Person:Nels Noben (1)

Nel Noben was born Nels Olson in Skammestein, Oppland, Norway, on November 4, 1840. At the age of 10, he and his parents, two brothers and three sisters, left Norway for the United States. They left Bergen, Germany on the Emanuel and arrived in New York on June 18, 1851. The family headed to Koshkonong, Wisconsin. Perhaps there was family there. Ole Oleson died that year and left his wife and six young children. Nels' obituary states that he and his brother, most likely his older brother, Ole, went to Madison to support the family. Nels would have been 11 at the time, close to 12. He remained there until 1861 and then moved to Decorah, IA.

He enlisted in Co. A, 18th Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served until the close of the war.  He was mustered out as a sergeant in August of 1865. He returned to Decorah.  On January 18, 1869, he married Julia Swennoms in Prescott, MN.  The family moved to Elizabeth, MN, in the spring of 1871.  He was a farmer there.

Nels changed his name from Olson to Noben on May 23, 1878, in Fergus Falls, MN.

In 1880 he sold his land there and moved to Grafton, ND.

He was very active in public life. He held the office of school treasurer, member of the school board, alderman, member of the legislature and treasurer of Walsh county for two terms. In 1907 he sold his property in Grafton, and moved to Cuba in the hope that the warmer climate would improve Julia's health. Two years later he moved to Everett, WA. Julia died there. He married a second time in January of 1914 to Mrs. P.A Spaberg. Nels was a Master Mason, Chapter Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner. He died at Grace Schade's home, his youngest child and daughter.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Oregon Death Certificate.