Senate  1927-38  (District 25)
                            
                            
                                Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
                            
                            
                                Counties Served: 
                   Kandiyohi, Swift
                            
                            BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                        
                                            Date of Birth: 
                                            3/24/1871
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth Place: 
                                            Paxton, Illinois
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth County: 
                                            
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth Country: 
                                            United States
                                        
                                        
                                            Date of Death: 
                                            3/19/1960
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                        
                                        
                                            Gender: 
                                            Male
                                        
                                        
                                            Religion: 
                                             Lutheran
                                        
                                        
                                            Reported Minority: None Reported
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                 
                                
                                
                                    Other Names: 
                                    
                                
                                
                                    
                                
                                
                                
                                    City of Residence (when first elected): 
                                    Willmar
                                
                                
                                    Occupation (when first elected): 
                                    Printer/Editor, Willmar Tribune
                                
                             
                            EDUCATION
                            
                                
                                    Country Schools; Elementary School; A Few Early Years, Then Self-Taught
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota; Honorary Masters degree; Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters
                                
                             
                            OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
                            
                                
                                
                                        
                                        
                                            State Board/Commission/Council: 
                                            Minnesota State Historical Society (President and Lifetime Member); 
                         
                         [Dates Unknown]
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            Municipal Mayor: 
                                            Willmar, Minnesota (3 terms); 
                         
                         1??? to 1???
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            School Board/Administration: 
                                            Willmar, Minnesota (Board of Education Member, several terms, President, 5 years); 
                         
                         1??? to 1???
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                             
                         
                        
                        
                            FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
                            
                                
	
                                    Spouse: 
                                    Minnie Nelson (married in 1894, she died around 1901); Widower; Julia Shellstrom (remarried in 1908, she died in 1947)
                                    Children: 
                                    No children
                                    
                                    
                                    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature: 
                                    
                                    
                                
                             
                            GENERAL NOTES
                            
                                
                                    He was of Swedish ancestry.
He came to New London, Minnesota in 1880.
"In the political realm he was one of the builders of the liberal movement in Minnesota..." (Minnesota Journal of the Senate, March 29, 1961, p. 1092)
He "was of liberal political philosophy." (Minnesota Journal of the Senate, March 29, 1961, p. 1091)
He ran unsuccessfully for Minnesota Governor.
King Gustav of Sweden conferred upon him Knighthood in the Order of Vasa.
He was a member of the Gustavus Adolphus College Board and the Augustana book concern director.
He was President of the Associated Press of Minnesota.
He died at home in Willmar, Minnesota.
He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church. (Minnesota Journal of the Senate, March 29, 1961, p. 1092)
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1937.