USA > Kansas > Cloud County > Biographical history of Cloud County, Kansas: biographies of representative citizens. Illustrated with portraits of prominent people, cuts of homes, stock, etc > Part 82
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
After reaching "sunny" Kansas and looking over the land, Mr. McCall selected his homestead and after making a few needed improvements, his financial circumstances seemed somewhat discouraging but not lacking in perseverance and possessing a keen foresight for business discerned where capital could be nearly doubled. Sheep raising at that time drew his attention and he borrowed money investing it in a flock which proved to be reminera- tive and placed him in a position to return the borrowed capital. From that venture he went steadily on, keeping clear of debt and accumulating each year adding to and increasing his investments. He was very successful in the sheep raising industry selling at a good profit before the enterprise be- came overdone, thus not losing as so many of his neighbors did. Is Block averaged about one thousand head.
During Mr. McCall's residence in Republic county, he was appointed commissioner to fill a vacancy and was elected to that office the two vairs following : served four years as county superintendent of schools and took a great interest in educational matters, knowing full well the value learning had been to him. Physically Mr. McCall was not a strong man, list pos- sessed a wonderful energetic temperament and was an excellent tin icier. In the year 1881, he decided to retire from the laborious life of the foun and removed to Jamestown where he established a successful hardware bu ses, but this venture proved too much of a burden for his strength indl ke d's- posed of this enterprise just prior to being elected to the house of representa tives in 1888, where he served his county with honor and credit to himself.
When Mr. and Mrs. McCall removed to Jamestown there were but tes
784
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
inhabitants. They purchased one of the best residence properties which they greatly improved, thus making a beautiful home. Fine trees afford a grateful shade in the long summer days and the feathered songsters flit to and fro. A well kept lawn adds greatly to the appearance of the home. Before removing from Republic county Mr. MeCall soll the homestead and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Jamestown, and shortly afterwards purchased another quarter section, making a total of the west half of section 22. This land is above the average in fertility of soil and is under a high state of cultivation.
In politics Mr MeCall was a Republican but after the Prohibition party was organized, he affiliated with them. Mr. and Mrs. McCall were both brought up in the United Presbyterian church. Mrs. McCall is an amiable and womanly woman, with cultured and refined tastes, everything around and about her denoting a love for the beautiful. She was, in her early life a teacher and endeared herself to her pupils seeking to endow them with her gentle and refined attributes. She was a member of the Jamestown city council of women. Mrs, MeCall is living out her useful days as befits a true woman and feels in sympathy with those less prosperous than herself. " The chime of sweet bells in tune." is a living picture of her days as they come and go.
HENRY M. ANSDELL.
Our subiect is a brother of William Ansdell, mentioned elsewhere. Henry M. Ansdell was born in the state of Wisconsin, in 1851, and with his brother came overland with ox teams to Kansas; their destination was the southern part of the state but when they arrived at Waterville they fell in company with other emigrants who were coming to this part of the country and through the influence of these homeseekers they came to Clond county instead. They were not long in arriving at the conclusion that no better place could be found and Mr. Ansdell filed on the land he sold to Christ Christianson. in 1877. Ile then bought the original homestead of Frank Bowe, where he has made one of the best homes in the community and all the comforts of life are theirs. In 1892 he erected a handsome residence of fourteen rooms. His farm consists of one hunderd and sixty acres of land. Mr. Ansdell raised corn altogether until his neighbors by raising wheat compelled him to engage in the same industry on account of the chinch bugs: however, the present year he has a thirty acre field of corn that is yielding from thirty-four to forty-six bushels per acre: also a field of eighteen acres of oats that yielded forty-eight bushels per acre. There are several varieties of fruit. apples, plums, peaches and strawberries. They have a strawberry bed which yields plentifully and is one of the few in this lo- cality.
Mir. Ansdell was married in 1882, to Annie Moreland of Lawrence town- ship. Her father, Joseph Moreland, settled in Cloud county in 1879. They
785
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
first settled in Grant township and lived on the Ansdell homestead; our sub- ject having to look after his father's interests met Miss Moreland and in due time they were married. To their umion one child. a son Winfred H., has been born. He is an intelligent young man of superior education. He was instructed by his mother at home and did not attend school until prepared to enter upon a high school course which he finished in the Jamestown school at the age of thirteen years.
