The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-05-03
SEN. KNUTE NELSON
dies AT 80 YEARS
OLDEST MEMBER OF u. S. SEN
ATE-"GRAND OLD MAN"
OF MINNESOTA

= 1iS SiiiSylNdild IdiliOdQ JTdln a
S15 o'clock Saturday night while OF
his way from Washington to Chicago
where he was to continue on his way
to his home in Minnesota. Deatl
was due to heart failure.
The railroad train crew said that a:
the train was passing through
Timonium, Md, II miles from Balti-
more, the aged senator had an at
tack of angina pectoris and died in
a few minutes.
With the senator at the time of
his death were his niece, Mrs. Edith
Truscott, of Jennings Lodge, Ore.
George w. Wells, Jr., insurance com
missioner of Minnesota; and Walker
W. Belford, deputy insurance COM
missioner.
Oldest Senator
Washington, April 29.-The death
Saturday night of Knute Nelson, Sc
nior senator from Minnesota, aboard
train enroute to Chicago, removed
from the senate its Oldest member,
and one of those with the longest
service record. He was so years old
and had served % years.
Senator Nelson, although i'll last
winter with influenza, was active dur
ing the last session of congress and
Saturday when he left Washington
for his home he appeared in excell-
ent health, although the death of his
wife year ago had greatly depressed
him. Those who were closest to
him said that he never recovered from
that blow
A Rugged Figure
Great strength-physical and men
tal-was the first thing that impress
ed one in meeting Knute Nelson, long
referred to as the "grand old man"
of Minnesota. His physique was
stocky and muscular, his head larger
than that of the average man, his
features cast in strong mould His
whole personality was suggestive of
unaffectedness, breadth Of mind and
decisiveness.
Senator Nelson had peculiar apti-
tude for statecraft, evidenced by the
fact that, besides being a member of
the United States senate for more
5han twenty years, he was for sig
years In the house of representatives
and he served in the legislatures of
Wisconsin and Minnesota and twice
IS governor Of the last named state.
He was frankly and unaffectedly
1roud of his record of never having
'een defeated for any office for which
le became candidate. In politics
le was a republican.
Always Fearless
In dealing with legislative ques-
ions he was thoroughly fearless in
rs public utterances and, in private
onference. with members of his con-
tltuency, was outspoken. One of
be many laws passed largely because
1 his initiative and aggressiveness
'as the bankruptcy law, which, from
is active and successful connection
18th it, was known as the 'Nelson
lre."
Born in Voss, Norway, on Febru-
ry 2, 1843, Knute Nelson came to
le United States with his widowed
other when he was six years old,
nd they found their first American
ome in Chicago. Knute helped his
other by selling papers on the
reefs. Later they moved to Wis
'nsin and the youngster obtained
S first schooling in Dane county,
ing to the academy at Albion, Wis.
here he studied for three years.
Civil War Veteran
In the Civil war Nelson entered
e Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer In
ntry. He served three years, tax
g part in the capture Of Fort Jack
n, st. Phillip and New Orleans, in
e seige of Vicksburg and the bat
s of Bannon Rouge, Camp Bislan
d Franklin, In the fighting at Port
ldson, La, he received wound in
: thigh, the effects of which he
t the rest of his life. Taken pris-
er, he was kept at Port Hudson
til it surrendered
Home at Alexandria
Returning to Dane county, Wis.
er the war, Nelson studied law
was admitted to the bar in 1867.
1868 Mr.. Nelson married Miss
'holina Jacobson, at Christiana,
S., and they moved to Alexandria,
lnesota, which was to be the Mel
s home thereafter. Five child
were born, but four have died.
ir. Nelson was elected to the house
representatives in 1899 aftar ho
served terms in the legislature
both Minnesota and Wisconsin as
e senator. After six year in the
er house of congress he retired
resumed his law practice. He
elected governor of Minnesota
o92 and was reelected two years
r but resigned in 1895 to become
ted States senator to which office
vas reelected in l901-O7-13-19