Tulare County Biographies

GEORGE H. NIELSEN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
        It has long been a matter of common comment in the public press that the 
immigrants who come to the United States from the Scandinavian countries become 
useful and loyal citizens. Most of them have learned something of American 
institutions and customs before leaving their native land, consequently they 
readily adapt themselves to their new environment. Among the Scandinavians who 
have located in California G. H. Nielsen, part owner and manager of the Tulare 
Creamery, is deserving of mention in this work as a man who has by his own 
efforts succeeded where many others would have lacked the courage to conquer the 
obstacles which he had to overcome. He was born in Denmark, December 19, 1883. 
His father was interested in a cooperative creamery and his youth was spent in 
learning the details of the business. In 1904, when only twenty-one years of 
age, he came to America and for the first four years in the United States he 
worked for the Wisconsin Butter & Creamery Company, of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Here 
he received twenty dollars per month and his board, but out of his wages he 
saved money enough to pay for a course in the dairy department of the Wisconsin 
Agricultural College at Madison.
        In July, 1907, Mr. Nielsen landed in Stockton, California, and worked in 
the creamery until the first of the following year. He then went to Bakersfield, 
where he worked for six years as a butter maker in the Kern County Creamery. At 
the end of that time he went into business for himself by establishing the 
Danish Dairy Creamery Company, which he managed successfully for over five 
years. Selling this plant to the Peacock Ice Cream Company, he paid a visit to 
his old home in Denmark, accompanied by his wife and son. His father and mother 
are still living and he enjoyed his visit to the scenes of his boyhood, meeting 
some of his former schoolmates, who, like himself, had grown to manhood. He was 
gone nine months, during which time he visited Sweden, Germany, France and 
England.
        Returning to California in the month of November, 1921, Mr. Nielsen 
bought eighty acres of wild land south of Bakersfield, where he planted an 
orchard and vineyard. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation and it 
now yields a handsome profit. He also owns a ranch and one hundred and sixty 
acres in the Buttonwillow district of Kern county, upon which he has a well 
developed dairy farm, with a herd of eighty high-grade milch cows.
        In January, 1923, Mr. Nielsen came to Tulare and purchased a half 
interest in the Tulare Creamery, the oldest creamery in the county, having been 
started many years ago by W. B. Cartmill, the present post�master at Tulare. 
Under Mr. Nielsen's management the business has increased until now five trucks 
are needed to distribute the hundreds of gallons of sweet milk and cream to all 
parts of the county daily. The company also acts as distributor for the Peacock 
Ice Cream Company of Bakersfield and supplies this famous delicacy to hotels, 
restaurants and families throughout the territory covered by its trucks.
        Mr. Nielsen was married to Miss Christiana Sorensen, who was born in 
Parlier, Fresno county, California, a daughter of one of that county's early 
settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have five children : George C., Carl, Marion, 
Helen L. and Barbara G. The two last named are twins, born June 28, 1924, and at 
the age of five months weighed fifteen pounds each. Mr. Nielsen is a member of 
Bakersfield Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Danish Society, and 
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Tulare.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926., p. 209