Nelson, Socrates  
                
                
                
                    
                        
                        
                            
                                 Senate  1859-60  (District 1)
                            
                            
                                Party when first elected:  Democratic
                            
                            
                                Counties Served: 
                   Washington
                            
                            BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
                                        
                                            Date of Birth: 
                                            1/11/1814
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth Place: 
                                            Conway, Massachusetts
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth County: 
                                            
                                        
                                        
                                            Birth Country: 
                                            United States
                                        
                                        
                                            Date of Death: 
                                            5/6/1867
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                        
                                        
                                            Gender: 
                                            Male
                                        
                                        
                                            Religion: 
                                            
                                        
                                        
                                            Reported Minority: None Reported
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                 
                                
                                
                                    Other Names: 
                                    
                                
                                
                                    
                                
                                
                                
                                    City of Residence (when first elected): 
                                    Stillwater
                                
                                
                                    Occupation (when first elected): 
                                    Lumberman
                                
                             
                            EDUCATION
                            
                                
                                    At Least Elementary School; Academic Education, Massachussetts
                                
                             
                            OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
                            
                                
                                
                                        
                                        
                                            County Board/Commissioner: 
                                            Washington County, Minnesota (Commissioner in 1852, 1855, and 1856); 
                         
                         [Dates Unknown]
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            Territorial Government: 
                                            St. Croix County, Wisconsin Territory (County Commissioner and Treasurer); 
                         
                         1847 to ?
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            County Board/Commissioner: 
                                            Washington County, Minnesota Territory (Treasurer); 
                         
                         1850 to ?
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            Board of Regents: 
                                            University of Minnesota (Regent, One of the First Ones); 
                         
                         02/1851 to 02/1859
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            Territorial Government: 
                                            Minnesota Territorial Auditor; 
                         
                         05/15/1853 to 01/17/1854
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                        
                                            Municipal Council/Aldermen: 
                                            Stillwater, Minnesota (City Council); 
                         
                         1863 to 1865
                                            
                                        
                                    
                                    
                             
                         
                        
                        
                            FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
                            
                                
	
                                    Spouse: 
                                    Betsey D. Barlett (married in 1844)
                                    Children: 
                                    Two children: Emma and Ella (daughters; Ella died in infancy)
                                    
                                    
                                    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature: 
                                    
                                    
                                
                             
                            GENERAL NOTES
                            
                                
                                    He moved to Illinois in 1839.  He then lived to St. Louis, Missouri.  He came to Stillwater in 1844 and became the first merchant of that area.
He was elected a delegate to the 1864 Democratic National Convention.
He ran unsucessfully for the Minnesota Senate in 1860.
He died in Stillwater, Minnesota.
                                
                             
                         
                     
                    
                    
                    
                 
                
            
            
        
        
        
        
                
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                    
                                        
                                            Body: 
                                            Senate
                                        
                                        
                                            District: 
                                            01
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                    
                                        
                                            Elected: 
                                            10/12/1858
                                        
                                        
                                            Residence: 
                                            Stillwater
                                        
                                     
                                    
                                    
                                        Term of Office: 
                                        12/7/1859 to 1/7/1861
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                         Oath Date:   
                                        12/7/1859
                                    
                                    
                                   
                                 
                                
                                    Counties Represented:
                                     Washington
                                
                                
                                    Occupation: 
                                    Lumberman
                                
                                
                                    Party:
                                    Democratic
                                    
                                
                                
                                
                                    
                                
                                
                                    Committees:
                                    
                                    
                                            
                                                
                                            - 
                                                Railroads and Railroad Bonds Special
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                            
- 
                                                State Prison
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                            
 
                                
                                    
                                    
                                
                                
                                
                                    Session Notes:
                                    From 1849 to 1886, the term of office start date is uncertain. 
                                
                                
                                
                             
                            
                            
                            
                         
                        
                     
                    
                 
                
            
            
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
     
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
            
                    
                     No other information has been entered for this legislator.