San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 791
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/23/2009
CHARLES M. CARLSON
In the history of San Joaquin County, with its many prominent citizens and business men, the name o Charles M. Carlson is deserving of mention, not alone for what he has accomplished along agricultural lines, but more particularly for his connection with the organization of the Swedish Colonization Society at Escalon, serving as president since its organization in 1907. His activities in the real estate and insurance business has been productive of fine results and he has been instrumental in locating many home seekers in the vicinity of Escalon. He was born in Skane, Sweden, December 25, 1865, a son of Magnus and Cecelia (Nelson) Carlson, also natives of the same place. They were farmer folk in Sweden and when they came to America in 1889 they first located in western Kansas and later removed to Mt. Vernon, Wash., where the father passed away in 1916; the mother is still living and has reached the age of eighty-seven years. Charles M. Carlson preceded his family to Lincoln, Neb., where he found work on farms in the immediate vicinity of that city; later on he went into Saunders County, where he also engaged in farming pursuits until his removal in 1890 to Seattle, Wash., where he remained for the next three years, then moved to Mt. Vernon, where he farmed forty acres of rich bottom land. He developed his forty-acre ranch and was amply rewarded for his eleven years work.
At Mt. Vernon, Wash., in 1899, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage with Miss Esther Carlson, born at Salemsburg, Kans., who came to Washington with her parents in 1897. Three children have blessed this union, Vernie, Elmer and Viola. In 1904, Mr. Carlson concluded to change his location but not his occupation, so he removed with his family to Escalon where he bought sixty acres, a portion of the Marcey tract. Meantime he became interested in his own countrymen and conceived the idea of forming a Swedish colonization society, which has been the means of bringing many of this sturdy, industrious nation to the Golden State. In 1919, Mr. Carlson rented his ranch and removed to Oakland, but resided there only one year when he returned to Escalon and purchased six and a half acres, with a fine residence and has definitely decided to make Escalon his permanent home. He has recently disposed of his ranch property. In 1895, while residing at Mt. Vernon, Wash., Mr. Carlson received his final papers that made him a U.S. citizen, and a loyal and progressive one he has proved to be. His business partner is Otto Peterson, whose sketch is also in this work, and the association has been a most happy and profitable one to both partners. Mr. Carlson is serving as trustee of the Escalon grammar school and for six years served as trustee of the Van Allen district. He is a member of the Escalon Commercial Club and was one of the active factors in the South San Joaquin County Fair Association movement; he was one of the organizers of the First State Bank at Escalon in 1910; a charter member and agent of the Farmer's Mutual Fire Insurance Company of San Joaquin County; an organizer and director of the Escalon Telephone & Telegraph Company which was organized in 1908 with eight subscribers, which has since grown to large proportions. In politics Mr. Carlson is a Republican. He is an authority on soils and land valuations in the Escalon district and his judgment and advice is often sought by homeseekers.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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