San
Joaquin County
Biographies
NELS J. LUND
A very optimistic, experienced and
enterprising ranchman whose industry and thrift have netted him abundantly and
made his operations of interest to others, is Nels J.
Lund, the proprietor of some 345 acres of excellent Delta land on Union Island;
he was born in Skane, Sweden, on November 21, 1877,
the eldest son of Peter and Annie (Norquist) Lund,
both natives of Sweden, his father being an expert machinist and specifically a
blacksmith by trade. The family
immigrated to America in 1881, and settled at Sheridan, Michigan, and Mrs.
Lund, was has attained the age of seventy-two is still a resident there, where
our subject purchased a home for her, to have and to hold as long as she may
live. This filial act is of credit to Nels, for he was forced to go to work, by family
circumstances, at the early age of fourteen, then saying good-bye to school and
much that a boy holds dear, and help support the family by working awhile in
timber and lumber camps.
When he left home he went to work on
the W. A. Stearns ranch, near Sheridan, for six years doing general farming,
and the last four years there he was foreman of what was locally known as the
extensive “Stearns Properties.” He did
so well that, in 1897, he was encouraged to make a visit to his uncle, Martin
J. Lund, reaching Stockton on December 12.
He was persuaded to remain in California, and thereafter was much
encouraged in his work by his prosperous relative. He worked for his uncle in the Delta region
until 1901, at the end of which time he returned to Michigan, where he was
married to Miss Ruth Forward, who had been a schoolmate in the Wolverine state. That same year they came to California
together to take up ranch life. Mr. Lund
has since always been active as foreman of large holdings in Union or Roberts
Island, or in ventures for himself, continuing until 1908 to manage properties
for others. For three years in
1904-05-06 he was in the employ of Wood Bros., in charge of the cutting of 1600
acres of alfalfa five times each year; also of baling the hay and placing it in
the warehouse. He also cut 1500 tons of
grain hay which was baled and warehoused.
During this time he kept the time of the men and paid them as well as
purchased the supplies and paid the bills and had access to Wood Brothers bank
account as his signature on Wood Brothers checks was always honored. Mr. Lund certainly can take pride in having
gained their confidence to such an extent.
On the other hand it was not misplaced and he was faithful to the trust
placed in him. For fourteen months Mr.
Lund was a fireman on the San Joaquin Division of the Santa Fe Railroad, and
for seven months he had charge of the boilers of the Belding Refrigerator Works
at Sheridan; but since 1908 he has farmed on his own account, taking up his
residence on Bixler Lands, at Fish Camp, where he has
cultivated from 2,000 to 5,500 acres a season.
He has produced beans, barley and potatoes in large quantities, and to
accomplish this, he has come to own some four caterpillar outfits, with two
Best steam tractors. His farming
equipment also includes three Harris bean threshers, and two Best
threshing outfits, and when one learns that these are operated for the
harvesting of crops on Mr. Lund’s leases, one can realize the extent of his
large Delta operations. In 1912, for
example, he raised a potato crop that yielded 300 sacks per acre, but due to
the extremely low prices in the market of that year, was fortunate in making
expenses. Like many another, he has made and lost heavily in Delta farming, but
he has never failed to pull through, for he long ago established the reputation
for meeting all obligations, no matter what their aggregate might be, and his
creditors have always thus stood by him.
He owns desirable real estate at Stockton, besides a home worth $10,000
in that city, where his family reside on account of
the superior educational advantages. A
Republican in matters of national political import, he is a strong advocate of
a high protective tariff, and believes that he in particular has good reasons
for his doctrine.
Four children were granted Mr. and
Mrs. Lund: Altamont, the eldest, is
deceased; Lloyd L., Nelson and Thelma.
Mr. Lund is active in the following lodges: the Maccabees, to which he has belonged since
was eighteen years old; the Red Men, at Stockton; Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P.
O. E.; Stockton Lodge No. 83 of the Eagles; and Charity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O.
F., and he has always contributed liberally to the benevolences of each. Mr. Lund is well and favorably known and has
a host of warm friends and admirers who are pleased to note his rising
success. He is liberal and kind-hearted
and dispenses his hospitality in a free and unostentatious manner. He is enthusiastic in his praise of the great
opportunities in California presented to young men who are energetic and not
afraid to work and he is particularly sanguine for a great future for this
fertile Delta country.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
420. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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