YUBA COUNTY Biographies
MRS. ELNA NELSON
A resident of Sutter County since 1870, Mrs. Elna Nelson and her family have been prominent in the ranching and social life of this section since that early date. Born in Christianstadslan, Skane, Sweden, on October 29, 1848, she was a daughter of Anders and Pernella (Pearson) Nelson, both farmer folk of that country, where they lived and died, her father reaching the advanced age of ninety-two years, but the mother dying in 1877, aged forty-nine years. Elna was the eldest of four children born to her parents, and obtained her education in the public schools of Sweden.
An uncle of Mrs. Nelson, her father’s brother, Bengt Nelson, came to Illinois in 1845 and to California in 1852, having crossed the plains with ox team and prairie-schooner, being six months en route and meeting with the dangers and hardships which made that long overland journey so hazardous. Arriving here, he settled in Sutter County, fifteen miles southwest of Yuba City, took up a quarter-section of land and also acquired another quarter-section of school land, and spent his life on this large acreage, thus becoming one of the State’s pioneer ranchmen. Bengt Nelson was a man of large affairs. Aside from his farming and stock-raising he built the Feather River levee in partnership with Jack Wilkie; and he also built the railroad from Yuba City through the tules to Knights Landing, but the railroad was destroyed by the big flood of 1872. He was among the most prominent and enterprising of the early-day pioneers of Sutter County. With the sturdy spirit for which her race is noted, Mrs. Nelson came to Chicago with friends in 1869, and on the 24th of March, 1870, her marriage occurred at Chicago, Ill., uniting her with Eric Nelson, also born in Skane, Sweden, who had come to America on the same ship. After their marriage, the young couple came to California on their wedding trip, and made their home in Sutter County, where the husband worked for Bengt Nelson one year. One year later, 1871, when the pioneer died, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson bought the ranch; and there they made their home and brought up their family of six children: Emma, Mrs. Johnson, of Hatton, Wash.; Alfred, who married Mae Lovejoy, born in Mountain View, Santa Clara County; Sophie, Mrs. C. L. Ely of Sutter City; Nellie, Mrs. J. R. Murray of the Barry district; Minnie, Mrs. G. M. Wadsworth of Sacramento County; and Alice, who married Forrest E. Lowe, born in Mariposa County, and with her brother Alfred and his family lives on the home place. Mrs. Nelson has twenty-one grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is a member of the Grace Methodist Church South, and has always been one of the respected women of the community, busy with her ranch and home interests, yet ever ready to help in community affairs or in time of need. Eric Nelson was a well-known man in the district, where he was roadmaster for several years; his death occurred on September 16, 1916, aged seventy-three years. He was also a member of the Methodist Church and for some years was trustee of the Central school district.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 882
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