Oscar Nelson
Encyclopedia
Oscar Nelson was a Chicago City Alderman
, one-time Auditor
for the state of Illinois
, and interim president of the Building Service Employees International Union, the precursor of the Service Employees International Union
, in 1927.
Nelson was born in Sweden
. He emigrated to the United States
and got a job as a delivery boy. He held employment as a grocery clerk, foundry worker and railway worker, but finally went into the banking industry and eventually became president of the Geneva State Bank and head of the Kane Co. Bankers' Association.
Nelson became a Chicago alderman in the early 1920s. He was accused in 1933 of having links to Al Capone
, but the charges were never proven.
Nelson succeeded the union's founding president, William Quesse
, a close friend and political backer who had died of cancer on February 16, 1927. Nelson resigned due to health concerns on September 3, 1927. Jerry Horan
, a BSEIU organizer whose primary job was to act as Quesse's chauffeur, was elected Nelson's successor on September 6, 1927.
A Republican
, Nelson was appointed a member of the Republican National Committee
's platform drafting panel in 1937.
He was elected state treasurer in 1922. In 1924, Nelson won election as the Auditor
for the state of Illinois
and re-elected in 1928. In 1931, Nelson was tried on charges of malfeasance for refusing to close banks even though he knew they were in poor financial condition. Nelson was acquitted after a state court ruled juries had no jurisdiction over state officers.
Nelson retired from electoral politics in 1932, but continued to serve in a number of appointed capacities (most notably on a factory conversion commission after World War II
). He was president and owner of the Unity Oil & Gas Corporation.
Oscar Nelson died (most probably of a heart attack) in his home in Geneva, Illinois
, in 1951.
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
, one-time Auditor
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
for the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and interim president of the Building Service Employees International Union, the precursor of the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, in 1927.
Nelson was born in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and got a job as a delivery boy. He held employment as a grocery clerk, foundry worker and railway worker, but finally went into the banking industry and eventually became president of the Geneva State Bank and head of the Kane Co. Bankers' Association.
Nelson became a Chicago alderman in the early 1920s. He was accused in 1933 of having links to Al Capone
Al Capone
Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone was an American gangster who led a Prohibition-era crime syndicate. The Chicago Outfit, which subsequently became known as the "Capones", was dedicated to smuggling and bootlegging liquor, and other illegal activities such as prostitution, in Chicago from the early...
, but the charges were never proven.
Nelson succeeded the union's founding president, William Quesse
William Quesse
William Fred Quesse was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union, the precursor of the Service Employees International Union, from 1921 to 1927. He was the union's founding president.-Early life:His parents were Christ and Shirley Quesse, and he...
, a close friend and political backer who had died of cancer on February 16, 1927. Nelson resigned due to health concerns on September 3, 1927. Jerry Horan
Jerry Horan
Jeremiah J. Horan was an organized crime figure and President of the Building Service Employees International Union from 1927 until his death in 1937...
, a BSEIU organizer whose primary job was to act as Quesse's chauffeur, was elected Nelson's successor on September 6, 1927.
A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Nelson was appointed a member of the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
's platform drafting panel in 1937.
He was elected state treasurer in 1922. In 1924, Nelson won election as the Auditor
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
for the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and re-elected in 1928. In 1931, Nelson was tried on charges of malfeasance for refusing to close banks even though he knew they were in poor financial condition. Nelson was acquitted after a state court ruled juries had no jurisdiction over state officers.
Nelson retired from electoral politics in 1932, but continued to serve in a number of appointed capacities (most notably on a factory conversion commission after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
). He was president and owner of the Unity Oil & Gas Corporation.
Oscar Nelson died (most probably of a heart attack) in his home in Geneva, Illinois
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
, in 1951.