GEDCOM Note
Alvin “Sam” Bernard Nelson was the youngest of the ten children of Nels and Marie (Larson) Nelson (my great-grandparents). He was born on 22 March 1906 in McDonaldsville Township near Ada City in Norman County, Minnesota. He was nicknamed Sam by his father because his hair was the color of salmon. Alvin at age 4 was counted in the 22 April 1910 census living in McDonaldsville Township.
In 1928, Sam went to Iowa with his brother-in-law Olaf Kornelius Folvig to shuck corn to earn money to buy a suit. He had the suit made by a tailor in Iowa who also gave him a miniature pocketknife as a gift. Goodren (Folvig) Gallo still had this knife in late 2006. Goodren adds that Sam had the job of taking care of his parents, Nels and Marie, when he returned from Iowa.
Alvin married Orla Belinda Conzemius age 17, the daughter of Jean Michel Ferdinand Conzemius (Ferdinand Conzemius) and Belinda Amelia Husett, on 06 July 1929 in Mentor, Polk County, Minnesota. Orla was born on 31 October 1912 in Iowa. She had a twin sister that died of pneumonia according to her son Deane Norman Nelson. Her son James Dale Nelson believed that his mother was from Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County that is located in north-central Iowa, near the Minnesota border. This town located midway between Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa and Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Wilson Galland told me that Orla was not from around Mentor, and believed that her family was original from Germany or Luxemburg. Her father was from Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, Diekirch, Luxembourg according to record of his marriage to Belinda.
Orla was seven years old and living in Lake Ida Township in Norman County Minnesota on 21 January 1920. According to this 1920 Census record, her family was from Germany. Luxembourg was occupied by Germany until 1918. In 1920, Luxembourg joined the League of Nations. Perhaps Luxembourg was considered part of Germany when the 1920 census was recorded. In June of 2007, I checked for "Crookston Times" newspaper archives at the Crookston Library. They could not find any articles on the Marriage of Alvin and Orla. The Fosston Library, with headquarters in Moorhead, also could not find a copy of the Marriage. They were most likely married in the Faith Lutheran Church in Mentor.
Alvin was employed as Farm Labor on the family farm in Grove Park, across the highway just to the north of Mentor in Polk County, Minnesota on 16 April 1930, and Orla is listed as a housewife (homemaker). He and Orla were still living in Mentor on 10 January 1935. They relocated to Missouri in the winter of 1935 as they were living in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 01 April 1935. Alvin was employed as a minor in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri in about 1936.
Orla’s niece Hortense "Ginger" Gragert recalls that Orla was standing by a stove and her dress caught fire on 13 January 1937. She could not get her dress off because it was buttoned up the back. According to her niece Goodren (Folvig) Gallo, Orla died about 2 weeks later at age 24. Her death certificate states that she died from septic infection due to extensive burns of back from clothing catching fire. Her death place was West Plains, Howell County, Missouri on 06 February 1937. She was buried in Section 26, Township 22, Range 10 of the Fowler Chapel Cemetery (Old Fowler Cemetery at Latitude: 36.6117, Longitude: -92.0864), West Plains - Caulfield, Howell County, Missouri on 07 February 1937. The direction to the cemetery is to take highway 160 south about 16 miles from West Plains to Road 769, turn left 1/2 mile. The cemetery is on right by the Fowler Church Chapel.
According to his daughter Marjorie (Nelson) Blackburn, her father played both the guitar and harmonica, and she remembers that they had an organ in the house. Goodren remembered that there was a hand-held rolling organ in this Nelson household. This organ was similar to what the organ grinder vendors with monkeys played on city streets. Goodren recalled repairing the organ and playing it for Grandma Nelson. She thinks Sam and Orla must have sold the organ.
Alvin, like his father Nels Wilhelm Nelson (my great-grandfather), was a carpenter his whole life and built houses. He was also employed as an open range dairy farmer in Caulfield, Howell County, Missouri. Alvin lived in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 06 April 1940.
