History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Nelson, George R. prominent farmers and real estate broker of Presque Isle Township, Vilas County, was born in Waupaca County, Wis., May 30, 1862, son of Berndt and Martha (ANDERSON) NELSON. The parents were natives of Norway; coming to the United States in 1846, they settled first in Milwaukee and later drove through with a team of oxen to Waupaca County, where they were among the earliest settlers; they took up homestead there and spent the remainder of their lives engaged in operating this property. Six children were born to them: Nels, now deceased; Anna, who is Mrs. John MORTENSON of Iola, Wis.; Andrew, a farmer in the town of St. Lawrence, Waupaca County; Peter, deceased; Lena, twin sister of Peter, now Mrs. RASMUSSEN of Ogdensburg, Wis.; and George R. George R. NELSON received his education in the district schools of Waupaca County and entered the lumber industry at the age of 16 yars, doing logging on the Little Wolf River. After a short time there he went to upper Michigan in the employ of the Jenson Bros. Lumber Co., and from there he went to Parrish, Wis., with the Brooks & Ross Lumber Co., in whose employ he continued for 20 years as cruiser and camp foreman, leaving them in 1903 to enter the employ of the Ashland Iron and Steel Co. at Dunham, Mich. In 1907 he went to Winegar, Wis., as assistant superintendent of the sawmill operated there by the Vilas County Lumber Co., and after four years in this capacity he spent two years as woods superintendent for the Weidman Lumber Co. and five years in the same position with the DeLaiter-Anderson Lumber Co. at Calderwood, Mich. Mr. NELSON followed the lumber industry until 1916 and then settled on his present 200-acre farm in Presque Isle Township, which he had purchased in 1908 and which was the first land bought for agricultural purposes in Vilas County. On this property Mr. NELSON has erected a set of substantial buildings and has cleared 100 acres, and he is now engaged in its operation, his chief crops being potatoes, oats, and hay. He also carries on extensive operations as a real estate broker, dealing in all kinds of lands and offering lake front property on 50 different lakes. He was township assessor for four years and has served as deputy county surveyor of Vilas County for the past six years, and he is one of the leading citizens of this section of the country. On March 29, 1900, in Wakefield, Mich., Mr. NELSON was united in marriage with Mrs. Louise MORSE, who in maiden life was Louise BASTIAN, daughter of John H. and Nettie (SMITH) BASTIAN. Mrs. NELSON'S parents were natives of Germany and came from that country to the United States in 1867, spending the remainder of their lives on a farm in Waupaca County. Mr. and Mrs. NELSON are the parents of one child, Myrtle L., who is now Mrs. William P. TOOMEY of Marenisco, Mich. By her former marriage to Henry MORSE Mrs. NELSON is the mother of three other children: Nettie L., who is now Mrs. Frank GRAVES of Marenisco, Mich.; Georgiana P., also of Marenisco, the wife of Bert ANDERSON; and Marion J., who married Nellie MCADAMS and is living at Ontonagon, Mich. Mr. NELSON is a man who has traveled the rough and stony was well as the smoother pathways of life. Always a strong and rugged character, he has surmounted all the hardships, and has, indeed, turned them to his own advantage by applying the lessons they teach. His strong personality and his qualities of fine, upright citizenship have built up for him a place of the highest regard and esteem on the part of the entire community.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 673; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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