Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Elofson, Nels 1834 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2019, 10:19 am Source: Alden, Ogle & Co. Author: See Below NELS ELOFSON is one of the pioneers of Swede Grove township. He is a son of Elofson and Bertha Anderson, and was born in Sweden on the 14th of June, 1834. He came to the United States with his mother in 1857, coming to Meeker county, Minn., direct, and filed a claim on land on section 33. He later sold that place and now owns 240 acres on sections 26 and 27, where he now lives. On the 31st of August, 1S61, he was married to Miss Ellen Eckbom, a daughter of Andrew and Anna Eckbom, who was born in Sweden August 20, 1841. Their union has been blessed with the following children— Edward N., born October 9, 1862; Andrew N., born March 21, 1864; William, born April 11, 1866 ; Betsy, born May 16, 1868 ; Anna, born December 26, 1869; Alice Bertha, born January 18, 1876, and Fred, born November 18, 1880. Edward is in business at Grove City; Andrew N. is foreman in a store at Paynesville ; and Betsy is a dressmaker at Litchfield. The other children are at home. Mr. Elofson learned the carpenter’s trade before he left his native land. The first work he did in the United States was in that line, finishing a house for a Mr. Yates in the fall of 1857. Being unable to speak English, Mr. Elofson was made to understand what was wanted by signs, and when the job was finished ho received his pay in flour, and was perfectly satisfied. The following spring he had hard work to find employment, but finally about six miles below St. Paul, he got a job of digging a cellar, laying the wall and foundation—his first mason work—and building the house. After finishing this he went to Carver and took charge of a widow’s farm for about a year and a half, when he again returned to his claim, but soon went back to Carver and for a few months was engaged in a furniture shop. After his marriage he returned to his claim and his mother, his brother, Peter, and sister, Betsy, lived with him. Mr. Elofson took an active part in the Indian warfare and was present through all the Indian troubles. On the 17th of August, 1862, a meeting of some of the settlers was held at Mr. Elofson’s house for the purpose of raising three men to fill a draft, which had been made on the town of Swede Grove. At about ten o’clock in the morning his neighbor Monson’s children came and informed them that the Indians were about and they were afraid to stay there. Upon learning this Mr. Monson and Swan Nelson went over to see what was the trouble and met the Indians, who were mounted, on the way. One of the red skins reached down and caught Nelson by the whiskers and pointed to the east, but he did not understand what they meant. They soon arrived at Elofson’s and the latter found that he was acquainted with several of the party. The Indians would not talk English but stated that they were on their way to the “Big Woods” for the purpose of killing some Chippewas, that had been killing the whites. They then rode off and soon met an aunt of Mr. Elofson’s and frightened her by brandishing their knives, but offered no violence. After the murder of the Jones and Baker families the news of the outbreak spread very rapidly, and in the evening Mr. Elofson and Nels Hanson went to the scene of the murder where others had gathered before their arrival. There they learned the details of the affair and were told to come back the next morning and help bury the dead, which they did. While they were there nine Indians came in sight and several shots were exchanged, but no one was hurt. Mr. Elofson then returned to his home and helped to start his own and all neighboring families for Lake Ripley (now Litchfield); while he with a couple of others awaited developments. On the 22d they saw Indians at a distance in pursuit of whites and decided that it was time for them to go to some place of safety. Mr. Elofson learned that his family had gone from Lake Ripley to Forest City, then Clearwater, and then St. Paul, and knowing they were safe he returned to Forest City and participated in the organization of the “Home Guards.” Mr. Elofson was also at Forest City at the time it was attacked by the Indians, and took an active part in the defense. Mr. Elofson remained at Forest City until October, when, he in company with others, started out in search of stock and found considerable of it. All of the houses in Grove City, had been burned except two. Not having heard from his wife and child since the beginning of the outbreak, and not knowing where they were, he went to St. Paul to look them up. There he met a friend who informed him that they had gone to his wife’s parents at Carver, whither he went, and remained until the following spring. He then worked at carpenter work until August, when he removed to Anoka. In February, 1864, he rented the farm where Litchfield is now located, and remained there until fall, when he bought a house at Forest City, and lived there until the following spring, then returned to his farm, and has since made this his home. In January, 1870, he went to Sweden, and returned the following June, bringing 300 emigrants with him; he was the first postmaster in Swede Grove township and held the office for seven years. From 1872 to 1876 he was in the agricultural implement business. He also spent about five months in the employ of the map publishing house of Warner & Foote. Mr. Elofson is a democrat in political matters, and has taken an active interest in all matters of a public nature. He has held various offices, including those of coroner, chairman of supervisors, school clerk, etc. Additional Comments: Extracted from Illustrated Album of Biography Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota 1888 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mnfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb