August Nelson

AUGUST NELSON, whose portrait is shown herewith, first came to Labette county, Kansas, in 1889, and is one of the best known agriculturists of Mound Valley township. He superintends - the work upon his 240 acres of land, although he is absent much of the time in connection with railroad contracts. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1853, and is a son of Christian Nelson.

Christian Nelson still lives in Sweden, and is a mechanic by occupation; he followed the business of a brick Manufacturer during his active years. He was the father of three sons and one daughter; the daughter is deceased. The sons are as follows: Fred, who is a foreman on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and is at present in Texas engaged in the contracting business with his brother August; Gustav, who lives in Sweden; and August.

August Nelson served his apprenticeship under government contractors in Sweden, as a stone and brick-mason four years, without pay; he was employed in the construction of government buildings. In 1883 he went to South America and worked for the Argentine Republic as a mechanic in brick and stone work. He came to the United States in 1884, and first worked at Chicago for one year. In 1886 he entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company as a mechanic, and three months later was made a foreman. For the past two years he has been in Texas, engaged in building piers and abutments for large bridges, and has a force of 40 men under his supervision. His headquarters at present are at Denison, Texas, but, generally, are at Parsons, Kansas. He is directly under A. B. Manning, of the building and bridge department of the road. He has had wide experience in this line of work, and is without a superior in the handling of men and material. He located in Labette county in 1889, and bought a farm south of Mound Valley, where he resided a couple of years. In 1891, he purchased his present fine farm four miles north of Mound Valley, in section 14, township 32, range 18; the land had been taken up by Mr. Stotts. Mr. Nelson has built a modern 10-room house and, about eight years ago, put up a fine barn. He has about 70 head of cattle, and intends to handle Hereford cattle more extensively. He superintends the work upon the farm of 240 acres, although he does none of it, as he is away on his railroad business much of the time. Wheat is his staple crop. He has a farm of very attractive appearance, by reason of its many fine fruit and shade trees, and it is one of the best cultivated pieces of land in this section.

Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Ann Lester, who was born in this country, and they are the parents of two sons, Paul and Wilhelm. In politics, the subject of this sketch is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Parsons Lodge, A. F. & A. M. In religious views, he is a Lutheran, and his wife is a Methodist.