Thorwald Klaudius Nelson

Thorwald Klaudius Nelson
Member of the California Senate
from the 11th district
In office
January 5, 1880 – January 5, 1885
Preceded byJohn S. Boyston
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Delegate to the Second Constitutional Convention of California
In office
September 28, 1878 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
ConstituencySan Francisco
Personal details
Born(1849-09-13)September 13, 1849
Bergen, Norway
DiedMarch 5, 1888(1888-03-05) (aged 38)
PartyRepublican (before 1877)
Workingmen's (1877–1881)
Democratic (after 1881)
Children3
OccupationPipe carver, woodturner, politician

Thorwald Klaudius Nelson[a] (September 13, 1849 – March 5, 1888)[1][2] was a Norwegian American meerschaum pipe carver, woodturner and politician who served as a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention from 1878 to 1879 and in the California State Senate from 1880 to 1885.[3] At just 30 years old, he was the youngest member of the Senate.[4] He also served as president of the Scandinavian Club of the Workingmen's Party of California.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Thorwald sometimes spelled Thorvald[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Vivian, T. J.; Waldron, D. G. (1878). Biographical sketches of the delegates to the convention to frame a new constitution for the State of California, 1878. San Francisco: Francis & Valentine. p. 65. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "EX-SENATOR NELSON". The Daily Examiner. San Francisco. March 10, 1888. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  3. ^ "Thorwald K. Nelson". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  4. ^ Mohan, Hugh J.; Clough, E. H.; Cosgrave, John P. (1880). Pen Pictures of Our Representative Men. Sacramento: H. A. Weaver's Valley Press. pp. 12–13. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "The Scandinavian Club, W. P. C." The Morning Call. San Francisco. May 28, 1879. Retrieved November 18, 2025.