Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/248

 KNUTE NELSON ELSON, KNUTE, soldier, ex-governor of Minnesota, United States senator, was born near Bergen, Norway, February 2, 1843. Three years later his father died; and in the summer of 1849 the mother and son came to the United States. After passing a little more than a year in Chicago, they removed to Wisconsin, where the boy grew to young manhood.

At the outbreak of the Civil war he was a student in Albion academy, but at the call of his adopted country he left his books to become a soldier. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the 4th Wisconsin, United States infantry volunteers, in which he served throughout the war as a private and non-commissioned officer, and with which he participated in many engagements. On June 14, 1863, at the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, and while near the breastworks of the enemy, he was entirely disabled by a wound ; and in the evening of that day he was carried inside the fort by a Confederate picket. He was at once placed in the hospital, where he remained until the surrender of the fortification, July 8, 1863. On account of the exhaustion of supplies, in common with others he suffered greatly for want of suitable food during the last ten days of the siege.

At the close of his army service, Knute Nelson returned to Albion academy. After completing the prescribed course at this institution, he studied law; and in 1867 was admitted to the Wisconsin bar. Taking an active interest in political affairs he was chosen a member of the state legislature in 1868-69.

In 1871 he removed to Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, where he has continued to reside. He served as attorney for Douglas county, 1872-74; was state senator, 1875-78; and in 1880 he was chosen by the Republicans a presidential elector. For nearly eleven years, from February 1882, he was a member of the Board of Regents of the State university; and though on the tariff question he differed from most of the leaders of that party, he was a Republican representative in congress 1883-89. In 1889 he resumed the practice of law in which he has been very successful. His services were soon