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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 518-519]

  P. B. NELSON was born in Sweden, January 23, 1840, and is the son
  of S. and CHRISTINA NELSON.  He is the third of a family of nine
  children, and remained in his native country until he was fourteen
  years of age.  He then determined to see the New World, and to seek
  the fortune it might hold in store for him.  Accordingly he bade
  farewell to his friends and home, and embarked for America.  After
  landing he continued his journey westward and located in Moline,
  Illinois, where he remained one winter.  In the spring of 1855 he
  removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, and there he made his home for five
  years, engaging as a clerk in a grocery store.  Desirous of seeing
  yet more of this country, in 1859 he took a trip to Pike's Peak and
  did not return for two years.  He then came back to Moline, Illinois,
  and in a short time removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin.  When the great
  Rebellion broke out, Mr. NELSON was not slow to go to the defense of
  his adopted nation; he enlisted in the First Wisconsin Artillery, and
  served until the close of the war.  He fought in several battles, the
  most noted being Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge.  He enlisted as
  a private, but was discharged with the title of Corporal.  After the
  declaration of peace he settled at Hinsdale, Illinois, and resided
  there six years, engaged in agricultural pursuits.  In 1877 Mr. NELSON
  removed to the State of Iowa, and settled in Cherokee County; he
  purchased eighty acres of land in Amherst Township; this was a wild,
  uncultivated tract, and after he had partially improved it he disposed
  of it and came to Marcus.  Since that time he has been engaged in
  handling agricultural implements, buggies and carriages.  He keeps a
  full line of this stock of goods and is doing a thriving business.
  He has also opened a livery barn, which is one of the finest in the
  county.  He is a live, enterprising man, and has probably done as much
  as any man to develop the resources and advance the interests of the
  county.  When he came to this country he was destitute of funds, but
  through diligence and perseverance he has amassed a competence, which
  he devotes to the comfort and happiness of his family.  Mr. NELSON was
  united in marriage December 6, 1862, to Miss JOSEPHINE PETERSON, who
  was born in Sweden, October 6, 1840.  They have a family of six chil-
  dren living and three deceased: MATILDA (deceased), ALFRED, ATON,
  AMANDA, ELLA (deceased), LEWIS, ELLA, CHARLES, and JOSEPHINE (deceased).
  The parents are worthy members of the Lutheran Church.  Mr. NELSON is
  a stanch Republican, and has been called to fill some of the township
  offices.  He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and of the A.O.U.W.

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