Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 316.
 
THOMAS NELSON

     Thomas Nelson is editor and publisher of the Junction City Times, one of
the influential newspapers of the southern part of the Willamette Valley, and
through the medium of his paper, has been an important factor in the progress
and prosperity of his locality. Mr. Nelson was born in Illinois, April 16, 1870,
and is a son of James Henry and Caroline (Snodgrass) Nelson. In the year of his
birth Mr. Nelson was taken by his parents to Newton, Iowa, where his father
followed the trade of plastering for several years. Later he moved to Colorado
and his death occurred in Idaho, his widow now residing in California.

     Thomas Nelson attended the public schools, took a commercial course in a
business college and was a student in the University of Colorado. He learned the
printing trade at Boulder, Colorado, and has followed that trade almost without
intermission to the present time. When eighteen years old, he bought the La Jara
(Colo.) Tribune, which he ran for about a year, and afterwards worked at his
trade at various places in that state. In 1889 he went to Baker City, Oregon,
where he served for two years as foreman on the Reveille, after which he. spent
some time as a "typographical tourist," working on a number of papers in this
part of the country. About 1893 he established the John Day Sentinel, at John
Day, Oregon, but after two years went to Heppner, this state, and was employed
about two years as foreman on the Heppner Gazette. On leaving there he bought a
paper at Pilot Rock, Oregon, but soon afterward went to Pendleton, Oregon, and
engaged in the job printing business. In 1897 he located in Salubria, Idaho, and
for several years published the Salubria Citizen, the name of which was later
changed to that of the Cambridge News when the town adopted the new name. In the
spring of 1919 Mr. Nelson sold out there and, coming to Eugene, bought out the
Eugene Printing Company, but sold the business in September of the same year and
bought an interest in the Junction City Times, with which he has since been
identified, becoming the sole owner in April, 1920. The Times was established in
1891 and later was acquired by S, L. and Frank W. Moorhead, who in turn were
succeeded by William C. Parry. The next owner was Mr. Charles, who sold to D. C.
Boyd, from whom Mr. Nelson bought the business and plant. The Times is an
eight-page, six-column weekly, all home print, and has a circulation of about
five hundred. The plant is well equipped for both newspaper and job printing,
the paper comparing in typographical appearance with any of its contemporaries,
while its editorial excellence has commended it to the reading public. Mr.
Nelson has devoted his paper to the best interests of the community which it
serves and his efforts for the advancement of the public welfare are recognized
and appreciated by his fellow citizens.

     On January 1, 1896, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Eldora Belle
Oswald, of Heppner, Oregon, and they became the parents of two children, Ruth,
who is the wife of J. J. Ray, of the state of Washington, and Myrtle, who is the
wife of R. C. Burkhardt, of Portland, Oregon. In 1907 Mr. Nelson married Miss
Bertha Watrous, of Cambridge, Idaho, and they have two children, Vardell, aged
nineteen, a graduate of high school, and Eugene, aged sixteen years. Mr. Nelson
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed
through the chairs, and also belongs to the canton and encampment. He also has
membership with the United Artisans, the Woodmen of the World, the Pacific
Woodmen and the Typographical Union, and is secretary of the Junction City
Chamber of Commerce. In his political views he is a republican.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.