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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ANDREW J. NELSON was born in Elsburg, lower Sweden, March 18, 1854, He was reared on a farm and attended the common district schools, till he was seventeen years old, coming then to America, reaching New York the twenty-sixth of May, 1871, without a penny. He borrowed money enough to pay his passage to this country, his mother going his security. Going at once to Hartford, Mich., where he had acquaintances, he obtained employment on a railroad, and remained there about three months; then went to Iroquois county, Ill., and worked on a farm. By fall, he had earned enough money to pay back what he had borrowed to bring him to America. He worked in Iroquois county three years, and at the end of that time, with the money so earned, bought eighty acres of land. He disposed of this, however, four years afterwards and in the spring of 1879 came to Phelps county, Nebr. This he found to be a wild prairie country, then very sparsely settled, but he determined to locate and go to work to secure a home. After prospecting about for some time he selected a homestead in Prairie township and set about to erect a sod house. He never discovered that the future county seat would be located on land adjoining his claim. He had only about two hundred dollars when he came to Nebraska, and after he had secured his claim and purchased feed for a team he had brought with him he had but little left. He remained on this homestead about nine years. In the meantime, the Burlington & Missouri River railroad was built through Phelps county and the county seat located at Holdrege, which place seemed to spring up out of a corn field after the railroad was built. The officials of the road concluded to locate their extensive shops at Holdrege and made Mr. Nelson an offer of eight thousand dollars for his farm, which lay about one mile from the new town. He accepted this offer and immediately invested the money in land in Laird township, where he now owns six hundred and forty acres.

Mr. Nelson was married December 25, 1876, to Miss Gusta Lindgreen. She was born in Elsburg, lower Sweden, September, 19, 1823, coming to America with her parents when quite small. To this union have been born five children — Minnie S. born October 23, 1877; George W., born February 19, 1879; Lewis H., born November 1, 1883; Call E., born January 11, 1886; Hattie E., born July 12, 1888.

Mr. Nelson is an ardent advocate of temperance and votes the prohibition ticket. His farm where he now lives comprises three hundred and twenty acres, on which he has recently erected a handsome residence. Every thing indicates thrift and prosperity, and shows Mr. Nelson to be a shrewd and careful manager. He deals extensively in stock and does his own shipping. He ranks among the most successful farmers of Phelps county.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the book, Biographical Souvenir of the Counties of Buffalo, Kearney, Phelps, Harlan and Franklin, Nebraska published in 1890 by F. A. Battey & Company. 

View additional Phelps County, Nebraska family biographies here: Phelps County, Nebraska Biographies

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