Nelson Family¶
Descendants of Nils Andersson & Ulrika Svensdotter¶
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by Lennart Holmquist
Andrew Peter Nelson married Anna Holmquist sister of Johannes Holmquist. All were immigrants from Sweden.
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1. Nils Andersson (March 6, 1814 - April 13, 1884) married Ulrika Svensdotter (March 7, 1823 - January 2, 1882). Nils was born in Hushållningen, Nysund, Örebro, Sweden according to the Nysund parish records, book C5, p71.
(Nils had previously married Anna Cajsa Bengtsdotter (April 3, 1825 - February 27, 1854). Anna Cajsa and Nils had four girls. One of them, Christina married a Mr. Granberg had a son Gust who died in Chicago Heights, Illinois, USA on August 17, 1950.)
She and Nils were married in Carlstorp, Nysund, Sweden on August 27, 1854 according to the Nysund parish records. She died in Bottesdol, Degerfors, Sweden.
Nils died in Råbäck, Degerfors, Sweden.
Five boys were born to Nils: Carl, Anders, Johan, August and Jån. All five boys are listed below with the American names of the four who emigrated to America.
1.1 Carl Gustaf Nilsson (Charles Gustav Nelson) (June 1855 - June 1, 1916) of Escanaba, Michigan was born in Sweden and emigrated to the USA. In America he was known as Charles and Charlie. Ancestry.com gives his middle name as 'Gusty'. This may be a mistake by the person transcribing Charles' death certificate because that document gives his name as 'Gustaf'. (Note: 'Gustav and Gustaf' were often used interchangeably).
Charles married Sophia Johnson (???? - ????) on 22 July 1891 in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan, USA. Charles was 36 years of age at the time. Sophia was 28. They were married by Petrus Olaus Hanson, a Swedish Lutheran pastor who was the same person who married Charles' brother Andrew, the year before. Witnesses at Charles and Sophia's wedding were Olof Johnson and Mrs. Josephine Johnson who were most likely Sophia's family.
Charles occupation is recorded as being a teamster, which is a person who drives a team of horses or mules. Family records say that the Nelson boys were involved in cutting out the white pine forests, so one may guess that Charles' team of horses or mules hauled wagons or hauled white pine.
Michigan, Marriage Records: Charles Nelson 
Michigan, Marriage Records: Charles Nelson original
The death certificate gives his father's name as 'Nels Anderson' and his mother's name as 'Ulerika Suanon'. 'Suanon' is a mistake. Her maiden name on Carl's death certificate should have been transcribed as 'Swanson', which is probably an Americanized version of the Swedish name 'Svensson'. Further still, she may have been know in Sweden as 'Svensdotter', i.e., Sven's daughter. Also, 'Ulerika' should probably be spelt 'Ulrika' which is the correct Swedish spelling.
Also, 'Nels' should probably be 'Nils' which is the correct Swedish spelling.
Charles Nelson Michigan, Death Record
1.1.1 Edward Nelson (???? - ????).
1.1.2 Fred Nelson (???? - ????).
1.1.2.1 Thekla Nelson (???? - ????).
1.1.2.2 Olga Nelson (???? - ????).
1.1.2.3 Elin Nelson (???? - ????).
1.1.2.4 Carl Nelson (???? - ????).
1.2 Anders Petter Nilsson (Andrew Peter Nelson) (December 1,1856 - April 4, 1918) of Zion, Illinois married Anna [Annie] Holmquist (September 6, 1863 - October 24, 1933) who was born near Älmhult, Sweden. They were married on December 23, 1890 and their residence was Escanaba, Michigan.
Andrew was from Degerfors, Sweden where he was a boyhood friend of John Larson who later married Christina Mathilda Erickson in America. Christina's sister, Johanna, married the Swedish immigrant Johannes Holmquist.
Arrival to America 1879 and 1882
Andrew arrived in America from Sweden in 1879. Anna left Sweden or arrived in America April 4, 1882.
