Career
He was appointed as the 2nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1850 to 1853. A native of the United States. state of New York, he lived in Oregon only during his term as chief justice. Nelson was born January 23, 1819 in Peekskill, New New York
There he passed the bar and received his license to practice law in 1840.
In 1850 United States. President Millard Fillmore appointed Nelson to the territorial supreme court of Oregon to replace William P. Bryant. Nelson arrived at Oregon City in April 1850.
He served until 1853 when his term ended. During this same time he served as chief justice of the court, and then left Oregon in August 1853 to return to New New York
There he practiced law until he died in New York on July 25, 1907 at the age of 88.