Born Apr. 10, 1853,

Bomlefjord, Norway, to Sigbjørn and wife Nelson. "At age 16 he went to sea and saw most of the ports of Europe, China, Japan, and New York. On Sept. 26, 1878 he married his childhood sweetheart, Anna Sandvig, and in May 1880 they set sail for America with their infant daughter, bought land and settled on a farm in Iowa, meanwhile working on the railroad and attended school. As he was shingling his farmhouse, he heard a clear call from God to go to China as a missionary. He heeded the call, sold his farm, and with $500 went as an independent missionary. After

a few years in China he was accepted and supported by the Norwegian

Lutheran Church in America. He served with missionary zeal until his untimely death by a sniper's bullet, Feb. 8, 1926, in Sinyang, China at the age of 72. He had two sons who suffered tragic deaths in China: Rev. Bert Nelson, taken by the Chinese bandits, held hostage for some years, and probably killed in 1932; Rev. Daniel Nelson, who with his wife and son and daughter died in a hijacked plane

near Macao, China, July 16, 1948." Also sons: Rev. Peter, Nelson, Sask., Canada; Sig, Bellingham, Wash.; J.H. Nelson, Kansas City.

Daughters: Nora (m. P.M. Mattill), Minneapolis; Mrs. J.V.Latimer, Upland, Calif.