Information about the people of Roseville, California

Reuben Francis "Reube" Nelson

Born: September 18, 1898 - Staples, Minnesota

Died: June 26, 1978 - Roseville, California

Buried: Roseville Community Cemetery

Wife: Elizabeth Jane Powell

Married: September 3, 1927 - Nampa, Idaho

Born: September 3, 1901 - Silver City, Idaho

Died: July 26, 1999 - Roseville, California

Buried: Roseville Community Cemetery

Children: James Howard Nelson - 1928 - 1993

Kathleen Christeen Nelson-Schance - 1932

A. Elizabeth Nelson-Nickel - 1935

"Reube" Nelson lived in Roseville for over 45-years. He served on many City and County boards throughout his life. A few of the boards and organizations he served on include: President of the Roseville Community Hospital Board (5-years); Roseville City Personnel Board; Roseville Parks and Recreation Board; Roseville Chamber of Commerce, Roseville Hospital Association (18-years); a 59-year life member of the American Legion Alyn W. Butler Post 169 (Commander in 1941-44 and 1948-49); Past Commander of the American Legion 6^th District; life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1661; charter member of the Auburn BPOE (Elks) Lodge 1691; 52-year member of the Ashlar Masonic Lodge No 90, Nampa, Idaho; Roseville Eagles Lodge 1582; Honorary Life Member of the Sons of Italy; Pacific Fruit Express Retired Club; Sons in Retirement; the Third Base Gang and American Legion Baseball.

In 1936-37, he served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee for Northern California, and for many years served with the Placer County Draft Board during W.W.II.

He was given a Life Membership in the Roseville Parents Teachers Association for work with the youth of Roseville.

In 1913, he left his family farm in Staples, Minnesota, to begin a 51-year railroading career which began with the Northern Pacific Railroad in Minnesota.

As a young man of 19 years, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1917 and served aboard a wooden hull submarine chaser in the North Pacific stationed at Sitka, Alaska. He was a member of the United States Siberian Expeditionary Force, which fought in China from 1918-19. He was "Honorably" discharged in 1919 at the end of W.W.I. as Seamen Second Class.

He returned home to Minnesota and returned to work at Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1923, he moved to Colton, California, as a carman with Pacific Fruit Express (PFE). Nelson transferred to Nampa, Idaho, as foreman of the steel department in 1925 and in 1933 he was promoted to General Foreman of the Roseville PFE shops.

In 1944, he was promoted to Superintendent of Nampa PFE shops. In 1947, he was named Superintendent of the Roseville PFE shops and remained there until his retirement in 1964. The Roseville PFE shops was the largest employer in Placer County and contained the world’s largest ice plant until refrigerated cars replaced iced cars. Reube was assigned the task of building that facility in 30-days, which he accomplished. During WWII, the Roseville PFE shops produced one box car and ice car every 28-minutes at its peak, the highest production of any railroad shop in the nation.

More than 500 people attended his retirement ceremony and dinner at the Sacramento Inn. A "This is your Life, Reube Nelson" was presented with photos of 51-year career. The Presidents of Southern Pacific Railroad and of the Pacific Fruit Express, along with their staff, as well as members of the California State government, Placer County, City of Roseville, and local community leaders. Reube, however, was most pleased that his "railroaders" attended.

Reube’s Nr. 1 hobby was not only fishing, but also making devices to aid cripple children in the area. He carved a wooden leg for a young African American boy whom wanted to play baseball. The boy was able to play limited baseball with that prosthesis until he graduated from high school.

He designed and fabricated a table to hold an electric typewriter that was positioned at the end of the bed of a girl who had polio and was paralyzed from the neck down. She could only move her big toe and her head, but with the table and electric typewriter, she was able to type letters. She became quite a fast typist and Reube was pleased to receive a thank you letter from her before she died.

He repaired and made wheel chairs and walkers for children who could not afford them.

Reube and Elizabeth had many dignitaries visit their home on Irene Street and on Vine Ave. He would greet most in his shorts with a glass of Scotch. During W.W.II, the Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys of movie fame were guests on weekends. In latter years, one their most notable visitor was Governor of California Ronald Reagan, later President of the United States. The records do not show if he received the Governor in his shorts or not.

A 13-acre park in west Roseville was named and dedicated in his honor. Also, the old steel bridge that crossed over the railroad tracks at the Ice Plant was moved to span Dry Creek behind the Roseville Veterans Memorial Hall now carries his name. A marker dedicating the bridge was placed next to the bridge and was provided by the Roseville Historical Society.

Reube served on the following Roseville and Placer County Boards:

Chairman, Placer County Personnel Board

Chairman, Roseville City Personnel Board

President, Roseville District Hospital

President, Placer County Draft Board

President, Democratic Central Committee of Northern California

Board Member of Roseville Parks and Recreation Committee

Placer County Veterans Advisory Board

Roseville Cemetery Board

Roseville Chamber of Commerce

Parent Teachers Association, Roseville

Member of the following veterans organizations:

WW I Barracks, Roseville

American Legion Alyn W. Butler 169, Commander

American Legion District 6 Commander

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1661

American Legion Baseball

Other organizations:

Eagles Lodge 1582, Roseville

Elks Lodge 1691, Auburn (Charter Member)

Ashlar Masonic Lodge #90, Nampa. Idaho

Lions Club, Roseville

Sons In Retirement, Roseville

Sons of Italy, Honorary Member, Roseville

PFE Retirement Club, Roseville

3re Base Gang, Roseville