The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 667 EDWIN NELSON. Edwin Nelson, who has a productive farm of eighty acres near Ellensburg, is a native of Washington, his birth having occurred in King county, February 26, 1879. His parents are Halvor and Julianna Nelson, natives of Norway, both of whom left the land of the midnight sun in order to profit by the opportunities presented on this side of the Atlantic. As young people they removed to Nebraska, where they remained for some time, but being impressed with the greater chances of a newer country, they made their way to the state of Washington, settling on the Sound and being numbered among the early pioneers of that district. Early in the '70s they removed to the Kittitas valley and in 1880 Halvor Nelson homesteaded eighty acres, to the cultivation of which he gave his close attention, and as success came to him he acquired another eighty acres, now owning one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, and he still lives upon that farm, having reached the age of seventy-seven years. He is one of the leading farmers of his neighborhood and enjoys the high respect of all who know him. Edwin Nelson was reared under the parental roof, receiving the loving care of devoted parents and attending the public schools in the acquirement of his education. Early in life he familiarized himself with resultant methods of farming under the able guidance of his father and upon starting out upon an independent career rented his father's land for a few years with good results and also operated a sawmill. In 1910 he acquired an eighty acre tract located four and a half miles southwest of Ellensburg and there he has erected a fine home and commodious barns and outbuildings and instituted modern equipment in order to facilitate the work of the fields. Industrious and farsighted, Mr. Nelson is not only an expert in regard to local farming conditions but has also proven himself a shrewd business man who is able to obtain the highest prices by studying market conditions closely. He raises hay and grain but gives to the former the larger acreage. In 1913 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Tilda Strande, a daughter of Evan Strande, and to this union have been born three daughters, Thelma, Doris and Freda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are popular among the younger social set of Ellensburg and vicinity and have many friends here. Mr. Nelson is not bound by party tics as regards politics, preferring to give his support to men according to their ability and standing and not because of their party affiliations. ******************************** Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.