NILS NILSSON

(1846 • 1921)

NILS NELSON IS LAST OF FAMILY; CALLED BY DEATH

Nils Nelson, a resident of this city during the past half century, died yesterday at his home 423 No. Sixth street of infirmities incident to old age.

He was a native of Sweden having been born there August 22, 1847, being 74 years old. He was never married and leaves neither kith nor kin in this country. His only sister died in Sweden about a year ago. Neighbors and friends took a kindly interest in his welfare, especially during his declining years and one family had sent for the ambulance yesterday to have him conveyed to their home, but death came before he could be removed to the waiting conveyance. He was well known in his section of the city having plied his vocation, that of cobbler there for many years.

The funeral will take place from St. Paul's church Wednesday afternoon with interment at Evergreen.

Manitowoc Herald News, Manitowoc, Wis. Monday, March 21, 1921 P. 1

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Tommy Hanson is dead. His name was not Tommy, neither was it Hanson. His name was Nils Nilsen, but because of his predecessor's business shingle as "Tommy", he was known to every boy brought up on the North side in the 80's and 90's. For forty-five years he lived alone and cobbled shoes (made them too, in the earlier days) in a little second floor front room at 428 North Sixth Street, with its picture of President Garfield, its big sheets of sole leather and the combined odor of tanned hides and coffee.

As the town grew and other cobblers opened shop here and there he probably ceased to be the institution that he was in Manitowoc's boyville a generation ago, but he and his shop are the basis of not the least pleasant memories of many a man of middle age. When his death was announced many a man recalled a wide-eyed youth of thirty years ago watching the mystery of shoemaking by hand and timidly asking the boon of a whiplash or repairs to a slate strap, seldom refused.

Mr. Nilsen was born in Sweden in 1847 and came here in his youth. He has no relatives in America and the last member of his father's family, a sister, died a year ago in Sweden.

The funeral was held yesterday from St. Paul's church with interment at Evergreen.

It would serve no purpose to attempt here to depict Mr. Nilsen. Those who knew him, do not need it and the younger people would not care. It is but fair to record, however, that an honest, industrious, Christian gentleman of gentle mein and dignity despite his humble station has passed on. His shop and his church were his all. For many years he taught Sunday School in the branch of the Norwegian Lutheran Church that years ago was located at St. Clair and Seventh Streets and later after the union on Division at St. Paul's. When he gave it up a few years ago, teaching classes in the Scandinavian languages ended in Manitowoc, probably forever. He took seriously the religious faith of his youth and lived its teachings. His life was an example of duty performed of stern probity.

We say of nearly everyone, "He was a good citizen," It is literally true in this case.

Manitowoc Pilot, Wis., Thursday, March 24, 1921

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▪ buried 03-23-1921

▪ cause: valvular disease of the heart

▪ buried on Othelia Paulsen lot

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