BIOGRAPHIES: Ernest NELSON, Rice Lake, Barron Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Transcribed by Peg Lamkin. Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 24 February 2004 ************************************************************************ Ernest Nelson, prominent automobile man with a good garage at Barron and branches at Rice Lake and Ladysmith, was born in Orebro, Sweden, March 3, 1876, and as a boy learned carpenter work and cabinet making. After the death of his parents he came to America when about sixteen years of age and located in Clay County, Kansas, where he followed his trade. In 1894 he came to Barron County, and with Gust Soderburg, established the Barron Woodworking Co., at Barron City. To their manufacturing business they soon added a retail department for the sale of furniture. The partnership continued until the spring of 1897 when Mr. Nelson took over the furniture business and Mr. Soderburg retained the woodworking shop. Mr. Nelson opened his store at the corner of La Salle and Fifth streets, and built up a good business. Two years later he added a line of general hardware and farm implements, and moved to the Opera House Block. After a while he became interested in automobiles, and in 1918 he sold out his furniture and hardware business to the Falk Hardware Co. in order to devote his entire time to the automobile line. He opened his garage in his old stand at the corner of Fifth and La Salle street, and there he deals in the Chevrolet car and handles accessories of all kinds and does general repairing. Later he added the branches at Rice Lake and Ladysmith. Mr. Nelson is a popular and prominent man; he is known for his honest and fair dealing, and is well liked by all with whom he associates. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen. Mr. Nelson was married Sept. 22, 1897, to Ruth E. Rolstad, daughter of Ole and Anna Rolstad, of Barron. Ole Rolstad was born in Norway, was there married, and came to America about the close of the Civil War, settling on a farm near Baldwin, St. Croix County, Wis., and alternating his time between farm work and working at his trade as a tailor in Baldwin. When Barron city was established, the family came here, but after a few years went back to Baldwin where Mr. Rolstad died May 4, 1890, after which, in 1896, the family came back to Barron where Mrs. Rolstad still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have reared three children, the son and daughters of Mr. Nelson's sister. Helga M. and Dagmar C. are still at home. Carl M., who as a boy gave great promise of a successful career, enlisted in the World War in 1917 and trained for the mechanical and truck service at Waco, Texas. He sailed for France and was on the Tuscania when it was sunk. After being rescued he was transferred to the 26th Division, with which he saw active service. In January, 1919, he was sent to a hospital suffering from tubercular trouble contracted through exposure. There he died April 15, 1919. He was buried in a French cemetery, but in 1920 his body was brought to this country, and he was laid to his final rest in Barron October 10. The family faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. --Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 121-122. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm