Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
NELSON, Patrick J.
NELSON, Patrick John. (Otter Creek, Jackson County, IA, Feb. 18, 1862--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 7, 1946). County attorney. Nelson attended the University of Notre Dame, played on the school's first football team, and graduated in 1888. He served as the Dubuque County Attorney from January 7, 1907 until December 31, 1914. He also served as the assistant city attorney and was a judge on the district court from 1923 until 1938.
When he left the office of county attorney, Nelson was elected to the Dubuque school board for four years and served as president two years. He also served on the Dubuque Planning and Zoning Commission from 1929 to 1931, as a trustee of SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM later from 1933 to 1935, and as president of the county bar association.