Alameda County Biographies JOHN RICHARD NYSTROM Transcribed by Kathy Sedler This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm The late John Richard Nystrom was for many years numbered among the prominent and valued citizens of Richmond, where he was regarded as a pioneer settler, his residence there dating from the year 1871. From that time on he was active in the real-estate business as the developer of several subdivisions and tracts and took a leading part in public affairs, lending the weight of his influence to all projects for the advancement and growth of the community. He was a native of Finland, his birth having occurred August 24, 1848. His parents, John and Johanna (Kallis) Nystrom, died in their native country. In their family were eight children, of whom the subject of this review was the eldest. John Richard Nystrom acquired his very early education under the instruction of his mother and later entirely by his own efforts in private study, and when he was twenty-three years of age emigrated to America, making a permanent location in California. Previous to this, however, he traveled over a large part of the world, visiting the land of the Midnight Sun and then journeying far enough south to see the Southern Cross. Having heard a great deal of the wonderful resources and matchless climate of California, he finally decided to locate in this state and after his arrival was first employed in boating on the bay. He had been a sailor before the mast and in his new work took charge of the vessel of his late captain, for whom he carried on a general freighting business for a period of nine years. In the meantime he had purchased seventy acres of land in Richmond and after retiring from boating he operated this until 1903, when he subdivided the property and sold it for building lots, retaining a part for his own home. All of the land is within the corporate limits of Richmond and is now fully developed and on it many houses are built. In addition to this Mr. Nystrom had an interest in seven other subdivisions in Richmond and did some important work in the line of land development. He was a member of the Richmond Industrial Commission and a director in the Mechanics Rank of Richmond. In 1881 Mr. Nystrom married Miss Mary Griffins, a daughter of Owen and Kate (Evans) Griffins, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Nystrom became the parents of eleven children�Alfred John, Edwin, Mary E., Mabel, Alice, William, Louise, Hazel, Edna, Raymond and Richard. The last named has passed away. Mr. Nystrom was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having become a Royal Arch Mason at Berkeley and a Knight Templar at Oakland. He was a trustee in the Presbyterian church of Richmond and gave his political allegiance to the republican party, having served for fifteen years as school director and for a long period as a member of the city council. He was an intelligent, active and progressive citizen and in all official or personal relations held the esteem and confidence of those who were associated with him. On December 24, 1913, Mr. Nystrom passed away, after many years of usefulness in a community where he will long be remembered as an able, honest and kindly gentleman. Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914, p. 449 The late John Richard Nystrom, who died on December 24, 1913, was for many years numbered among the prominent and valued citizens of Richmond, where he was regarded as a pioneer settler, his residence there dating from the year 1871. From that time on he was active in the real-estate business as a developer of several subdivisions and tracts, and took a leading part in public affairs, lending the weight of his influence to all projects for the advancement and growth of the community. He was a native of Finland, his birth having occurred on August 24, 1848. His parents, John and Johanna (Kallis) Nystrom, died in their native country. In their family were eight children, of whom the subject of this review was the eldest. John Richard Nystrom acquired his very early education under the instruction of his mother, and later entirely by his own efforts in private study. When he was twenty-three years of age he emigrated to America, making a permanent location in California. Previous to this, however, he traveled over a large portion of the world, visiting the Land of the Midnight Sun, and then journeying far enough south to see the Southern Cross. Having heard a great deal of the wonderful resources and matchless climate of California, he finally decided to locate in this State, and after his arrival was first employed in boating on the bay. He had been a sailor before the mast, and in his new work took charge of the vessel of his former captain, for whom he carried on a freighting business for nine years. In the meantime he had purchased seventy acres of land in what is now Richmond. After retiring from boating he farmed this tract until 1903, when he subdivided the property and sold it for building lots, retaining a piece for his own home. All of the land is within the corporate limits of Richmond. It is now fully developed, and on it many houses are built. In addition to this, Mr. Nystrom had an interest in seven other subdivisions in Richmond, and did some important work in the line of land development. He was a member of the Richmond Industrial Commission and a director of the Mechanics Bank of Richmond. In 1881 he was married to Miss Mary Griffins, a daughter of Owen and Kate (Evans) Griffins, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Nystrom became the parents of twelve children - Alfred, John, Edwin, Mary E., Mabel, Alice, William, Louise, Hazel, Edna, Raymond, and Richard. The last-named has passed away. Mr. Nystrom was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having become a Royal Arch Mason at Berkeley, and a Knight Templar at Oakland. He was a trustee in the Presbyterian church of Richmond. He gave his political allegiance to the Republican party, having served for fifteen years as school director, and for a long period as a member of the city council. Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 475-476. Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.