Olofsson (Wilson) Nils-Gustav

Notes:

Nils-Gustav, also known as Ned Guy Wilson changed his name upon arriving in America. He was born on the Island of Oland near Smaland, Sweden on Feb. 15, 1845 and was the son of a merchant seaman. At the age of 15 years, he became a sailor and immigrated to America in 1860, seeing many of the great seaports of the word and later helping to bring supplies to the Union Army during the Civil War. He later settled in Chicago, Illinois where he became a tiller of the soil, farming a few years near Momence, IL but moved to Grant Township, Boone County, IA in 1869. He was 24 years of age when he came to Grant Township and with the money he had saved during his life's labors, he purchased 160 acres (SW 1/4) of virgin prairie in Section 3. This land was purchased on August 28, 1860 for $1200. ($7.50 per acre.) He later made several other land purchases in Grant Township over the years, eventually owning over 500 acres of good farmland about two miles north of Boxholm where he later became the town's mayor.

Besides being a successful farmer of Grant Township, Nils was also a member of the ogen community from about 1880 to about 1886. There he was at first engaged in farming but later became manager of the Scandinavian Cooperative Company of Ogden. Still later he was engaged in the mercantile business, being in partnership with a Mr. J. H. Eversoll in the operation of a general merchandise store in Ogden. This partnership was dissolved in September of 1885 and Nils returned to his homestead near Boxholm about 1886. He was a resident of Dayton for a short time, but spent most of his active life farming in Grant Township.

He spent the rest of his life in Boxholm and is buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery. He married twice. He married first wife, Louisa Chalotte Anderson from Horn, Sweden, on 20 June, 1848. She died on 30 Nov. 1894. They had eleven children, seven of whom died in their youth. Four grew to adulthood but two never married. All are buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Dayton, IA.

About five years after the death of his first wife, he remarried. His second wife was Clara Beckstrom whom he married on 24 Sept. 1899. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on Jan. 19, 1860 the daughter of Gustaf and Louisa Beckstrom. By 1908, Nils and Clara retired from active farm life and moved into their brand new house he had built just north of the Methodist Church, of which he was a member.

Nils was always held in high esteem by his fellow citizens and served as justice of the peace for Grant Township in 1879, and also in 1905-06 and again in 1913-14. When the town of Borxholm was incorporated, he was elected as the first mayor, serving from 1913 to 1917.

He died on March 12, 1926 in Boxholm, aged 81 years and is buried next to his first wife and their infant children.

The second Mrs. Wilson, (Clara Beckstrom) died on Sept 14, 1927, aged 67 years and is buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery at Boxholm beside her mother, Louisa Beckstrom (1833- 1912).

The only descendant still residing within Grant Township is a granddaughter, Mrs. John (Delores) Shepard, Jr.

Nils-Gustaf was also an uncle of Louis and N. P. Wlson, also early Grant Township settlers.

History taken from "History of Boxholm and Grant Township, 1986" by David C. Peterson.

Nils-Gustav married Anderson Louisa Charlotte on 22 Apr 1871 in Chicago, Cook County, IL. Louisa was born on 20 Jun 1848 in Horn, Nykoping Kommun, Sodermanlands Lan, Sweden; died on 30 Nov 1894 in Boxholm, Boone County, IA; was buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Dayton, Boone County, IA.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nils-Gustav married Beckstrom Clara M. on 24 Sep 1899. Clara was born on 19 Jan 1860 in Chicago, Cook County, IL; died on 14 Sep 1927 in Boxholm Boone County, IA; was buried in Prairie Lawn Cemetery, Dayton, Boone County, IA.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Johnson Warner. Warner was born in 1868 in IL; died in 1933 in St. Paul, MN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shelby never married.

Notes:

Hattie never married.

Family/Spouse: Swiegert C. J.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]