The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-05-03

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The death of the woman who had
stood by and counseled through more
titan halaf century of vigorous po-
litical activity disheartened him, and
although he worked zealously in the
last session of Congress-, it was ap-
parent that life had lost some If its
zest for the veteran legislator, who is
kr own to thousands as the "gi and
old man."
A few moments after his death
President Harding referred to the
senator's work as "record OF great
accomplishment" That appreciation
Of him, and sentiments of more init
laate nature, We're repeated all over
the Northwest Saturday night as TIE
news of his death spread.
His life portrayed, as did that of
few men, the story of achievement
and progress in the Northwest, it
was said, and study of his life
brings to light all the circumstances
and events that Americans are fond
OF picturing in an illustrious career.
Immigrant, orphan, penniless news
boy, backwoods student, Civil war
soldier, lawyer, pioneer, United
States representative, governor and
senator are the steps by which he
proceeded to achievement. For fifty
two years he held public office and
he died in his fifth term as United
States senator, the oldest member of
the upper branch of Congress.
He was born in Voss, Norway, Feb
ruary 2, 1S43, a little village in a
narrow valley near the city of Ber-
gen. Rough land and little water af-
forded poor pasturage, and the peas
ant father in 1916 set off for Ameri-
ca to find new home, leaving the
family to come later. The father
died of cholera.
Net content to remain in Norway,
The fnother and the youthful Knute
set oatr for America themselves,
bound for Chicago, where relatives
lived. They landed at New York in
1849, 'worse than penniless," the
senator was accustomed to explain in
later years. The family was $45 in
debt.
In Chicago Knute Nelson took his
first job, the delivery of newspapers.
When he was eight years old, his
mother married again and the fami-
~ went to sandy farm in Walworth
county, Wis. Here the youth received
his first education from woman to
whom he frequently paid glowing tri-
butte, Mary Dillon. He was whipped
every day, he related, the offense
most frequently being fighting.
But the f1oggings apparently were
tempered with discretion and kind
ness, for the fighting spirit often man.
ifested later was not subdued, and
even on vacations he went voluntari-
ly to the home of Mary Dillon to sup
plement the education received at
regular terms.
At the age of Is he entered the
academy at Albion, Wis, after the
family had moved to the vicinity of
Deerfield. He went to the master of
Albion academy and explained that
he intended getting an education de-
spite the fact that he had no. mono q
He was given a part time job curry
ing horses, and he came to school at
the opening of the term with team
Of steers drawing a load of wood to
heat his room. ,.s....... r..s.~sr-.
The fall of Fort Sumpter interrupt
ed his stay at the academy. Swayed
by patriotic address by a recruit
ing officer, he enlisted without the
consent of his mother and served 8
years as a private and non-commis-
stoned officer. He took part in the
capture of Fort Jackson, St. Philip
and New Orleans, in the siege of
vlcksburg and in the battles of Baton
Rouge, Camp Bislan and Franklin.
in the fighting at Port Hudson, La,
he was wounded in the thigh and
taken prisoner. While held a pris-
oner he underwent the privations re-
called by many captured Yankee.
But he was accorded medical
treatment. AS result of unskilled
surgery, probably, he suffered from
the effects of his wound throughout
his life.
He was released when Port Hudson
i''n. The war ended soon and he re-
turned to Dane county, Wisconsin,
where he studied law. He was adj
m tied to the bar N 1867. A year
later he was married to Miss Nicho.
lima Jacobson at Christiana, Wis.
The manner of his becoming a citi-
zen of Minnesota frequently provoked
tie senator's mirth. He was in i'll
health, suffering an affliction of the
lungs. He was advised by a physi-
clan to go to Minnesota, some place
In the fastness of the wilderness
where, the physician understood, the
air was dry and most stimulating to
persons of weak lungs.
He went to Alexandria, making
part of the journey by stage coach.
For time he was undetermined
whether to make his home in Alex
andria or Fergus Falls, but he en-
trusted his fortunes finally to Alex
andria.
In 1883 he was elected to the Min
nesota House of Representatives, af-