Although Alvin "Sam" Nelson never served in the military, he worked for North American Aviation in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas. He redesigned the Norden Bomb Site on the B-25 bombers during WWII, which was top secret in its day. He was decorated twice by President Roosevelt according to his son James Dale Nelson
The Norden Mk. XV, known as the Norden M series was a bombsight used by the United States military during World War II (1939-1945). Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Its canonical tachometric design allowed it to directly measure the aircraft's ground speed and direction using an analog computer that constantly calculated the bomb's impact point based on the current flight conditions. The instrument promised unprecedented accuracy in high-altitude bombing with a circular error probable (CEP) of 75 feet during tests, but closer to 1,200 feet during combat conditions. The military envisioned that high-altitude bombing could destroy an invasion fleet by air long before it could reach United States shores. The Norden was granted the utmost secrecy well into the war, and was part of a then-unprecedented production effort on the same scale as the Manhattan Project.
Alvin married Ethel Laverne Nolte, daughter of John Albert Nolte and Idella Songer, on 21 March 1938 in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas. She went by her middle name Laverne. She was born on 04 December 1916 in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri. Laverne lived in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 01 April 1935, and on 06 April 1940. They lived along route 2 in West Plains, Howell County in April 1954. Laverne was employed at the International Shoe Company for 30 years before her retirement. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church.
Alvin lived in Missouri between 1935 and 1959. He fathered six children, four with Orla and two with Ethel. Alvin was a sugar diabetic and died at age 52 of a heart attack on 05 January 1959 at the home farm at 19 West 2nd in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri. He was buried in the Fowler Chapel Cemetery in West Plains-Caulfield on 09 January 1959.
Laverne was in her 80's and living in the National Health Care extended care home in West Plains in January 2004. She suffered from Alzheimer's. She died at 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, 13 July 2006. Her funeral took place on 17 July 2006 at the Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. She was buried in the Fowler Cemetery.
Alvin and Orla Belinda (Conzemius) Nelson had four children. The oldest child was Deane Norman Nelson born on 18 August 1930 in Mentor Township, Polk County, Minnesota. Deane was baptized in 1930 in Faith Lutheran Church at GPS N47 41.894 W96 08.381, in Mentor, Polk County, Minnesota. He lived in Shanagolden, Limerick County, Ireland on 01 April 1935. He lived in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 06 April 1940. Deane married Delores Anne Hammond in 1951. Delores was born in Iowa, or Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois. They lived in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa on 17 July 2006. He served in the Army National Guard. He was a Shop Superintendent for Polk County. He was a good carpenter and was mechanically inclined. During my last phone call with Deane he mentioned that he had just purchased a computer and his son was helping him set it up, looked forward to continued correspondence with me. Dean suffered from heart problems, had at least two heart attacks and open heart surgery. He also had diabetes according to Goodren (Folvig) Gallo and cancer according to Marjorie (Nelson) Blackburn. Deane died on 13 February 2009. His funeral took place at the Masonic Lodge in Pleasant Hill, Polk County, Iowa. He was buried on 17 February 2009 in the Masonic Cemetery at 1550 48th Street in Des Moines, Iowa. Delores died on 19 June 2018.
Deane’s obituary: Deane Norman Nelson, 78, passed away Friday, February 13, 2009. Everyone is invited to his funeral service which will be held 2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at the Home Masonic Lodge 5201 Maple Drive in Pleasant Hill. Burial will follow at Masonic Cemetery. Deane was born in Mentor, MN to Orla Belinda Conzemius and Alvin Bernard Nelson. Deane married Dolores Hammond in 1951. They had three children: Norman, Vicki and Rodney. Deane was the shop superintendent for Polk County and was a member of the Army National Guard. Deane loved working on cars with his family, spending time with his grandchildren and enjoyed learning something new every day. He was a member of Fort Des Moines Odd Fellows Lodge #25, Home Masonic Lodge in Pleasant Hill, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, Low 12 and Hapac Grotto #47. Survivors include his wife Dolores; his children: Norman (Beth) Nelson, Vicki Campbell and Rodney (Julie) Nelson; his grandchildren Nathan and Sarah; his great grandchildren: Kasey, Trevor and Clementine; sister Marge Blackburn; his sister in law Darlyne (Gary) Bradford and many nieces and nephews. Deane was filled with an infinite love for his family and friends and had a special affinity for children. He was a kind and gentle father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be missed dearly by many. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 PM, Monday, February 16 at Iles Funeral Home-Westover Chapel (6337 Hickman Road Des Moines, Iowa) where an Odd Fellows service will begin at 7:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Interment will be on Tuesday February 17 2009 at the Masonic Cemetery 1550 48th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50311.
