John Edward Nelson was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in China, Kennebec County, Maine on July 12, 1874.

He attended the common and high schools of Waterville, Maine. He graduated from Friends School, Providence, R.I., in 1894, from Colby College in 1898, and from the law department of the University of Maine at Orono in 1904.

He was admitted to the bar in 1904 and commenced practice in Waterville. He then moved to Augusta in 1913 and continued the practice of his chosen profession.

He was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-seventh Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative John A. Peters. He was reelected to the five succeeding Congresses (March 20, 1922-March 3, 1933), but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932 to the Seventy-third Congress.

He was a trustee of Colby College 1926-1931, and also served as trustee of Monmouth (Maine) Academy. He practiced law until his retirement in 1946, and died on April 11, 1955, in Augusta, Maine. His interment is in Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterville, Maine.

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