Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1017

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 879 of the family came to Goodhue county, followed in the fall of L857 by John and his sister. John received his education in the common schools and also had the advantages of one year's tuition in Hamline University, at that time located in Red Wing. He took up farming on the home place, remaining until 1862, when as a youth of eighteen years he enlisted in Company F, 6th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, August 11, 1862. He took part in the Indian campaign under General Sibley, being sent with his regiment to the rescue of the detachment beleagured by the Indians at Birch Coolie. In the battle of Wood Lake, September 23, the regiment held an important position. Mr. Nelson par- ticipated in all the battles of the memorable Sibley campaign. June 15, 1861, he went south with the regiment, and was at Helena, Ark., and St. Louis. Mo., until January. 1865, when the regiment was sent to New Orleans and assigned to the 16th army corps. He participated in the engagements of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, in April. 1865. and was discharged with the regiment at Fort Snelling August 27. 1865. After returning home. Corporal Nelson taught school one year. He then clerked seven years, and having been frugal and saving, gathered enough to start a store of his own. This store he con- tinued fourteen years, after which he interested himself in the. veneer and hardwood lumber business. In 1900 he moved to the place in Burnside township which he now operates. He has 296 acres of land and is engaged in general farming, keeping dairy cows, etc. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as super- visor of Burnside township. Mr. Nelson was married in 1874 to Lucy E. Bussitt. by whom he has one child, R. J. Nelson, em- ployed with the Fairbanks. Morse Company, in St. Paul. After his first wife's death Mr. Nelson was married to Jessie Eames, by whom he has three children: Horace E., Frances C. and Walter H. Nelson. John Larson, of Burnside township, was born in Sweden August 24, 1838, son of Lars Erikson, native of Sweden. Both parents died there. John received his education in Sweden and came to America in 1866, locating at Red Wing. In 1870 he came to Burnside and purchased land, which he broke and im- proved, built a home and all buildings necessary and carried on general farming, which he now continues with great success. In 1870 he was married to Martha Peterson, a native of Sweden. They have no children. Mr. Larson is a Republican in his polit- ical views. They attend the Lutheran church. Fred Van Guilder, of Stanton township, comes of the hon- ored Knickerbocker stock, his forebears having been among those sturdy Hollanders who settled New York state. The original Van Guilder, founder of the family in America, fought in the Revolution, and the account of the courage of this valiant old