Jonas was born in Tronheim, Norway on Jan 31, 1839. He was the son of Nils and Susanna Iverson. As per Nowiegian tradition, being the son of Nils, his last name became Nilson or as we know it "Nelson". His family, including siblings Iver, Nels and Anna, came to America in the spring of 1854. After arriving here Jonas started going by the name John Nelson. The family eventually settled near the little town of Wanamingo, Minnesota near Red Wing. John enlisted at Red Wing on Feb 14, 1862. He was 23, when, on Feb 28th he was mustered into Company B of the First Minnesota. He stood 5' 11" tall. The tall Norwegian had blue eyes, light hair and a fair complexion. On Oct 10, 1862, he was admitted to the Fort Schuyler Hospital in New York City, because of the bullet wound he received to his thumb at the battle at Antietam on Sept 17, 1962. His left thumb was either shot off or amputated at the hospital. The muster roll for April 10, 1863, states that he was still absent wounded, However he must have returned shortly thereafter. The muster roll for April / May 1863 reports him as present. The same is true for July / August 1863, when the regiment fought at Gettysburg. He was not wounded. Having lost a thumb at Antietam, he may have been one of the men detailed to serve with the ambulances or at the 2nd Corps Hospital. Where he served that day is not known. When the regiment was discharged in May 1864, he was due to be transferred to the First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry, to complete his three year term of enlistment. He wanted to enlist for another three years in order to collect the bounty due to veterans who reenlisted. It is not known whether or not ne collected his bounty. However between being mustered out of the First Minnesota Infantry and being mustered into the First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry he got married.On May 7, 1864, he married Anne Marie Dalemoe. The Sept / Oct 1864 muster roll lists him as on detached service with the Ambulance Corps 2nd Div 2nd Army Corps. He was discharged on Feb 11, 1865, near Petersburg, VA, at the expiration at his 3 year term of service. His military pension in 1880 was $4 per month, which took into consideration the loss of his thumb during the war. Anne died in 1915. John died on Nov 9, 1920, at his farm in Arlington, in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. Sources: The Stillwater Messenger, Sept 30, 1862. The St Paul Press, March 24, 1863. 1860 Census for Goodhue County, Minnesota. Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll, Kenneth Thomas, Warrensburg, Ohio, March, 1998. Research done by Donald Nelson, a descendent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
