Willmar tribune., 1909-11-24
DEATH OF FRANCE F. NELSON

DEATH OF FRA
D1ED-at his home, 41O South
Eleventh Street. this city, on
Thursday evening. Nov. l8. at
7:30 o'clock France Frithiof Nell
son.
The deceased was born in Mime
apolis on October IL, 1869. A
month or two later his parents
moved to this county, settling on a
claim in New London township,
where he lived during the years of
his childhood and early youth.
While yet a boy in his early
teens, France struck out for him.
self. and with that spirit of inde-
pendence and self-reliance which
marked his life character all
through, began business for him.
self. It was on a scale befitting
the slim purse of a country boy of
the pioneer days. His first venture
in the village of New London was
as barber. There are yet num-
Der of business men at New Lon
don who remember when this ambi-
tious youth came to their stores and
offered to attend to the shaving
and cutting of hair. He soon had
a fine little shop with a good pa
tronage. The mechanical traits in
the hoy's makeup clamored for
chance, however, and he began to
tinker as a matchmaker and in a
short time attained some skill in
this trade. He built building on
the main street to house his barber
and jewellery business, with living
apartments overhead, securing one
of his sisters as a housekeeper.
He prospered and gradually added
a stock Of goods to his other lines.
The year following his marriage
Mr.. Nelson moved to Willmar.
Here he began business in small
way in a modest rented room, as
jeweler and barber. He was not
long content without a building of
his own and in 1896 he, in company
with Victor E. Lawson, erected
what was for a long time known as
the Tribune Building, at 212 Fourth
Street. He fitted up two depart
ments on the first floor, one as a
|jewelry store and the other as a
barber shop, arranging all the fix
lures and furnishings with that
neatness and fine taste which were
evident in all his work. The Sec
ond story was occupied by the Trib-
une.
| In 1901, when the Bank Of Will
mar block was erected he fitted up
the basement for his barber busi-
ness. A year and a half later he
disposed of this business to Burton
T. Otos, and his interest in the
Tribune building to his brother, j.
Emil Nelson.
Il During 1902 and 1903 he travelled
through several states, and visited
the Pacific coast, as operator 70,
Martin E. Tew's illustrated lee.
lures. Before he began this work
he had scarcely seen a stereopticor
or a motion picture machine, but
in a short time he became noted a:
an expert illustrator. He made
some improvements on the Edisor
kinetoscope which have since beer
D adopted by the manufacturers. HI
' never took out a patent, however
and received no credit. In 1904 h
{ completed the beautiful home OF
Eleventh Street. the second resi-
: dence he had built since coming t.
r Willmar. In this year he forme'
: a partnership with Peter Freeber,
e and became agents for the Tirri
e lighting systems and year late
s they opened a racket" store in tn
r Bonde block on Fourth Street
e Shortly afterwards Mr.. Nelso
i bought Freeberg's interest and cor
u tinued as sole proprietor until j
e June, 1907, when he sold the busi
e ness to Sam Gov:g.
e 1t was his ambition to own q
u automobile Of his own manufacture
2 end in the latter part of the yea
,e 1908 he began the work of maxim
le one. He spent every day Of tn
;. entire winter in the shop Of tn
Ifnrnnor Willmar Gasoline Enn;r