History of Benton Co IA (no date)
977.716B44
pages 857-858:

Jacob Nell a retired farmer of Norway, Benton Co IA born in Hesse
Cassel, Germany, 20 Mar 1830. Mr Nell's grandfather, Henry Nell was a
school teacher in Germany and his father, Henry Nell Jr. after
spending 12 years in German Army was for 36 years a govern forester at
Hesse Cassel. He married Miss Elizabeth Kimm who was of good German
stock and who bore him seven children: of this number, Jacob is the
only survivor. Jacob Nell attended school in his native land from his
6th to the 14th year. He then, apprenticed for the trade of interior
wood worker and learned every detail of his business. After, he gave
his attention to stone cutting and working at that trade till 1853,
when he emigrated to America. Upon his arrival in this country, he
took up residence in Herkimer Co. NY, where for 14 years, he engaged in
farming. In 1867, he came to Iowa and bought 160 acres in Benton Co.
IA, upon which he made his home and where for 32 years he sucessfully
carried on a farming operation. In 1899, having acquired a competency,
he turned the farm work over to younger hands and moved to Norway,
Iowa. Here, he has a comfortable home and is enjoying the evening of
his life; active in both mind and body and happy in the companionship
of his many friends. Politacally Mr. Nell is Republican. As a loyal
citizen of his adopted country, he has always taken a deep interest in
public affairs, never aspiring to official position as his home duties
have taken up all his time and attention. While living in New York in
1862, he was instructed to appear before a board of exam to determine
his fitness to be drafted into the Army. But experience had taught him
better than to go with drafted men, so he enlisted for a term of three
years and was assigned to Co. E, 152nd N.Y. Infantry. From Herkimer
Co, he went with his Regiment to Washington, D.C. and was stationed for
awhile below Washington at Ft. Masse; later the Regiment returned and
guarded the city. Having served in the German Army, Mr. Nell , when he
entered the Union Army, was appointed color sgt. and during his outpost
service had charge of the guards. The experience of the Army life,
especially one night when he was guarding a point of danger, brought on
a serious illness, on account of which, he was discharged from the
service. His father, a devout Lutheran, Mr. Nell was reared in the
faith and he is one of the stanch members of both the Lutheran church
and school, at this place. In 1854, in Herkimer Co. NY, Mr Nell married
Miss Ann Elizabeth Kimm, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Kimm of that
county, where his father was engaged in farming. Mr Nell was raised
and educated in Germany. The children of this union; nine in number,
are as follows: Leonard of Newhall, IA. Anne, wife of Chris Renkentch
of Van Horne, IA. Alice, wife of Anton Vernicke, Benton Co. IA. Mary,
deceased. Henry of Montana; Emma, wife of Theodore Romes, Benton Co.
IA. Lena, deceased. Lizzie, deceased.