Mrs. Ansdell was a teacher in her native home, Athens county, Ohio. before her advent in Kansas. The son is gifted in mathematics, grasping the most intricate problems without application. Mr. Ansdell is a public spir- ited citizen, takes an interest in legislative affairs and in substance stated that when the Populists organized, it only strengthened his faith in the Republican party.
REVEREND NELS NELSON.
The citizens of Cloud county who honor the memory of the old pioneers of the state cannot overlook this memoir of the late Reverend Nels Nelson, better known to his countrymen as Neils Neilson. He did much toward attracting the attention of Danes to the resources and opportunities to be found in this western country, and the greater part of the Danish set- tlements in Grant and Buffalo town- ships came through his influence.
Reverend Nelson was born in the town of Galbjerg, on the Island of Funin, Kingdom of Denmark, on the 23d day of November, 1809. His father was a well-to-do farmer; industrious and strict in all his deal- ings ; especially so in all the doctrines pertaining to the Lutheran religion. He gave his seven children the benefit of a common school education.
Our subject possessed a re- tentive memory which enabled him to rank first in his studies. At the age of thirteen years he was confirmed in the faith of the Lutheran church. About this time his father died and Mr. Nelson with a younger brother REVEREND N. 1 1 7 assumed the management of the farm, maintaining their mother and five sisters. Being of an active and inquiring turn of mind, Mr
786
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Nelson was not satisfied with what he could see of religion; he wanted to feel a change of heart and constantly endeavored to find his way. He asked the older members of the church, receiving from those in authority the same response-"If you do all the church requires of you that is enough." But he was not satisfied and sought what his soul longed for by attending evangelistic meetings, studied the church books, prayed for more light, and finally at the age of seventeen years, he and his brother were truly converted by the power of the Holy Spirit and their minds enlightened in regard to the Bible. The doctrines embraced by the two young men were not popular at that time in the Kingdom of Denmark, and they suffered many persecutions; not only from the enemies of the gospel, but from their own mother, who was a zealous follower of the Lutheran church. She was extremely radical in her religious views and was so incensed that her sons should deviate from the beaten path. that upon hearing her boys were attending divine services which were being held at a private house in the neighborhood, she hastened thither, murmuring the while-"I will get that out of their heads." .As she shook the staff threateningly at the young converts, in tones of bitterness she asked the dispenser of the gospel-"How much he charged for leading minors astray ?"
Wishing to avoid a scene, the boys hastened out into the street, closely followed by their parent, but as they were deaf to all her per- suasions that salvation was of faith, and not of works, she drove them from her, saying-"They were will- ful and stubborn and she would have no more to do with them." They wandered through the village seek- ing shelter for the night but no one MRS. ANNA PEDERSON NELSON. would take them in; they were told in tones of mockery and derision they were "Too holy to mingle with common people.
But the mother, true to maternal instinct, was troubled, and as she tossed upon her pillow that night was visited by a dream in which her deceased husband seemed to stand beside her and looking sorrowfully down upon her said-"Will you drive my boys from their home?" This remonstrance was more than her mother heart could withstand; she awoke, arose, has- tily sought her boys and brought them home. They then thanked the Lord
787
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
for his goodness to them and earnestly besought him for their mother's sal- vation, which in his good time he granted.
Reverend Nelson remained a member of the Lutheran church fourteen years after his conversion ; ten years of that time he was an earnest worker among his people for the cause of Christ and his influence for good was felt. His spare moments were not all spent in the pulpit : he visited the sick. looking after their physical and spiritual needs, reading to them from the Bible; praying with and for them. He also visited the prisons, speaking words of comfort and encouragement often obtaining the assistance of wealthy and influential citizens in gaining the release of some inmate.
He afterward moved to Zealand and resided in the town of Gimlinge. where he married Miss Anna Pederson, April 11, 1838. She was a con- scientious young woman of good and pious parentage and with such an earn- est companion as he found in her, it stimulated him to greater efforts.in his "Master's vineyard. ' They became convinced that immersion was the only . true baptism, and January 24. 1842. they united with the Missionary Bap- tists and were two of the twenty-four which constituted at the time of their baptism the whole membership of the denomination of Baptists in the King- dom of Denmark. The Reverend Adolph Monster performed the rites of baptism.