Deane and Delores (Hammond) Nelson had three children. The oldest child was Norman “Norm” Deane Nelson born on 03 November 1952 (or 22 April 1954 according to his Facebook profile). Norman’s first wife was Linda and his second wife was Beth. Norman and Linda Nelson had a son Nathan “Nate” Deane Nelson. Nate attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa. He was employed at the Tesla Automotive Company in 2018.
The second child of Deane and Delores (Hammond) Nelson was Vicki Lynn Nelson born on 16 July 1954. Vicki served in the U.S. Navy. She married James Baker Campbell in Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas on 18 July 1975. James also served in the U.S. Navy. Their address was 3835 54th Street in Des Moines, Iowa in June of 2014. Vicki Campbell had a daughter Sarah Campbell born on 14 Oct 1976 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. James and Vicki divorced in 1984. Although Vicki never remarried, James was married 5 times. He died in Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky in 2009.
The third child of Deane and Delores (Hammond) Nelson was Rodney “Rod” Deanne Nelson born on 03 August 1963. His wife’s name was Julie Plymesser.
Alvin and Orla Belinda (Conzemius) Nelson’s second child was James “Jim” Dale Nelson born on 26 April 1933 in Mentor Township, Polk County, Minnesota. James was baptized in 1933 at the Faith Lutheran Church at GPS N47 41.894 W96 08.381 in Mentor, Minnesota. James lived in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 01 April 1935 and on 06 April 1940. Jim looked just like Dwayne Nelson according to his sister Marjorie. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and served as courier in Germany. He retired from John Deere. He was a diabetic, had open heart surgery to replace artery, and had a hernia in 2003. James died of lung cancer on 05 September 2005 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. He was buried in September 2005 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa.
James married Doloris Rae Miller. His wife Doloris was previously married and divorced while she was pregnant. Jim married her and raised her daughter Denise as those as it was his own child. Denise Rae Nelson was born on 23 August 1964. She married Mr. Nord.
James and Doloris (Miller) Nelson had three children, Sondra born in 1966 and twins Orla Jane Nelson and Belinda Mary Nelson born on 27 March 1972. They are talented in drawing and sculpturing.
Alvin and Orla Belinda (Conzemius) Nelson’s third child was Lois Elaine Nelson born on 13 July 1934 in Mentor Township, Polk County, Minnesota. Lois was baptized in 1934 at the Faith Lutheran Church, GPS location N47 41.894 W96 08.381, in Mentor, Polk County, Minnesota. Lois was a private person according to Marjorie (Nelson) Blackburn. She is not listed with her family on the 1940 Census for Shanty Town in Howell County, Missouri. This was because she was adopted at about age 2 years, and raised by another family with the surname “Yankee” after her maternal mother Orla’s accidental death. She married Glen Perry, a U.S. Marine and they had two children, Glen Alvin “Al” Perry Glen Perry and Joyce Elaine Perry. Al was employed in the computer repair business. Lois and Glen divorced. Lois was later partnered with Bill Casey. Glen married another woman after his divorce from Lois. Lois suffered from strokes, wore a pace maker after open heart surgery and had bone cancer. She died from complications from diabetes in October of 2006 in Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas. She was cremated. Glen Perry was buried in Southeast Missouri near Cape Girardeau.
Alvin and Orla Belinda (Conzemius) Nelson’s fourth child was Marjorie “Marge” Nelson born in June of 1936 in Elijah, Howell County, Missouri. Marjorie was 5-6 months old when her mother died accidentally. Marjorie was raised by the William McDaniel foster family on a 640-acre farm in West Plains, Missouri. She was never officially adopted by the McDaniel's because her father had allowed her sister Lois to be adopted by the Yankee family, and felt he could not give up another child. Marjorie only saw her father Sam a few times a year even though they only lived a few miles away in Missouri. Marjorie was told that the McDaniel's ancestors had traveled from the Carolina's to Missouri by covered wagon in the late 1700's or early 1800's. Marjorie served in the Peace Corps.
