Biography of John T. 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. Page 312.

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

JOHN T. NELSON, county auditor of Brookings county, is one of that 
county's ablest and most popular business men. Attention, method and 
industry are the foundation stones of success in business, and these, 
combined with integrity of word and deed, have been the cornerstone of 
all his business transactions, and during his residence in Brookings he 
has made many warm friends through the county and city. He was born in 
Lillehammer, Norway, August 24, 1866, and is a son of Thurston and 
Bertha Nelson. The father was a farmer in his native country, and 
emigrated from thence to America and located at Blair, Trempealeau 
county, Wisconsin, where he still resides, retired from active business, 
and is sixty-eight years of age. Mrs. Bertha Nelson is also still 
living. Her maiden name was Ericson. Mr. and Mrs. Thurston Nelson are 
the parents of five children, of whom we have the following record: 
Eric, Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Mathew, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Nels, 
Ettrick, Wisconsin; Martha, Mrs. Alfred Thorbus, Blair, Wisconsin; and 
John T. All the sons are capable business men, and filling responsible 
positions in their respective localities.

	John T. Nelson, the subject of this sketch, attended school in his 
native land for a short time and four terms in the public school at 
Blair, Wisconsin. At the age of seventeen he became assistant postmaster 
of that place, and continued as same two years, and was then employed as 
bookkeeper by the Blair Flouring Mills two and one-half years. In 1888 
he came to Brookings and spent two or three years in a flouring-mill as 
bookkeeper, and then resigned his position to accept that of deputy 
county treasurer. After filling the duties of that office three years 
his constituents recognized his merits and abilities by electing him to 
the office of county auditor in 1894, and two years later he was re-
elected in a closely-contested election, at which the strength of the 
respective parties were very evenly balanced.

	Although less than a decade has passed since arriving in this 
county with but forty cents in his possession, he has already acquired 
various business interests and is recognized by his contemporaries as 
one of the most capable and prominent men in the county. He is a natural 
mathematician and bookkeeper, and notwithstanding his limited 
opportunities for instruction, is one of the finest penmen in the state. 
He is also possessed of considerable inventive genius, and, among other 
things, has devised and patented an envelope opener which meets with 
ready sale wherever introduced.

	August 24, 1895, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss 
Caroline Jerde, daughter of Eric and Bertha Jerde, of Brookings. Mrs. 
Nelson was born in Minnesota and came to Brookings several years before 
her husband. They have one son, Clarence Cabot. Mr. Nelson is a member 
of the I. O. O. F., Union Encampment of Brookings, while he and his wife 
are both connected with the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Nelson is also a 
member of the degree of honor 'of the A. O. U. W. He plays the solo 
cornet in the First Regiment band of South Dakota, of which organization 
he is secretary and treasurer, and in connection with this band he 
attended the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. He also plays the 
cornet in the Dodge orchestra. While at Blair, Wisconsin, Mr. Nelson 
served two years as town clerk. Politically he is a Republican.