San Luis Obispo County Biographies

ANDREW NELSON

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


ANDREW NELSON, a prominent business man and rancher of El Paso de 
Robles, was born in Sweden, in 1846, both his parents being natives of that coun- 
try. At the age of nineteen years Mr. Nelson entered upon a seafaring life, continuing 
thus engaged for twelve years and during that time seeing a large portion of the world. 
In 1870 he came to New York and was there variously employed, first as night-watchman 
in a large warehouse. Next he was at Pittston, Maine, two years, employed in saw- 
mills. Then, going to Chicago after the great fire there, he engaged as a carpenter. 
Returning in 1874 to Maine, he worked at Portland, building the Grand Trunk elevator. 
Later he went to San Francisco and worked as a laborer on the Baldwin Hotel. The 
next year, 1877, he was married in San Francisco to Miss Annie S. Akblom, a native 
of Sweden. They moved to Seattle and there bought seven acres of land located five 
miles out in the woods near Talmonkay, which he cleared and devoted to the culture 
of small fruit, remaining in that place until 1888. Mr. Nelson was successful in Seattle 
in the fruit business and also in his investment in real estate. He still owns property 
in that place, and also fifty shares in the Puget Sound Creosote Company. He sold 
out and came to El Paso de Robles, purchased 160 acres of land near the town, on 
the northwest, built a good residence, and is making notable improvements in the way of 
clearing away brush and planting trees and vines. He has also purchased 160 acres 
farther from the town, in the same direction, and owns property on which he has built a 
good residence. On his ranches, Mr. Nelson is raising some fine horses. 

In addition to his other interests in this place, Mr. Nelson is senior member of the 
firm of Nelson-Quarnstrom Company. The paid-in cash capital of the company is 
$9,000. They have a general merchandise store on Twelfth street, and do the principal 
business in their line in town, their trade extending from forty to fifty miles east. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have five children, four sons and one daughter, all born in 
Washington Territory, viz.: Robert, Fredrick, Earnest, Albert and Mable. Mr. Nelson 
and his wife are members of the Methodist Church. He is a Master Mason, and 
in his political views is a Republican. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.