Nels N. Nesje

NESJE, FLO, ERDAHL, NELSON, GUDAL, HARVEY, SIMONSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 2/5/2010 at 05:13:44

NELS N. NESJE

Nels N. Nesje, who follows fanning on section 23, Eden township, Winnebago county, was born at Opstrein Nesje, on the North fjord, in Norway, February 14, 1848, a son of Nels P. and Martha (Flo) Nesje, who were farming people of that country, where they reared their family of ten children, of whom four are yet living: Carrie, now the wife of Andrew Erdahl, of Emerald township, Faribault county, Minnesota; Martha, the wife of Ole Erdahl, also of Emerald township; and John Nelson and Nels N., twins, the former a resident of Frost, Minnesota. The parents never came to the United States and the father died when the subject of this review was but a year old.

Through the period of boyhood and youth Mr. Nesje and his twin brother remained in the land of the midnight sun, but in 1869, on attaining their majority, came to the new world to try their fortunes and made their way to Faribault county, Minnesota, settling near Blue Earth. Mr. Nesje secured employment as a farm hand, working in that way for six years, after which he became a resident of Eden township, Winnebago county, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 23. This he at once began to clear and develop and his attention has since been given to its further improvement, his labors converting it into one of the excellent farms of the neighborhood.

On the 15th of October, 1875, Mr. Nesje was married to Miss Johanna Gudal, a daughter of Colben and Sine Gudal, who were natives of Norway and became residents of Emerald township, Faribault county, Minnesota. The father died in 1911 and was laid to rest in the Dale Lutheran cemetery, while the mother is still living in Emerald township. Mr. and Mrs. Nesje have become the parents of nine children: Nels, living in Eden township; Martha, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Christina and Ella, twins, the former now at home, while the latter is the wife of John Harvey, of Stanwood, Washington; Serena, Henry, Carl and Selmer, all at home; and Carrie, who became the wife of John Simonson, of Eden township, and passed away in 1912.

Mr. Nesje votes with the republican party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He and his wife are members of the United Lutheran church and are highly respected people, enjoying the confidence and goodwill of all with whom they have been associated through the long years of their residence in this part of the country.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 516-517.