ABSTRACT
Nelson Olson Nelson was born in Norway, but was brought to the United States early. Nelson began as a man of general goodwill desirous of sharing the goods of the world with others. In 1879 he instituted the Christmas bonus plan in his factory. Nelson was one of many—not so many that they could change the course of American business but enough so that they could give testimony that the mainstreams of American life had not become frozen and that there was opportunity for experiment and debate. Nelson began as a man of general goodwill desirous of sharing the goods of the world with others. In 1879 he instituted the Christmas bonus plan in his factory. Nelson was capable and determined and, in this heyday of his career, was able to carry most of his workers with him, as well as to gain a growing reputation among likeminded reformers in the land.
