Andrew Nilson’s surname was spelled Nelson on the Lake Worth Pioneers’ Association monument, but Nilson in all other records. Born in Sweden in June of 1848, Andrew married Anna Augusta, about 1879. They had already arrived in Florida by 1880 when their son, Tebout, was born. Their daughter, Vera, was born the following year.
Dade County Deed Book No.1 shows that Andrew Nilson bought 40 acres of land from William N. Wood on 26 April 1892 for $225. This property was in southern Dade County, between present-day Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Andrew was listed as a Dade County poll tax payer in 1894. He and Augusta joined the new Christian Scientist Church in West Palm Beach about 1915 and lived at 611 South Olive Avenue. Andrew was the caretaker of the Bingham Estate in Palm Beach, about one-half mile south of today’s Mar-a-Lago.
Andrew and Augusta’s children predeceased them. Their daughter, Vera, died unmarried at age twenty-six on 22 November 1906. Her death was a tragedy from which they never fully recovered. Then, son Tebout’s death at age thirty-six on 1 June 1916, dealt a double blow.
Andrew died 21 January 1929, and Augusta on 16 November 1949. They are buried in the family plot at Woodlawn Cemetery, West Palm Beach, with their children. On 5 October 1914, Carl S. Anderson was also buried in their plot and may have been Augusta’s father.
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