California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


ANDREW NELSON.� A man who left an enviable record for doing 
things and building up the viticultural and horticultural interests of Fresno 
County is the late Andrew Nelson, who was born at Olgod, Jylland, Denmark, 
December 30, 1855. His parents being farmers, he was reared to that occupation. 
After completing the public and high school he studied agriculture on a large 
farm under an experienced preceptor. After this he served the required time in 
the Danish Army after which he gave his attention to farming until 1881, then 
he spent one year in a mercantile establishment in Varde when he decided to 
come to America. He arrived in New York City in the spring of 1882, he came 
gradually westward until the fall of 1882 he located in Fresno. 

Entering the employ of Einsteins, he was foreman of the workhouse for 
several years. However, his agricultural experience in his native place led him into 
viticulture and he took charge of improving and planting vineyards; among 
others he leveled and set out the Mason Osborn vineyard. About the same time 
he purchased twenty acres on Madison Avenue near the Osborn place which he 
improved, bringing it to a high state of cultivation. In 1904 he purchased a 
quarter section of land three miles southeast of Dinuba. This was raw land but 
he set to work to improve it to vines and orchard. He is a member of the Danish 
Brotherhood as well as Dania. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows in 
Fresno. Mr. Nelson was one of the leading men of Fresno County and deserves 
much credit for the work he has accomplished. He is one of the original stock- 
holders in the Danish Creamery Association. 

Mr. Nelson made a trip back to his old home in Denmark in 1891. He was 
married in Fresno, December 17, 1892, to Miss Mette Petersen also a- native of 
Olgod, the Nelson and Petersen families being neighbors. She came to Fresno 
in the spring of 1892. They have a daughter, Meta, who is a graduate of the 
University of California. After her husband's death Mrs. Nelson continued to 
run the vineyards on the same line as her husband, carrying out his plan for the 
improvement and beautifying of the place. In 1912 she installed a pumping 
plant on his ranch, thus having two systems of irrigating the ranch. In 1917 
Mrs. Nelson rented her ranch and returned to Fresno where she built a beautiful 
modern residence at 629 North Van Ness Avenue, where she now lives. Mrs. 
Nelson is a member of the Dania Sisterhood and a Lutheran in religion. After 
visiting the old home in Denmark she was indeed glad to get back to California 
for she had learned to appreciate and love the State of her adoption.