Butte County
Biographies
CHARLES LEONARD NELSON
CHARLES LEONARD NELSON.--A pioneer,
highly esteemed by the residents of Chico and vicinity,
Charles Leonard Nelson has the distinction of having planted the first orange
trees in Chico. These are to be
found in his yard. His father, Capt. C. C. Nelson, was born in Lancastershire, England, and became a pioneer of Chicago
when it was but a very small town with only one main business street, which was
called Lake Street (now State), and with but few settlers' houses surrounding
the district. Captain Nelson bought a steamer, the Mayflower, and for twelve
years ran it on the Great Lakes. He sold out and went
back to Liverpool and died in England.
He married Lorinda Elsworth,
a native of Ireland, born in Dublin.
Charles
L. Nelson was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England,
August 6, 1832, and was but a babe in arms when he was brought by his parents
to Chicago. There he was reared and
educated, attending a private school. When his father went back to England,
the mother remained in Chicago,
where she reared her children and eventually passed away. After young Nelson
had finished his education he went to work for Peter Mooney, on the corner of
Randolph and Dearborn Streets, to serve a seven-years'
apprenticeship to learn the trade of horseshoer. In
due time he completed the trade and for one year he worked as a journeyman,
then, in 1852, came as far west as St. Louis, going thence to New Orleans by boat, of which his brother was chief engineer. On
arriving at New Orleans black
cholera was raging. Being an expert workman he readily found work at his trade,
remaining there for two months, then went to Mexico,
Mo., where he continued at his
trade.
His
next move towards the west was made with two companions. They bought pack and
saddle mules, and crossed the country to Cherry Creek, now Denver, Colo. Mr.
Nelson met Ben Holliday, the famous stage-line operator and driver, who wanted
Mr. Nelson to go to work for him, shoeing his horses at various stage stations
between Cherry Creek and Salt Lake and Fort Laramie. He was given his own team
and outfit, and continued with Holliday until 1859, when he decided to come to California.
With one pack and one saddle horse, Mr. Nelson started for the Coast, and in
less than four months he arrived, on July 23, 1859, at Sacramento.
He at once found work with John Bennett, as horseshoer,
receiving five dollars per day for his services. He remained with Mr. Bennett
two years, then worked at the trade for Lewis McLean, on the overland stage
route between Folsom and Strawberry Valley, Nev., receiving one hundred
ninety-five dollars per month and expenses; also having a team of horses and
buggy, and a man to help make the shoes and put them on. Two years he remained
at this work and then spent a like period working for a Mr. Roberts. He then
went to Nevada City
and worked for A. Barton for two years. It was about this time that Mr. Nelson
made up his mind he would go into business for himself and, going to the Empire
Ranch, he bought a half interest in the blacksmith shop, with Ed Davis.
It
was while Mr. Nelson was running this shop that he met the lady who later
became his wife. Their marriage was celebrated in Marysville, July 23, 1867.
Mrs. Nelson was, in maidenhood, Miss Rosanna Carr, and was born in County
Cavan, Ireland,
in 1835. After their marriage Mr. Nelson started a shop in Marysville and lived
there until 1872. On account of the ill health of Mrs. Nelson (and they had
lost a son, Francis Owen Nelson, by death), they moved to Chico.
In this city he started a horse-shoeing shop on the site of the Lusk residence.
He leased the lot adjoining where the Nelson house now is, and built a shop;
later he purchased the lot where the Nelson house stands and erected the
building. Mrs. Nelson began keeping boarders and built up a fine and lucrative
business. Mr. Nelson still continued his shop and was meeting with success
until he sold out, in 1907. Then they both gave their attention to the hotel
business, at 233 Salem Street,
and they retired, after many long years of activity, to enjoy a well-earned
rest. They owned a cottage at Butte Meadows, where they spent their summers.
Mrs. Nelson died on March 16, 1916, at the age of eighty-two years. She was a
noble woman, a true helpmate to her husband, and he gives her full credit for
the valuable assistance and encouragement she always gave him when he most
needed it. She was an able manager and in her death the community lost one of
its best citizens. For fifty years this pioneer and his wife traveled life's
pathway together, with never a shadow, except the death of their son, to mar
their happiness. They belonged to St. John the Baptist
Catholic Church, in Chico, which
town Mr. Nelson has helped to build from its early days.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 458-459, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2007 Sande Beach.
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