Jacob Matt Nielsen, born in Fovling, Jutland, Denmark 1835 settled in the Dwight, Livingston Illinois area and then moved to Kossuth county Iowa. When his children entered school his children were told that in this country, their last name was spelled "Nelson" and the family has been Nelson ever since.

We have a photo of six people labeled "Nelson/Nielsen cousins of Jackson, MN". The six are 3 women, 2 men and a boy. By their ages they could be 3 sisters, 2 brothers and a son. Or siblings and spouses with a son.

When the eldest relatives were asked about the photo in 1979 they recollected that these were siblings or a sibling of our Jacob Matt Nielsen.

Jacob's parents were Niels Jacobsen (born abt. 1813 Denmark) and Karen Madsdatter (born 1810 Denmark).

The known offspring of Niels and Karen are:
Jacob Matt Nielsen (my ancestor) settled in Illinois then Iowa)
Magdalene Nielsen
Applone Nielsen
Mads Nielsen (died as a child)
Kirstine Nielsen
Mads Herman Nielsen

I do not know which of these siblings came to the US and which stayed in Denmark.

Please respond if there is any link. Thank you.