Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Nelson, Peter 1841 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net September 24, 2006, 2:46 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons 

Page 464, 465

Peter Nelson
	Notable among the names of Umatilla Pioneers must be mentioned that of 
Peter Nelson, well known throughout the county, and to whom we accord a space 
in this volume, as one who has wrought faithfully and successfully,  
maintaining his position in the front ranks of citizenship and active for the 
interest and welfare of all.  Many from his birthplace, Denmark, have sought a 
home in this land of freedom, who have in faithful effort built up and 
sustained its free institutions. Few among that number have had their lives so 
crowded with adventure and stirring incidents as he of whom we now speak. 1841 
was the year of his birth, and before he was nine years of age he shipped from 
a harbor of Scotland and commenced his life on the wild seas that led him to 
every part of the globe and into numerous experiences, dangerous and 
eventful.  In 1856, while sailing in an American vessel, he touched for the 
first time in New York.  Three years later, in the "Golden Moor," another 
American vessel, he came to New York and swore allegiance to the United States 
before leaving his ship. The next day he joined the army under General Logan, 
and that night was drugged by adepts, who were procuring a crew for a foreign 
vessel, and taken aboard. The next day when he awoke he was well on his way 
for Havana, where the vessel took in a cargo of molasses and set sail for 
London. Later, he came to America in an American ship flying the British flag. 
He shipped again, this time for Buenos Ayres, where he deserted and fled to 
the interior, accompanied by a boy. They made their way across the continent 
to Valaparaiso, consuming one year in the trip. They were without money at the 
start, but soon found that by tattooing the natives they could pay their way 
and make a good revenue besides. At the end of the year they found their 
capital was one hundred dollars each, clear, and so continued the business, 
traveling up the coast in a native boat as far as Quito. This consumed three 
months. From here they again started toward Panama, occupied in the same 
business. At Panama they stole aboard a vessel as stowaways.  After being 
found, although the ship had put to sea, they were thrown overboard and barely 
escaped from sharks, swimming many miles to land.  Later he shipped on a 
vessel to San Francisco and entered the mines, where he was not successful. 
From this he turned his attention to sheep herding and made enough by careful 
economy to secure a small band for himself. In the winter of '69 and '70 he 
was forced by the drouth to the swamps, where his entire band was drowned.  At 
this point he turned from California and came to Umatilla county and has 
remained here ever since. His first employment here was sheep herding for five 
years, until he got a start, when he went into the stock business, and has 
remained at that ever since. His line is horses, with a few cattle. His herds 
aggregate over seven hundred head, all well bred, the horses being Messenger 
and the cattle Shorthorn. He prefers the smaller horses, as they best suit the 
market to which he caters, cavalry horses for the government. His Messengers 
bring about seventy-five dollars per head. He utilizes the breaks of the 
Columbia as range ground, owning but one hundred and sixty acres.
	In political matters he is quite active, adhering to the Democratic 
party. He has frequently been a delegate to the conventions, although in 
special preferment he never accepts office himself. His success in financial 
matters is well deserved, having always been faithful and industrious, 
continuing through hardships and discouragements, and now in his riper years 
he can enjoy the fruit of his toil, being also favored with the confidence and 
esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances.


Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.

	Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies 
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies. 


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