COMPANY · FOUNDER HISTORY
John M. Nelson, Jr.
Visionary. Trailblazer. Jack's story is one for the history books — a life in lumber and materials handling that runs parallel to many American milestones.
FOUNDING FAMILY THRU WWII
A family history traced to our country's founding.
The Nelson family's roots reach back to America's founding fathers. The steadfast journey that led Jack to a career in lumber and materials handling runs parallel to many US history milestones — here's how it unfolded.
Nelson family settles in Yorktown and is recognized in American history as one of Virginia's first families.
Jack's great-great-grandfather, Thomas Nelson, Jr. signs his name to the Declaration of Independence.
Thomas Nelson, Jr. succeeds Thomas Jefferson as Governor of Virginia.
Our founder, John M. Nelson, Jr., is born in Baltimore, Maryland.
John M. Nelson, Jr. graduates with a BA from Johns Hopkins University.
Jack graduates Yale, becoming a member of the first graduating class at Yale University Forest School.
Working under US President Theodore Roosevelt, Nelson rides horseback helping identify sites for US national park status.
Issued a US Patent treating timber with liquid preservatives for the purposes of preventing decay.
Opens lumber business, John M. Nelson, Jr., Inc., in Pottsville, Pennsylvania with just one-thousand dollars and two employees.
Nelson expands with a branch in New York City, hiring a classmate to head the office at 115 Broadway.
Nelson moves back home to Baltimore and establishes new corporate headquarters at 10 E Fayette St.
Nelson inks a deal to supply tinplate boxes, becoming the oldest continuous agreement in Bethlehem Steel history.
The company name changes to The Nelson Company.
As the Great Depression moves in, Jack keeps his workers employed by building a sailboat in the lumberyard.
Aviation pioneer Glenn L. Martin is intrigued by Jack's sailboat project and asks to meet.
Nelson becomes Martin Company's box supplier for shipping airplane parts overseas, including the fuselage of the "Martin Bomber".
Jack's son, John M. Nelson III joins the family business after honorably completing service with the US Navy.