Marriage 1890
Apparently, Andrew and Anna met in America. They were married 23 December 1890 in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan, USA.
Michigan, Marriage Records: Annie Holmquist
Annie and Andrew marriage record original
In the marriage record Annie's father's name at 'Truvit J. Holmquist'. It should be Trufvid Holmquist. Andrew's father's name is given as 'Nels'. It should be 'Nils'. Andrew's occupation is 'laborer'. They were married by Petrus Olaus Hanson, a Swedish Lutheran pastor. Witnesses were Andrews brother, Fred, and Fred's wife.
Move from Michigan to Chicago
Andrew and Anna lived in Escanaba for some years and then moved to Chicago.
Their daughter, Hildur, was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois on February 2, 1894. Many of Anna's relatives lived in the Cook county part of Chicago, so she was closer to family.
Move to Indiana 1896
In 1896 they moved from Chicago to Stark County, Indiana, near Grovertown and bought forty acres of farmland across the road from Andrew's brother, John. The farm was a mile from the Johannes Holmquist farm according to William Holmquist.
The 1900 federal census states that Andrew, age 43, was living in Oregon [township], Starke, Indiana with his family consisting of Anna, his wife age 36 Anna M, age 8, Hilder (should be Hildur) age 6, and Elin age 2.
1900 United States Federal Census: Andrew Nelson
1900 United States Federal Census: Andrew Nelson original
Family Farms
The census also states that they lived at number 73 though a street is not given. This is a farm with a farm house. The street then was probably an unpaved rural route. Interesting, the census also gives Andrews neighbors. John Nelson, Andrew's brother and his family lived at number 74. August Holmquist, the brother of Andrew's wife Anna, and his family lived at number 75. John Carlson and is wife Minnie, lived at number 77. Minnie (Holmquist) was the sister of Andrew's wife Anna.
We knew that some family members lived on farms in fairly close proximity to each other, but until now (2017) we didn't know so many did live close to one another at have know exactly where. This census record provided us with a lot of good information.
These farms were located in District 0144, Oregon [township], Starke county, Indiana.
For some unknown reason Johannes (John) Holmquist didn't make it into the 1900 census. According to family records Johannes had his farm next to that of his brother, August. Johannes bought it on June 2, 1897 from Andrew Uncapher who sold much land in the area.
Anna is Sick
At some time Andrew's wife, came down with an illness, but we don't know what. Apparently the illness was serious. Quite possibly as a consequence of this sickness, they joined the church of a Dr. Dowie of the "Dowieites" of the Christian Catholic Universal Church of Zion, Illinois, which was begun by a faith healer named John Alexander Dowie.
Farm Sold - Move to Zion, Illinois
Andrew farmed this land until 1906 when they sold the farm and the family moved to Zion, Illinois where Peter got into construction work, and the moving of houses. In a family document Andrew is said to have been one of the pioneers of Zion given his specialty in construction.
John Alexander Dowie, the faith-healer died the following year in 1907. (Anna lived another twenty-seven years or so, dying in 1933).
In the 1910 the family was living at Emmans Avenue, Benton, Lake, Illinois. Anna and Andrew had been married 19 years. Andrew was 53 and Anna, 47. All the kids were still living at home, Anna 18, Hilda 16, Ellen 12, Jennie 8, Emma and Nelson 5.
Andrew is registered as being a teamster, and moving of houses. So, he probably managed the teams of horses that pulled houses being moved to another location. His brother Charles is noted to be teamster is the same occupation that John was married in 1909. It may be guessed that both Charles and Andrew were teamsters, working together to haul out the the white pine of Michigan
Daughter, Anna, is recorded as being a mender in a lace factory.
1910 United States Federal Census: Anna Nelson
1910 United States Federal Census: Anna Nelson original
Andrew Becomes U.S. Citizen
Andrew became an American citizen on 18 September 1912 in Waukegan, Illinois. He was living at 2707 Emmans (Emmaus) Avenue, Z. C. Presumably this is Zion, Illinois. Google Maps (2017) provides an address as 2707 Emmaus Avenue. Perhaps the citizenship documents has a typo.
