John B. Nelson, Jr., is the owner of an excellent farm comprising one hundred and forty acres on section 14, Richland township, and has won a gratifying measure of success in its operation. His birth occurred in Dubuque county, Iowa, on the 2d of November, 1869, his parents being John and Anna (Thompson) Nelson. The father passed away when our subject was but two years of age. The mother, a native of New Orleans, came to Iowa with her parents in an early day and survives at the age of sixty nine years.

     John B. Nelson, the only child born to his parents, attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and began providing for his own livelihood at the early age of twelve. He was employed as a farm hand until he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, cultivating rented land in Clayton county, Iowa, for ten years. On the expiration of that period he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land on section 14, Richland township, Delaware county, where he has carried on agricultural pursuits continuously and successfully since, annually gathering rich harvests which find a ready sale on the market. He has erected commodious and substantial buildings to improve the property and also planted a fine orchard, growing all kinds of fruit.

     Mr. Nelson has been twice married. In 1892 he wedded Miss Minnie Fay. a daughter of J. C. and Cornelia Fay, by whom he had one son, J. F., who is still at home. The wife and mother passed away on the 1st of July, 1906, and on the 22d of July, 1913, Mr. Nelson was again married, his second union being with Miss Madge Smith, a native of Richland township, this county, and a daughter of Richard and Flora (Sherwin) Smith.

     In politics Mr. Nelson is a democrat and at present serves as school director. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Lodge No. 256, in which he has filled some of the chairs. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Strawberry Point, Richland township numbers him among her most able and successful citizens, and the prosperity which he enjoys is well deserved, having come as the result of well directed labor, untiring industry and sound business judgment.