Reverend Nelson was ordained a minister of the gospel in Hamburg. Germany, the following spring, by the Reverend J. G. Oucken and sent out as a missionary under the direction of the German Missionary Association. His journeys were mostly accomplished on foot. Ile visited different parts of the country, his work extending over into Norway and Sweden; these trips were not made without great peril. especially in winter when facing the blinding snow storms of that region. While passing from one to another of the islands of Denmark he made use of an ice boat and sometimes on account of the thinness of the ice, he would be plunged into the water, reaching his destination with his clothing frozen on his body: but such trials he considered trivial when he thought of what Christ had sui fered.
His growing family required some of his time as he was not sufficiently remunerated for the missionary labors to support them. He would work in the field all day and at nightfall would hasten away on foot to fill an appoint- ment made for the next day some forty miles distant: often making the entire journey between two suns. After making his family comfortable he often started out to preach with scarcely a cent in his pocket. While upon one of these expeditions footsore and weary. he wandered on with no house open to him and only four skillings in his pocket. ( About three cents in American coin.) He entered a village where he spent his last cent for a load of bread. He passed on, eating the loaf as he went feeling thankful to be thus able to appease his hunger, and after he had nearly finished his repast rejoiced to find embedded in the loaf a piece of money of the same value as the one just expende.l.
788
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
The power of God through his teachings began to be felt throughout the land so much that the authorities began to inquire the cause and as a consequence he was accused of working against the state church and ordered before a magistrate to give an account of his doings. This occurred several times but nothing could be proven against him and he was sent away with the admonition to withdraw from his labors for he was disturbing the peace. The judge told Reverend Nelson that he ought to have sense enough to see, if he did not stop his religious work he with his family would be crushed. The undaunted reply was-" God will provide for his own. L ought to obey him rather than man." Whereupon the judge grasped him by the shoulder and shook him. Not regarding their threats he continued, and complaint was made to the king. Christian the VIH. petitioning him to appoint some person as a leader of the Baptists and hold that person responsible for all their wrong doings.
In the year 1842, Reverend Nelson was appointed by the King to fill that position. He was ordered before the judge and given his choice be- tween imprisonment or ceasing to administer baptism. He was allowed to preach but not to baptize nor celebrate the Lord's Supper. To see that this was observed, he was required to notify the justice of the peace. The urgent requests for baptism became so frequent that he determined to give them. He might be compared with Moses and the Israelites, as "the man of God who stood between the King and the people." Ile selected from their number one worthy for the service and under cover of darkness the rites were per- formed. But Reverend Nelson was ordered before the judge and not being able to pay the fine imposed. his property was confiscated and his family left destitute. His ever patient wife united her efforts with those of her hus- Land. and through persecution and disaster succeeded in sustaining their fan- ily. Nor did Reverend Nelson lose faith in God : his confidence remained un- shaken. and again labored in his cause until the authorities ordered him with others before the judge, and he was fined a second time, the amount being for each about $275. It was not immediately collected and in the meantime King Christian the VIH died, and was succeeded by Frederick the V11, who gave the people Christian liberty, and therefore the fine was not collected.
Being no longer persecuted but free to work, Reverend Nelson organ- ized nine congregations in Denmark and built seven houses for worship. For twenty-four years he was pastor of one church, doing active outside work at the same time. During this period, in the year 1857, he published in the Danish language a collection of hymns, many of them being his translation from the Swedish and German languages. In 1859 he published a second and enlarged edition of the same collection. In 1861 he wrote and published two tracts, namely: "The Lutheran Church and the Bible." "What is Bap- tism and Who Shall be Baptized?" In 1863 he wrote and published a third tract called "The Golden Ring." About the same time he gave to the world ? fourth called "The Law or the Ten Commandments."
His family now being large and some of them having left the parental
789
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
roof to try their fortunes across the water in the "New World" the heart of the father yearned to see his children once more and with his wife, two sons and one daughter he came to America where five sons and one daughter had preceded him. "Father" Nelson arrived in New York City in August, 1865. and came direct to St. Louis, where he joined his children twelve miles south of that city. The two years he lived there were spent principally in gaining a knowledge of the English language.
