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


HANS A. NIELSEN. � A successful vineyardist, and one of the most 
reliable and substantial residents of his section of the county, southwest of 
Sanger, is H. A. Nielsen, a native of Denmark, where he was born in Grenaa, 
June 30. 1862, a son of N. P. and Catherina Nielsen, who were the parents 
of five boys. Mr. and Mrs. N. P. Nielsen and three sons died in Denmark. 

H. A. Nielsen, the subject of this review, and his brother Christ im- 
migrated to the United States and both are living, H. A. in Fresno County 
and Christ, in Oakland. It was in 1888 that H. A. Nielsen left his native 
land for America, and after his arrival came to California locating in Fresno 
County, where in time he purchased twenty acres of land which he dis- 
posed of later in order to buy his present ranch, where he has lived con- 
tinuously since 1901. It consists of twenty acres situated in Section 2, of 
the southeast one quarter and northeast one quarter, Section 33, Township 
14, Range 20, and is a well cultivated and productive ranch devoted princi- 
pally to vines, three acres being devoted to Thompson's seedless grapes, 
ten acres to muscats, while the remainder is given to vegetables, grain and 
alfalfa. On an average Mr. Nielsen's Thompson's seedless grapes yield two 
tons to an acre, while from ten acres of muscat vines, eleven tons were 
raised. By hard work and careful management he has made of his property 
a productive ranch and a profitable investment. 

Like many another foreign-born citizen, he could not speak English 
when he arrived, but possessed with that self-confidence and determination 
to succeed, which are so characteristic of the men of his native land, Mr. 
Nielsen soon learned enough English, by the close study of men and their 
ways, so that he could transact business affairs. 

On November 29, 1891, in Fresno County, H. A. Nielsen was united in 
marriage with Miss Anna Jonsen, a native of the same place in Denmark, 
born June 23, 1866, and of this union three children were born, two of whom 
are living: Christina, born October 25, 1892, and Agnes, born July 1, 1896. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen are members of the Danish Lutheran Church and for 
several years he has served as a trustee of the Bethel School District. He is 
a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, and the Peach 
Growers, Inc., and supports all measures for the upbuilding of the County.