Marjorie married William Raymond Blackburn, the son of William Lonnie “Alonzo” Blackburn and Betty Lucille Arnold. Alonzo was born in about 1910 in Texas and was working as a farm laborer in Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, on 2 May 1940. Betty was born in Arkansas in about 1915. Three of their children were born in Arkansas except the oldest child
William Raymond Blackburn that was born in Wichita, Sedgwick County Kansas on 09 February 1933. William was a corporal in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War between 14
February 1951 and 09 February 1954. It is not known when Marjorie and William were first married but the divorced in Multnomah County, Oregon on 28 October 1971. Marjorie
remarried William in Multnomah County, Oregon on Tuesday 01 December 1981. William died just a few days later on 04 December 1981.
Marjorie was living in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon on 13 July 2006. Marjorie was interested in genealogy. I mailed a package to Marjorie (Nelson) Blackburn and Vicki (Nelson) Campbell on 13 June 2013, but they never replied to my emails. I was told many years later that Marjorie was losing her vision. Marjorie (Nelson) Blackburn had at least one son that had a hearing loss.
It is believed that Alvin Bernard Nelson fathered six children, four with Orla and two with Ethel. However, Orla died tragically on 06 February 1937 after a kitchen fire. Alvin married Ethel Laverne Nolte on 21 March 1938 in Salem, Fulton County, Arkansas. It seems possible that Ethel was previously married and her two children Margaret and John were adopted by Alvin.
Alvin and Ethel (Nolte) Nelson had two children. The oldest child Margaret Clydene Nelson was born on Saturday 20 July 1935 in Missouri. Margaret married James Garfield Hoglen on Wednesday, 20 September 1961 in Howell County, Missouri. James died in 1995. Margaret was living in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri in 2006. Margaret suffered from diabetes and died at the age of 72 in a nursing home on 06 December 2007. Many Hoglen's are buried in the Moody Cemetery in Howell County, and one Hoglen is buried in Dripping Springs Cemetery.
The second child of Alvin and Ethel (Nolte) Nelson was John Oneal Nelson born on 18 May 1937 in West Plains, Howell County, Missouri. John lived in Shanty Township, Howell County, Missouri on 06 April 1940. John is sometimes listed as John O. Nelson, and sometimes as John N. Nelson, because his middle name can be spelled as "O'Neal". Searching for birth or marriage records for John leads to a birth on 18 May 1937 as recorded on a marriage application on 21 May 1959 to an Ona May Mullen, age 17 being born on 11 Sep 1941. This is confirmed in his mother's obituary on 13 July 2006 where "Ona Nelson" is listed as a daughter-in-law living in West Plains, Missouri. Note that John is not listed as surviving in the obituary which mentions 2 sons preceding her in death (which would be John and step-son James). John’s death certificate indicates a date of 07 March 1998.
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A message from ssedvota (Suzie Devoto) on Ancestry.com 18 February 2020:
Margaret Clydene Nelson b. 20 Jul 1935 m. James Garfield Hoglen 20 Sep 1961 in Howell, Mo. He died in 1995 and is at Dripping Springs Cemetery in West Plains, Mo. She died 6 Dec 2007 but she is not listed at Dripping Springs Cemetery.
[Many Hoglen's are buried in the Moody Cemetery in Howell County, and one Hoglen is buried in Dripping Springs Cemetery] I believe her parents are Alvin Nelson and Orla Belinda Conzemius. Orla died 6 Feb 1937 in West Plains, Mo and is buried at Fowler Cemetery. Alvin and Orla had 3 children, Dean Norman, James Dale and Margaret Clydene. Alvin then married Ethel Laverne Nolte on 21 Mar 1938 in Salem, Arkansas. She and Alvin are also at Fowler Cemetery, Caufield, Howell, Missouri. John Oneal Nelson was born 18 May 1937 in Howell, Mo. That puts him between Orla dying 6 Feb 1937 and Alvin and Ethel marrying 21 Mar 1938. Maybe Ethel was married to Oneal and then Alvin Nelson??? My husband is related to Ethel Nolte if you go back 5 generations to Johnson Cleveland Main. Susie Devoto
