North Dakota’s first Norwegian immigrant was notable for more than his name

FARGO — Quiz time: This individual is probably going probably the most well-known North Dakotan with a reduplicated identify (a single identify repeated within the full identify). He was additionally North Dakota’s first Norwegian immigrant, the primary North Dakotan to be awarded a homestead and has a county named in his honor.

Who’s he? In case your reply is Nelson E. Nelson, you’re right.

Nelson labored within the workplace of customs collector in Pembina for 33 years, 12 of these as the pinnacle collector. He was elected to the Dakota Territorial Legislature and served as Pembina’s mayor. Previous to coming to Pembina, Nelson fought for the Union Military in a few of the bloodiest battles of the Civil Warfare.

Nelson Edward Nelson was born Dec. 25, 1830, although some sources say 1833, on a farm “about 13 miles from Christiana (Oslo), Norway, to John and Anna Knudson. Nelson’s father died earlier than he was born and his mom handed away when he was solely seven years previous.”

Nelson was raised by his maternal grandparents, Ole and Martha Knuteson, and “attended widespread faculties till age 10.” He then enrolled at a seminary within the municipality of Lier, positioned just some miles southwest of Oslo. After graduating, Nelson taught faculty within the space for a yr.

Whereas Nelson was in Lier, one of many main subjects of debate was in regards to the members of that neighborhood who had immigrated to the U.S. and helped discovered a neighborhood generally known as the Muskego Settlement. This settlement, close to Lake Michigan, which was positioned southwest of Milwaukee, later grew to become the city of Norway, Wis., and “was one of many first Norwegian-American settlements within the U.S.”

In 1849, Nelson immigrated to the U.S. alongside together with his grandparents and, after a short while on the Muskego Settlement, he went to Milwaukee the place he labored odd jobs and attended lessons to study the English language. After spending quick durations of time in Black River Falls, Wis., and St. Louis, Mo., Nelson moved to La Crosse, Wis., to the clerk at a retailer owned by Samuel D. Hastings. Hastings had simply been elected to the state meeting (legislature) and wanted somebody accountable to handle his retailer in his absence.

In 1854, Nelson was employed by Choose Cyrus Okay. Lord to be his clerk on the U.S. Land Workplace in La Crosse. Whereas there, Nelson fell in love with Martha Hansen, who had additionally lately immigrated from Norway. After the 2 obtained married, they relocated to Winona, Minn., in 1855, the place Nelson was to assist open the land workplace. In 1856, he grew to become the clerk of the Land Workplace in Purple Wing, Minn., and when that workplace was eliminated to Henderson, Minn., in Sibley County in 1857, he went with it and continued performing because the clerk till the spring of 1861.

On April 12, 1861, members of the South Carolina militia shelled the Union garrison stationed at Fort Sumter, igniting the beginning of the American Civil Warfare. Two days later Minnesota’s then-governor, Alexander Ramsey, supplied 1,000 males to President Abraham Lincoln, the very first group of volunteers the Union obtained in response to the South’s assault on Fort Sumter.

On April 29, the first Minnesota Infantry Regiment was fashioned beneath the command of Col. Willis A. Gorman. The first Minnesota was thought-about “one of the crucial influential and courageous regiments within the Civil Warfare.”

On Could 17, Nelson enlisted within the Minnesota regiment, regardless that he was married with 5 younger youngsters. He was assigned to Firm A, commanded by Capt. Alexander Wilkin, and after intensive coaching at Fort Snelling, Nelson “boarded a river boat to go South to a rail line in order that he might head east.” Nelson’s Minnesota regiment skilled its first motion on July 21 within the First Battle of Bull Run, close to Manassas, Va. “The first Minnesota was one of many final regiments to go away the battlefield and suffered among the many highest casualties (20%) of any northern regiment.”

Throughout the subsequent yr, the first Minnesota noticed little motion aside from the disastrous Battle of Ball’s Bluff on Oct. 21 in Loudoun County, Va. In the summertime of 1862, between June 1 and July 1, the first Minnesota was concerned in 4 pitched battles within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. On June 1 they fought within the Battle of Seven Pines; on June 29, the Battle of Savage’s Station; on June 30, the Battle of Glendale; and on July 1, the Battle of Malvern Hill.

These clashes set the stage for a few of the bloodiest battles of the Civil Warfare. From Aug. 28-30, the Second Battle of Bull Run was fought, which was on a a lot bigger scale than the First Battle of Bull Run. Then, on Sept. 17, the bloody battle of Antietam passed off close to Sharpsburg, Md.

The first Minnesota, beneath the command of Col. Alfred Sully, was thrust into fight alongside the fifteenth Massachusetts, commanded by Brig. Gen. Willis Gorman. Sure, the identical one that had commanded the first Minnesota on the First Battle of Bull Run.

Throughout the battle, the Accomplice forces made “an unseen and sudden try and flank Gorman,” however the Minnesota forces “fired with a lot coolness and accuracy” that they pushed the Confederates again, rescuing Gorman’s troopers. This battle “stays the bloodiest day in American historical past, with a mixed tally of twenty-two,717 useless, wounded, or lacking.” The casualty stage of the first Minnesota was 141 males, 28% of their troopers, however the battle was thought-about “a significant turning level within the Union’s favor.”

Following the 2 Battles of Fredericksburg in Virginia, on Dec. 11-15 and n Could 3, 1863, each of which the first Minnesota participated in, Accomplice Gen. Robert E. Lee made a daring transfer to try to destroy the guts of the Union military at Gettysburg, Pa., in early July. Col. William J. Colvill, who had served within the 1st Minnesota regiment ever because the begin of the warfare, was now the commander.

On July 2, the second day of the battle, the Union military was in retreat from a Accomplice assault, and the first Minnesota was “the one out there organized troops” that would decelerate the attackers lengthy sufficient to permit the Union forces “time to assemble and muster themselves right into a defensible place.” “All 262 males of the first Minnesota charged into the a lot bigger Accomplice brigade,’ permitting the fleeing Union troopers to regroup. Historians have written, “with out the first Minnesota’s bravery, sacrifice, and fast motion, the Union would have misplaced the complete Battle of Gettysburg.” A memorial to the first Minnesota now stands on the battlegrounds in Gettysburg.

Nelson suffered a incapacity from the battle and was discharged in November. He returned to his residence in Henderson and have become energetic in public affairs. He served as deputy county auditor of Sibley County, then county choose of probate for 2 phrases, and county register of deeds for 2 phrases. In 1869, Minnesota legislator John C. Stoever appointed Nelson the deputy collector of customs at Pembina. Why Minnesota nonetheless held any governmental authority in 1869, I have no idea.

We’ll conclude the article about Nelson E. Nelson subsequent week.