The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-06
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Mrs. Martha Nelson, wife &c Hon. N.
=. Nelson. died on Wednesday October
18th, 1903, and was buried ia tie city
cemetery on Saturday. Oct. 3lst, aged
u years, 2 months and 10 days.
The deceased was born III Rinpsaker
parish, Norway, and emigrated to this
country In 1848 with her parents. who
settled in Wisconsin. She was married
to Mr.. N. E. Nelson at La Crosse, Wis,
March 18th, 1858. Mr.. Nelson was then
a clerk in the U. S. Land Office and as
the Office was moved farther went, moved
with it from Lacrosse 10 Winona, thence
to Redwing and last to Henderson. In
1851 Mr.. Nelson volunteered at the first
call in the famous First Regiment Of
Minnesota Volunteers. leaving his wife
and two children to wait his return. On
coming back safe, Mr. Nelson was then
elected Register of Deeds for Fillmore
county, which Office he held for three
terms. In 1850 MIR. Nelson came to Penn
bina as deputy collector Of customs, Mrs.
Nelson, with her family. following in
1910 or 1871. There were born to Mr..
and Mrs. Nelson eight children; Of these
there survive Mrs. Judson LaM oure, ST.,
Mrs. Montague, of Caro-, Mich; Mrs.
Vim. Hunter, of Minneapolis; Misses
Helen, Cora and Lulu Nelson.
The funeral services occurred at the
Presbyterian church on Saturday, Rev.
c. E. Doane officiating, and were attend
ed by large number of sympa,hizing
friends. The pail bearers were selected
from the older friends Of the deceased
and we're Judge Kneeshaw, Mayor CHS
holm, ]. G. Sonderman, E. M. Nixon,
H. c. Feldman and F. A. Wardwell
The above comprises general outline
of the life OF the deceased In itself it is
neither more nor less than that of many
others, and yet in Mrs. Nelson's case it
includes almost the whole history of this
great Northwest, from the days of the
earliest settlement. We speak and write
much of the pioneers of those early davs,
but almost always with reference to the
hardy. brave and energetic men, who
carved nation out of the prairie wilder
ness. But we are apt to forget the brav-
cry OF the women, who could not fight,
but who could SO patiently suffer in lone
ly solitude, tar from neighbors, when the
husband was called away to fight for his
country's preservation, while the war.
whoop of the savage could be heard
from the door of her cottage. In that
terrible time OF the Minnesota Indian
war, when the settlers, with their wives
and families, were being massacred by
the Indians, Mrs. Nelson, with her two
babies, was alone, her husband having
gone to the front with the brave First
Minnesota Volunteers. to fight the SOUTH
ern rebels, and when Capt. Crank. Ay-
mond, who himself was buried at Necne
some two weeks since, came down the
Minnesota river with his steamboat, TAX.
ing all the women and children from the
settlements mrs. Nelson and children
were passengers) and he carried them TO
st. Paul as the nearest place Sdf safety u
To us it has always seemed that to the
women of those early days, the lonely
frontier life, even in its most ordinary as
poets. brought greater hardships than to
the men. 1t is easier to work, yes even
to fight, than to sit and wait. All this
patient waiting, along with her children
and her husband, Mrs. Nelson has pass
ed through. A trail woman all her life,
yet she has done more than most strong
men for her country, and could look in
her later years with comfort and satisfact-
ion at the great work in which she had
taken so large part. =
To her, doubtless, her part appeared
small; she doubtless only thought
that at most she had but done the duties
that came to her,to do. But to very few
come the duties that came to Mrs. Mel
son. Humble in mind, weak in body.
she has passed to the great beyond with
her life work well done. May we who
live in less strenuous times be able to do
our part in life as WE'LL.
To the husband, who himself is. but
partially recovered from similar stroke
of illness, and 70 the children, there is a
universal expression Of the deepest sym
pathy, than which there is no more that
human nature can do. There is only the
sweet consolation that she is happier
now, and that some time soon we may
all meet her in the land where there is no
more parting.
Sacrifice Sale Of Suits, Skirts and Goats
at Full's tomorrow. See his advertise.
ment.