Google Maps: 2707 Emmaus, Zion, Illinois
U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes: Andrew Nelson
U.S. Department of Labor, Immigration and Naturalization Services: Andrew Nelson original
Other Family
For more information on this branch of the Nelson family including descendants see:
For more detailed information on the descendants of Andrew and Annie Nelson see:
Anna Married the Farmer & Builder 
Passing
Andrew died in 1918 and is buried at:
Illinois, Deaths Index: Andrew Peter Nelson
Annie died in 1933 and is buried at Mount Olivet Memorial Park Zion Lake County Illinois, USA. She was living at the time at 2707 Emmaus Ave., Zion, Illinois.
Illinois, Deaths Index: Annie Nelson
Anna Holmquist Nelson gravestone 
1.2.1 Anna M Nelson (???? - ????).
1.2.2 Hildur Victoria Nelson (February 2, 1894 - October 1, 1984) married Christian William Nielsen (September 4, 1890 - April 1, 1959).
Cook County, Illinois, Birth Certificates Index: Hildur Nelson
For more information on Hildur and Christian and their descendants see:
Hildur is buried at thee Mount Olivet Memorial Park, Zion Lake County Illinois, USA
Christian is also buried at thee Mount Olivet Memorial Park, Zion Lake County Illinois, USA
Christian W. Nielsen gravestone
1.2.3 Ellen M. Nelson (???? - ????).
1.2.4 Jennie T Nelson (???? - ????).
1.2.5 Emma T Nelson (???? - ????).
John Nelson Family
left to right
Emelia, Mary, Rosa, Lillie, Thorn, John
Probably in Indiana, USA
circa 1899
Enlarge
1.3 Johan Vilhelm Nilsson (John William Nelson) (April 5, 1859 - January 22, 1919) married Emelia Christina Rapp (January 2, 1859 - December 31, 1944).
John was born in Degerfors, Värmland, Sweden. He came to the America in 1881 at the age of 21 and died in Grovertown, Starke County, Indiana in 1919. Emelia was born in Småland, Sweden. She came to America at the age of 12.
(Four children were in the Rapp family, Charles who married Ada Sundin, Emelia, Ernest who was a bachelor, and Ella who married an Anderson.)
John and Emelia were married in Chicago. In 1887 they moved to Chesterton, Indiana, and in 1894 moved to Starke County where they bought forty acres of farmland from Andrew Unchapher (Oregon township, section 24), across from John's brother Andrew Nelson's farm according to John's nephew William Holmquist. John cleared and drained the land by cutting trees, pulling stumps and digging ditches, and, also, built their house, barn, and granary.
According to the 1900 census, besides John Nelson, age 41 and his wife Emelia C Nelson age 41, were their children May 11, Bennet 9, Lillie 7, Meli 3, and Carl age 2. Note that a few of the names do not match exactly, so mistakes might have been made by the census taker or later by the transcriber. For instance 'May' should be 'Mary'.
1900 United States Federal Census: John W Nelson
1900 United States Federal Census: John W Nelson original
A stone's throw from where the house stands they picked cranberries, and on the other side of the house they picked huckleberries which grew there in abundance. They raised pickles, onions, corn, some barley, oats, timothy, buckwheat, and planted a large garden.
Johannes Holmquist had a farm about a mile from the Nelson farm as did his brother August Holmquist.
John and Emelia had ten children altogether, six girls and four boys, five of whom died in infancy. Those who lived to maturity were Mary, Thorn William, Lillie Theodora, Rosa Emelia, and Carl John.
John died in 1919. His brother Andrew had died the year before. John's death certificate mentions that his father's name was 'Nel Swanson', so John's last name, Nelson, was derived from his father's first name, i.e., Nel's son' which was common in Sweden at the time.