The church he had served in Denmark for so many years became involved is some doctrinal difficulty and the thoughts of the congregation immed- iately reverted to their old pastor and they sent for him with the promise of paying his fare there and return, and remunerate him in addition it he woukl return and help them for a short time: but Reverend Nelson had accepted a call from the First Scandinavian Baptist Church, of Chicago, and had been commissioned by the American Home Mission Association to labor in Chi- cago and the surrounding country ; hence, could not accept their proposition ; but wrote them instructions with Bible references.
In 1867 taking his wife and four youngest children with him, Reverend Nelson moved to Chicago. After two years of missionary labor he conceived the desire of having his family settled near each other and started for the frontier, that they might take homesteads in the same settlement. He with others visited Kansas in the autumn of 1868 and while in Junction City looked over the map with other of his countrymen and through an agent homesteaded a quarter section of land then inhabited by the buffalo and the Indian. The Nelsons were the second settlers west of the Republican river and north of Buffalo creek. Several Swedes in Chicago interested other of their country- men who were a laboring but progressive people and formed a colony. They started the movement in 1867 but in 1868-9 others came and the town of Scandia was founded and a colony house was built. (This was afterward used as a school house.)
The colonists settled on both sides of the river from Lake Sibley north to the Nebraska line. Many other nationalities settled there. as many who filed delayed coming and their claims were contested; again some grew dis- contented. returned to their homes or went elsewhere. Something near four hundred farms were secured in a strip of land extending one mile back from the river and they also bought the state land in that vicinity. Of this number only about one hundred and fifty actual settlers came. The leaders of this scheme gave out the impression, if improvements were made they could hold their lands; they were people who were tied up with business af- fairs in Chicago and they trusted these agents, but their claims were contested and lost as a matter of course.
When the Reverend Nels Nelson came to the country and saw the con- dition of things he at once withdrew his support and in the meantime with other Danish emigrants established a colony. In 1869 his property was de- stroyed by the Indians as told in another part of this history. "Father"
47
790
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
Nelson was the "Good Samaritan" of the pioneer settlement. Ilis humble home on the frontier was open to all new comers; he followed the injunction -"Freely ye have received, freely give," until his hospitable dwelling was widely known as the "Free hospital and church." for he also held divine ser- vice there.
On July 30. 1871, the Reverend Nels Nelson organized a Danish Baptist church,-the first Baptist church west of Atchison,-with eleven members and later built the Saron Church, where, as long as his health per- mitted, he preached to his beloved people, and where all that is mortal of this reverend gentleman lies peacefully sleeping. He officiated at the Lord's table in the little Saron Church until the winter 1886, when his health failed. and March 10, 1887, the doors closed upon one of the most eventful lives recorded in these pages. "Father" Nelson was an elderly man when he left his fatherland. Upon coming to America he made the church his chief cause, was the spiritual advisor of the community of Danes and through his influence much is due for the settlement and prosperity of his people. The Saron Church is the only Danish Baptist Church in 1 the Association. "Father" Nelson organized a Swedish Baptist Church ten miles east of his homestead and ordamed August Johnson, pastor.
"Mother" Nelson, the life-long counselor and companion of the subject of this memoir, died February 27. 1902, at the age of eighty-six years. She was laid to rest in the Saron Church cemetery, by the side of her hus- band and son, Nels Nelson, Jr., whose demise preceded her own but a few weeks. She was active in mind and body, and until a short time before her death often walked to a son's home. four miles distant. She lived with her son. James Nelson. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were life members in the American Home Missionary Society.
Besides the two sons. Nels Nelson. Jr., and Henry Nelson, whose sketches follow, there are three sons and two daughters. Charles, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri : Caroline, wife of Martin Olsson, a farmer living three miles east of Hollis: James, the father of Doctor Nelson, of Concordia, is a well-to-do farmer of Republic county, and Mary, wife of O. E. Garder, a prosperous farmer of Buffalo township, two miles north of Yuma. The two younger sons, Christ and George, are thrifty farmers and stockmen, re- siding four miles northeast of Jamestown.
NELS NELSON, JR.
