Biography of Lewis Nelson

	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1898. Pages 395-396

	Scan and OCR by Joy Fisher, 1997. This file may be copied for non-profit 
	purposes. All other rights reserved. 



LEWIS NELSON. - The lands beyond the sea have sent their full quota of 
energetic and industrious men to Volga township, Brookings county, and 
many have won honorable stations as citizens, farmers and business men, 
winning their way under discouraging circumstances and the disadvantages 
attending a stranger in a strange land. One of this class is the subject 
of this brief life history.

	Mr. Nelson was born in Norway, September 7, 1840, a son of Nelson 
Torson, a shoemaker, who died in Norway in 1874, at the age of about 
seventy-five years. His mother died in Norway when our subject was about 
fourteen years of age. Lewis Nelson, the subject of this sketch, worked 
at blacksmithing and wagon making in Norway. In 1864  he came to America 
and settled in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he followed his trade 
until 1873, when he moved to New Lisbon, Juneau county, Wisconsin, and 
entered the mercantile business. Four years later he sold out his store 
and resumed his trade, which he followed until 1879 when he moved to 
Lake county, South Dakota, and took up a claim. In 1880 his family 
located on the claim and Mr. Nelson went to Volga and worked in a 
blacksmith and wagon strop. Later he purchased the shop from his 
employer and moved his family to Volga, where he has since made his home 
and has been and is still doing an extensive and thriving business.

	The lady who presides over the household affairs became the wife 
of Mr. Nelson in 1863. She was in her girlhood, Miss Anna Hanson, and is 
a daughter of Hans Hanson. Mrs. Nelson was born in Norway and came to 
this country with her father. She died in 1889, leaving five children, 
only three of whom are now living, as follows: Lena, Virginia and John 
Hendrick; the deceased are Nils and Leon. Mr. Nelson is a member of the 
Lutheran church. Politically he has always been an enthusiastic 
Republican.