John and later his wife, Emelia were buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Donaldson, Indiana.
Indiana, Death Certificates: John William Nelson
Indiana, Death Certificates: John William Nelson original
John's wife Emelia died in 1944.
1.3.1 Mary Hope Louise Nelson (May 31, 1889 - November 21, 1962) of Chesterton, Indiana married Emil Tellkamp (July 13, 1875 - July 6, 1962).
1.3.1.1 Richard Emil Tellkamp ( ) married ?. They had two children.
See Nelson Family: Richard Tellkamp Branch
1.3.2 Thorn William Benedictus [Ben] Nelson (August 8, 1891 - April 30, 1963). Thorn was born in Chesterton, Indiana and died in Plymouth, Indiana. He married Lillie Johnson and later Celestia (Singleton) Arndt. Three children resulted from the first marriage and none from the second.
1.3.2.1 Child.
1.3.2.2 Child.
1.3.2.3 Child.
1.3.3 Lillie Thodora Nelson (April 19, 1893 - 4 August 1982) born in Chesterton, Indiana, married Luin Mangis. Lillie eventually moved to Tucson, Arizona.
Lillie was a proofreader, perhaps with the American Medical Association.
Toward the end of her life she lived in the Rawlings House Nursing Home in Pendleton, Indiana. Lillie died at 89 years of age at Pendleton, Madison, Indiana, USA. Members of the household at that time were John W. Nelson and Emelia Christian Rapp. She was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Donaldson, Indiana, USA.
Indiana, Death Certificates: Lillie Thodora Nelson
Lillie Thodora Nelson death certificate
1.3.4 Rosa Emelia Nelson (November 21, 1896 - ????) born in Grovertown, Indiana, married Roy Arthur Broman (November13, 1896 - January 14, 1964).
1.3.4.1 Veral Mae Broman (July 11, 1924 - ????) of Bloomington, Indiana, married Rev. Earl W. Sharp. They moved to Culver, Indiana. Veral and Earl had at least one child.
See Nelson Family: Veral Sharp Branch
1.3.4.1.1 James Allen Sharp (December 25, 1949) of Richmond, Indiana.
1.3.4.2 Eric Nelson Broman (June 8, 1926 - June 8, 1926). Eric died at birth.
1.3.4.3 Ralph Anton Broman (January 26, 1928 -) of Mishawaka, Indiana married Barbara Ann Hunt of Anderson, Indiana. Ralph was head of the science department at Bluffton High School, Bluffton, Indiana. Ralph and Barbara had five children.
See Nelson Family: Ralph Broman Branch
1.3.5 Carl John Emmanuel Nelson (April 15, 1900 - 1995) of Grovertown, Indiana, married Ethel L. Swanson (1904 - 1993).
Carl and Ethel had a farm diagonal to Johannes Holmquist farm. Also, Johannes Holmquist's grandson Bernard Holmquist (Bud) had Ethel for a teacher.
Carl and Ethel are buried in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Donaldson, Indiana, USA.
Carl J. and Ethel Nelson Grave
1.3.5.1 John Carl Nelson (???? - ????) married Donna?. He was manager of the Milwaukee and North Michigan Area of Powers Regulator Company at Milwaukee. John and Donna had two children.
See Nelson Family: John Nelson Branch
1.4 August Victor Nilsson (Fred Victor Nelson) (???? - ????) of Escanaba, Michigan.
1.4.1 Elin Nelson (???? - ????) married a Mr. Aronson.
1.5 Jån Adolf Nilsson (25 Jan 1864 - ????).
NOTE: Thanks goes to Frederick Strieter, husband of Ann Aronson a great-granddaughter of Nils Andersson and Ulrika Svenson of Dallas Texas, for providing much of the data for this web page (2016).
If you would like to add information or photos to these web pages or if you have questions, email me at family@earthwander.com. My name is Lennart.
Footnotes
web page updated 08-Nov-2017
NELSON FAMILY
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