Parsons, Col. William and Shiach, W. S. "An Illustrated History of Umatilla County and of Morrow County." Spokane, WA: W. H. Lever, 1902. p. 398. EBNER B. NELSON It is with unfeigned pleasure that eye are enabled to add our mite to the bright memory of a mast worthy martyr of civilization by incorporating in these abiding records of Umatilla county an epitome of the career of that brave patriot, wise and prominent citizen and gifted gentleman whose name adorns this article, and whose memory is dear to the citizens of our county. Born of a seafaring people, in Sweden, in 1828, he early developed a desire for the ocean, and on account of his mother's death, which occurred when he was but a child, he went to sea at the age of fourteen. His service was mostly in the merchant marine, although for one term he operated on a war ship. During his long life on the seas he visited every known port of any significance in the commercial world, and passed through many thrilling scenes and terrible hardships. At one time they stove a hole in the bottom of their ship and every man was held at the pumps for hours to keep from sinking. Mr. Nelson became exhausted and fell to the deck in a faint, only being aroused by the captain of another ship who had responded to their signals of distress and rescued the unfortunates from their sinking bark. In 1849 he came to California, entering heartily into the search for nature's hidden treasures, operating at Eagle Gulch, Nelson Hill, which was named after him, Yreka and other places. From Yreka he came to Oregon in 1863, mining at Canyon City and Granite creek until 1869, when he settled in Umatilla county on the land that his son now owns and farms near Vinson. He followed cattle raising until his death, which occurred on July 6, 1878. During the Bannock war Mr. Nelson was remaining on his ranch while the sons lead taken the women to Pendleton for safety. His friends, Luke Skelly, and State Senator C. L. Jewell, came over to remain with him. The younger Nelson was to return with arms and ammunition from Pendleton, but the officers refused to alloy them to be brought. Mr. Jewell then went to get guns for the hands on his ranch; returning about three o'clock in the morning, he stopped at the Nelson place. He saw some one behind the house, but supposing it to be Mr. Nelson went to the bare to put out his horse, and the Indian, as the figure proved to be, sneaked up on the opposite side of the horse and shot Mr. Jewell in the left side, from under the horse's neck. Turning toward the house, he received another bullet in his arm, but managed to get past the house into the creek, where he sunk himself out of sight. Later he crawled to the house and secured some food and wrote with charcoal the following words on a piece of bread which he laid on the stove: "Tire Indian shot me at Nelson's. I am wounded and in the brush back of house. Call my name and I will answer. C. L. Jewell." He also wrote the same on the bottom of a stool and left it in the road. He vas found by Captain Frank Mattox and his company of volunteers from Heppner, and taken to Pendleton, where Dr. N. G. Blalock did all in his power to save him, but he died a week after he was shot. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Skelley were killed outright near the gate and their bodies thrown into a pond near the house. Later Mr. Nelson's son came to look for his father, being accompanied by a friend, J. E. Freeman. They rode through the pond and the friend's horse stumbled over one of the bodies. A bunch of five redskins had been seen lurking about, who doubtless were the identical ones that did the work of fiendish murdering. Mr. Nelson's wife, and the name is spelled Neilson in Swedish, is still living ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.