Nels Nelson. Jr., was a son of the late Reverend Nels Nelson of the pre- ceding sketch. He was a native of Denmark, born in 1838, and served a military school term in the Danish regular army. But after the death of Frederick VII. rather than take sides with the militia arrayed in battle against his own country, he left the Kingdom of Denmark in 1863 and came
791
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
to America. "The land of the free." After a residence of about five years in St. Louis he emigrated to Kansas where his home was devastated by the Indians and where for several years afterward he with his family spent many a sleepless night keeping watch lest the savages should suddenly swoop down and exterminate them. Under the head of "Indian Raids" appears an account of the attack made June 2. 1869, as told the author in a very graphie way by the subject of this sketch, a short time prior to his demise. After the memorable raid of the above date. the Nelsons had a struggle to keep above actual want, as their clothing was all confiscated, not even having shoes to wear: but during the tide of emigra- tion that flooded the country at that time, the incoming settlers all had flour and Mrs. Nelson baked much of their bread. This may seem a trivial cir- cumstance in this day of peace and plenty, but to the anxious pioneer those opportunities were golden. Mr. Nelson was married in 1866 to Christine Anderson, also a native of the Kingdom of Denmark and a very estimable woman. She came with her parents to America in 1862 and settled in Wis- consin. They later removed to Minnesota and subsequently came to Kansas where they both died, and are buried in the church yard at Saron.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were the parents of six children and reared an adopted son, Daniel Peterson, who came to live with them when five weeks old. He is now sixteen and a young man of exemplary character. Their two sons, Foster T. and Christ W. live near Ames and are prosperous young farmers. Anna, their eldest daughter, is the wife of N. C. Nelson, manager for the Continental Creamery Company at Scottsville. Carrie, before her marriage to Frank Fickle, was a teacher in the district schools. Mr. Fickle is a farmer of Republic county. Lillie is the wife of Bert Morehouse, a farmer near Hollis. Ida, the youngest daughter. is the wife of Charles Cooke.
In 1898 Mr. Nelson sold his old homestead and bought the William Poole farm near the Danish Church. Prior to this, however, he lived in Clyde and conducted the Iowa Hotel for one year.
In February, 1902, Mr. Nelson laid down the burdens of an arduous life and passed to his eternal home. By his death, the community lost one of its most highly respected citizens whose memory will be cherished more especially among his own countrymen. as one of the pioneers along with his revered father, who was instrumental in bringing them into this pros perous country. Mr. Nelson was buried in the Saron cemetery where the body of his father rests and which to them was a hallowed spot.
HENRY NELSON.
The subject of this sketch. Henry Nelson, of Jamestown, is the fourth son of the late Nels Nelson and was born on the Island of Zealand in 1847. His parents came to America in May, 1865. and settled near St. Louis, In
792
HISTORY OF CLOUD COUNTY, KANSAS.
the meantime Kansas was being widely advertised and three years later he
emigrated west to Silver Lake. Shawnee county, which was then a flag station. Ile found employment on the farm of a half-breed Indian w hose wife was the daughter of a Pottawatomie chief. The old chief had two wives, a white woman of French origin and a squaw. llis employer's Indian wife would often relate the cus- toms of her tribe. Among SUBURBAN RESIDENCE OF HENRY NELSON. many strange incidents the following grewsome transac- tion was graphically related to Mr. Nelson by the chief's daughter :
Two braves of the same tribe engaged in a duel and fought until one of the warriors fell mortally wounded ander a blow from the murderous tomahawk. The assassin was brought before the Pottawatomie chief and bound down to the earth, while in two long lines each of the duelists' kins- men were arranged upon either side of the doomed savage. Each faction "rounded up" their ponies, brought blankets, beads, and all sorts of Indian valuables, and a treaty was begun. Each side contributed alternately until much wealth of its kind was stacked up in two huge piles. Finally the palm was yielded to the friends of the slain warrior who had bought him for the purpose of wreaking revenge upon the blood-thirsty Indian for the slaying of their brave kinsman. They did not remove the victim, but there, pinioned. to the earth in the presence of their chief, braves, squaws and papooses, they proceeded to establish vengeance by taking clubs and beating the hapless Indian until life was extinct.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.