, always lived in his native land and died there in 1913, at 
the age of seventy four years The mother is yet living and makes her 
home in Schleswig. 

	Nicholas Nielsen was reared in the land of his nativity to the 
age of seventeen years and during that time pursued his early education 
in the public schools. In 1896 he emigrated to America, locating first 
in Springfield, Minnesota, where for one year he worked at farm labor. 
Realizing the need of a better education, he then continued his studies 
in the schools of Springfield, completing the high-school course. He 
was subsequently employed for two years in a store and, realizing the 
need of a business education, he later pursued a business course in the 
St. Paul Park College. He then once more became identified with 
mercantile pursuits, being employed as a salesman in Sanborn and 
Springfield, Minnesota, for ten years. During this time he gained a 
practical knowledge of merchandising, and in 1906 went to Florence and 
in partnership with his former employer in Springfield, H. Bendixen, he 
opened the first general store in the village. His stock of goods was 
first installed in a warehouse, awaiting the erection of his present 
commodious store building, which is well equipped for the handling of 
his goods. In 1911 the business was incorporated with H. Bendixen as 
president; William Bendixen, of St. Paul, as vice president; and Mr. 
Nielsen as secretary, treasurer and general manager of the concern. The 
firm today does an extensive business, carrying a stock of goods valued 
at from thirteen to fifteen thousand dollars. Although the village 
contains but three hundred inhabitants the trade is drawn from a large 
section surrounding Florence and the concern is one of the leading 
enterprises in Codington county. 

	It was on the 13th of June, 1911, that Mr. Nielsen was united in 
marriage to Miss Florence Mahle, of St. Paul, Minnesota, a most 
estimable lady, who presides with gracious hospitality over their 
pleasant home. She is a daughter of William and Amelia (Beulke) Mahle. 
In politics Mr. Nielsen is a republican and served as the first 
president of the town council after the incorporation of the town. He 
and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He 
is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment and his executive 
ability and excellent management have brought to the concern with which 
he is connected a large degree of success.