Johan "John" Nielsen Nelson

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91476073

Came to America with his parents and three siblings on the “Flora”, which sailed from Christiania on 15 Jun 1849 and arrived in New York on 23 Aug 1849.

Emigration record: https://media.digitalarkivet.no/kb20070110650661 - (http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-kb20070110650661.jpg)

NESSON, John - Minnesota 6th Inf Co F. Residence: Belvidere, Goodhue County, Minnesota. Born “Johan Nielsen Kjøs” on 12 Nov 1842 at Ringsaker, Hedmark, Norway, son of Niels Olsen Kjøs and Ingeborg Johnsdatter Løtten. He came to America with his parents and three siblings on “Flora”, which sailed from Christiania on 15 Jun 1849 and arrived in New York on 23 Aug 1849. His father died in New York a week after their arrival. His mother and the children came to Janesville, Rock County, Wisconsin. In 1855, they came to Goodhue County, Minnesota. Civil War: Age 19. Enrolled 11 Aug 1862. Mustered 1 Oct 1862. Private. Promoted to Corporal. Discharged from the service with his regiment, 19 Aug 1865. He was married 12 Aug 1871 to Lucy Ellen Bassett (1852-1882). One child. John was married a second time on 3 Oct 1883 to Jessie Eames (1859-1940). Three children. John and Jessie eventually divorced. His brother Ole Nelson was also a soldier. Sources: (MINN p300) (MCIW p339) (Naeseth-Hedberg ’49-2867) “Nelson, Johan”.

JOHN NELSON, of Burnside, a veteran of the Civil War and of the Indian campaign, was born in Norway November 12, 1844, a son of Nels and Ingebor Nelson, who came to the United States in 1848, and located in Dane county, Wisconsin. In 1855 a part of the family came to Goodhue county, followed in the fall of 1857 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 beleagued by the Indians at Birch Coolie. In the battle of Wood Lake, September 23, the regiment held an important position. Mr. Nelson participated in all the battles of the memorable Sibley campaign. June 15, 1864, 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 continued fourteen years, after which he interested himself in the veneer and hardwood lumber business. In 1900 he moved to the place in Burnside 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 supervisor of Burnside township. Mr. Nelson was married in 1874 to Lucy E Bussitt, by whom he has one child, R.J. Nelson, employed 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. [Source: History of Goodhue County Minnesota]