Fresno County, 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


JONAS PETER ALFRED NELSON.� An energetic, industrious, and 
prosperous rancher, who had an extensive experience as a farmer in Ne- 
braska and Texas before he came to California, and who was happily able 
to bring with him considerable means, thus assuring a start without handi- 
caps, under the favoring conditions of the Golden State, is Jonas Peter 
Alfred Nelson, popularly known as Fred Nelson, who was born in Sweden 
on June 25, 1855, attended the common schools there and was duly con- 
firmed in the Lutheran Church. His father, Nils Larsen, was a farmer and 
carpenter, who married Maria Helena Johanson. Both parents lived and 
died in Sweden, the father meeting a violent death through a bolt of lightning. 
Seven children formed the family, and four grew to maturity : Carl John 
still lives in Sweden ; Christine Sophie is married there and lives on the old 
home place; the third-born is the subject of our review; and Anna Matilda 
is now Mrs. Johnson and lives in South Dakota. 

Fred was the first one of the family to come to the New World. When 
twenty-four years of age he left Sweden for Polk County, Nebr., sailing from 
Gothenburg on April 13, 1880. At Columbus, Nebr., he stepped from the 
cars into a livery wagon and traveled thirty miles to Osceola. He worked 
out on a farm for three years in Polk County, Nebr., and in 1883 went to 
Lancaster County, the same state. Afterward he was engaged in Omaha and 
Lincoln, trying his hand at both railroading and farm-work. 

While at Omaha, Mr. Nelson was married, in 1885, to Miss Anna Swan- 
son ; whereupon he took up his residence at Waverly, Nebr. In 1894, he 
went to Texas, farmed there for nine years, and bought 170 acres. He suc- 
ceeded measurably, but on account of the boll weevil he sold his Texas farm 
and in 1903 came to California with his wife and children, of whom he had 
seven. 

Mr. Nelson then went to Kingsburg and, two and a half miles east of 
that town, bought a ranch, in Tulare County. These twenty acres he im- 
proved, so that he is known as an exceptionally able farmer and horticul- 
turist. He sold the block of twenty, however, in 1917, and went onto twenty 
acres two miles north of Kingsburg, which his son, then in the United States 
Army, had rented, and which he assumed charge of to help the son out. This 
son, David, served in France and Belgium, going over the top three times; 
he was honorably discharged and came home, June, 1919, safe and sound. 

Mr. Nelson, as stated, has seven children: Esther Marie is the wife of 
Arthur W. Nyberg, a line-man for the Kingsburg Telephone Company, who 
resides at Kingsburg. Mamie Matilda has become the wife of Bertel Swan- 
son, a farmer in Tulare County. Earl E., who was born in Texas, is in the 
United States Navy at Mare Island. David, above mentioned ; Ellen Char- 
lotte, Oscar Joseph, and Josie Annie are at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Free Mission Church in Kings- 
burg, Mr. Nelson being a trustee. He and all his family have deep religious 
convictions, and have gladly given two of their sons in the service of their 
country. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and family are highly respected and have a 
host of friends at Kingsburg.