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Nelsen, Ancher

Sessions Served  red ball graphic  Other Information

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Map of Hutchinson
Hutchinson, MN

Senate 1935-50 (District 22)

Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election

Counties Served:  McLeod

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 10/11/1904 (uncertain) Date of Death: 11/30/1992
Birth Place: Buffalo Lake, Minnesota Birth County: Renville Birth Country: United States
Other Names:
Gender:  Male Religion:  Lutheran
City of Residence (when first elected):  Hutchinson

Occupation (when first elected):  Farm Owner and Operator

EDUCATION

Brownton High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1923

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

School Board/AdministrationDistrict 75, Minnesota (School Board) ??/??/1926 to ??/??/1935
School Board/AdministrationLynn Township, Minnesota (School Board) ??/??/1929 to ??/??/1935
U.S. Executive BranchUnited States Rural Electrification Administration Program, Washington D.C. (Administrator) ??/??/1953 to ??/??/1956
State Lieutenant GovernorMinnesota 01/05/1953 to 09/02/1954
U.S. Representative2nd Congressional District, MinnesotaElected01/03/1959 to 12/31/1974

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Ilo Zimmerman (married in 1929); Elvern Krasean
Children: Six children (3 biological and 3 stepchildren): Bruce (he ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1974 election), and Richard (sons); Miriam (daughter); Stephan (stepson), Susan and Carol (stepdaughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He was born on a farm.

He was a member of the Republican Party when he served as Minnesota Governor and in the United States Congress.

He was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1948 and 1952. (Biographical Directory of the United States Congress)

He ran unsuccessfully as the Republican Party endorsed candidate in the 1956 election.

According to the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1937; he was the first 4-H club member to be elected to the Minnesota Senate.

He became Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota after C. Elmer Anderson resigned the office to become Governor when Luther W. Youngdahl was appointed from that office to the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C.

Ancher Nelsen resigned as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota to become Administrator of the Rural Electric Administration.

MHS Governors of Minnesota lists May 1, 1953 as his end date for Lieutenant Governor.

He died from stroke related complications at a nursing home in Hutchinson, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Faith Lutheran Church. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Religion provided by his obituary.

Legislative Session: 56th (1949-1950) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus Party Notes: He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1948. (Biographical Directory of the United States Congress)
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Live Stock (Chair)
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
Legislative Session: 55th (1947-1948)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/5/1946 Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/1/1951
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
Agriculture
Dairy Products and Live Stock (Chair)
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
Legislative Session: 54th (1945-1946) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock (Chair)
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
Legislative Session: 53rd (1943-1944)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/3/1942 Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/6/1947
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
State Parks, Memorials and Monuments (Chair)
Legislative Session: 52nd (1941-1942) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details term photo
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Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1938 Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Game and Fish
Markets and Marketing
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
State Parks, Memorials and Monuments (Chair)
Legislative Session: 51st (1939-1940)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 11/8/1938 Term of Office: 1/3/1939 to 1/4/1943
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Agriculture
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Markets and Marketing
Public Domain
Railroads
Rules and Legislative Expense
State Parks, Memorials and Monuments (Chair)
Legislative Session: 50th (1937-1938) (second half of Senate term)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 12/2/1935 Term of Office: 12/2/1935 to 1/2/1939 (Special Election)
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Cooperatives
Dairy Products and Live Stock
Education
Finance
Labor
Markets and Marketing
Public Domain
Railroads
Soldiers Bonus and Soldiers Home
Session Notes: His official election date is uncertain due to the special election. The date listed is the first date of the special session when he was sworn in.
Legislative Session: 49th (1935-1936)   Session Details
Body: Senate Elected: 12/2/1935 Term of Office: 12/2/1935 to 1/2/1939 (Special Election)
District: 22 Residence: Hutchinson
Counties Represented: McLeod
Occupation: Farm Owner and Operator
Party: Nonpartisan Election
Committees:
Session Notes: His official election date is uncertain due to the special election. The date listed is the first date of the special session when he was sworn in.

OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About
"Ancher Nelson, 88, Former Congressman and State Official, Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, December 2, 1992, p. 5C.

Ancher Nelsen. Biographical Information from the Minnesota Historical Society's Governors of Minnesota.

Nelsen, Ancher. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


Archive Collections
Ancher Nelsen Papers, 1944-1974 (bulk 1958-1974) - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections.


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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN  55155