St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-13
GOV. KNUTE NELSON.

sion Of victories won in the face OF an
opposition more than political. an Op-
position due TO the fact that he did not
happen 10 be born in the United States.
a brief sketch of the life OF Gov. Nelson
will show how much he has had to con-
tend with.
Fifty years ago. on the ID day of
February, 1913, in little Norwegian
village. Knute Nelson was born. His
parents then resided in the parish of
Voss, near the city of Bergen. Norway.
They were in very moderate circum-
stances. Three years after the birth of
their son the father died. In 1849.
when knute was six years old, his
mother brought him to the United
States. They proceeded directly to
Chicago, where they resided for year.
During his residence in Chicago,
among other work he engaged in for a
livelihood was that Of carrier boy for
the Chicago Journal.
From there they removed, in 1850, to
Dane county, Wisconsin, settled on
farm located about sixteen miles from
Albion. For the next ten years Knute
lea the life OF a Woodworking country
boy. He spent his summers in the hay
fields, and his winters, and bitter win
tiers they we're, in hauling wood and do
Ing jail the odd Jobs he could find to
do Between times he managed
pick up q little of the scant instruction
afforded by the district school. But
fires OF ambition were burning in Knute
Nelson's bosom that even Wisconsin
winters could not chill. He realized
that "knOwIedge is power and he set
about to gam il. There was an academy
at Albion. Knute was scarcely sixteen
years OF age when he made up his
mind to 20 there. The manner
IN which he went. his reception.
his success, and the heroism with which
he worked his way through the institu-
ton, are interestingly related below.
One month after the firing OF the first
gun at Fort Sumter, Knute Nelson en-
listed as a private in Company B.
Fourth Wisconsin regiment. He re-
manned in active service until july.
1864. At the siege OF Port Hudson, La.
June a. 1863, he was wounded and
taken prisoner. Upon receiving an
honorable discharge in 1864, he returned
TO Albion and finished his course there.
1t did not take Knute Nelson long to
decide upon a vocation. He chose the
law, and at once entered upon the study
Of il, and three years later, IN the spring
OF 1867, he was admitted TO the bar of
the circuit court for Dane county, Wis
eonsln. Then he removed to Mad
ison- Endowed, as he was, with Wig.
orous, logical mind and q rugged
constitution, he made rapid progress in
his profession. He had practiced
scarcely a year before his legal ability
became conspicuous. and he was re-
garded as one of the most promising
young lawyers in that section OF the
state.
His political career dates from this
time, for in 1865, at the age of twenty
FIVE. he was elected to represent
his district in the assembly
of the Wisconsin legislature,
He served there in 1868 and 1869. The
following year he removed to Alexan-
dria, Mimi, where he has resided ever
since. Two years later. in 1872, he was
elected county attorney for Douglas
county. He held this office for three
years, when he was nominated for the
state senate, elected and reelected the
following term, serving in that body
during the years 1875, 20, ~ aud