The Norway / Michigan
/ South Dakota Nelsons
Anton Nickolai and
Margaret May (Wilcox) Nelson
Hans Nelson
– Anton Nickolai Nelson - Lillian Mae (Nelson) Kipp
NORWAY / MICHIGAN
Anton was born on December 14, 1868
in Vardø, Finnmark, Norway, the first of ten children of Hans and Gustava
(Norstrøm) Nelson. Anton, with his parents, emigrated from Norway
to Michigan and then relocated to Dakota Territory. The history
of Hans and Gustava (Norstrøm) Nelson provides information on Anton’s
early years so it will not be repeated here.
WISCONSIN
Margaret May Wilcox was born on July
12, 1880 in Berlin, Green Lake County, Wisconsin the seventh of eight
children of William Harvey and Sarah Jane (Luce) Wilcox. She relocated
to Dakota Territory with her family in 1886.
SOUTH DAKOTA 
Anton and Margaret were married on
November 2, 1898 in Dell Rapids, Minnehaha County, South Dakota.
Anton worked for the railroad.
While living in South Dakota they had two daughters, Lillian Mae (1899),
and Laura Belle (1903) and a son Arnold (1901). All were born in Flandreau,
Moody County, South Dakota. Arnold died in 1907 at Duluth, St.
Louis County, Minnesota of acute heart failure and diphtheria at the
age of six. He may have been in Duluth for care related to diphtheria.
TEXAS
Anton and Margaret, along with their
daughter Laura relocated to Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas about
1918. Anton worked for the B&M Railroad doing car repair while they
lived in Texas.
WYOMING
In the early 1920’s Anton and Margaret
moved to Sundance, Crook County, Wyoming. Anton operated the Sundance
Shoe and Saddle Shop which was often just referred to as the Shoe Shop. 
In 1926 both daughters also relocated to Sundance and initially lived
with them. Laura stayed with them on the first floor, and Earl
and Lily, along with their rapidly growing family, lived on the second
floor.
Anton continued to live in Sundance
until about 1930 when he and Margaret separated and he moved to Rapid
City, Pennington County, South Dakota. He died in Rapid City on
July 19, 1933 at age 64. The funeral service was held in the old
family home in Baltic, Minnehaha County, South Dakota and he was buried
in the Stordahl Cemetery located north of Baltic.
IDAHO
>Margaret and Louis Sipe relocated
to Idaho eventually settling in Murray, Shoshone County, Idaho.
They panned gold in a small stream behind their cabin in what they called
the “Little Sandy”. The “ Little Sandy” was named after
one of their granddaughters. 
Margaret resided there until advancing age and health
prompted a move to the Shoshone Nursing Home in Silverton, Shoshone
County, Idaho. She died in Silverton on May 5, 1972 at age 91.
Louis died on October 1, 1970 at age 93. Margaret and Louis are both buried in the historic
G. A. R. Murray Cemetery in Murray. G. A. R. (Grand Army of the
Republic) is a fraternal organization of veterans of the Union Army
who served in the Civil War.
CENSUS
1900 Census
The 1900 Census for Colman, Moody County,
South Dakota lists Anton as age 30, Maggie as age 20, and Lillie M.
as 10 months. Anton’s occupation is not readable but may be
“harness refinisher”.
1910 Census
The 1910 Census for Aberdeen, Brown
County, South Dakota lists Anton as age 38, Maggie as age 29, Lillian
as age 10, and Laura as age 6. Arnold was not listed as he had
died in 1907 at age 6. Anton’s occupation is listed as being
a brakeman for the railroad.
1920 Census
The 1920 Census for Bay City, Matagorda
County, Texas lists Anton as age 50, Margaret as age 38, and Laura as
age 16. Anton’s occupation is listed as car repair for the B&M
Railroad. He is listed as owning a home that is free from a mortgage.
1930 Census
The 1930 Census for Sundance, Crook
County, Wyoming lists Anton N. as age 60, and Margaret M. as age 49.
Anton’s occupation is listed as a shoe maker in a shoe shop.
He is listed as owning a home with a value of $250 and that they had
a “radio set”.
1940 Census
Census data for 1940 and on has not
been released.
Copyright 2009 by E. Michael Kipp,
All Rights Reserved
Sources
The Sundance Times, Sundance, Wyoming
(various dates)
Digitalarkivet, Parish Record, Births
1868 (Anton Nelson)
Death Certificates (Anton Nelson, Margaret
Wilcox, Arnold Nelson)
Obituary (William Wilcox)
Family Records
Social Security Records
US Federal Census of 1900, Colman,
Moody County, South Dakota
US Federal Census of 1910, Aberdeen,
Brown County, South Dakota
US Federal Census of 1920, Bay City,
Matagorda County, Texas
US Federal Census of 1930, Sundance,
Crook County, Wyoming
