SALTER, NELSON LEE

Nelson Lee Salter (1874-1950), was born on June 30, 1874, son of Mr. Salter, a native of Michigan, and Alice G. Conley Salter (1851-), a native of Illinois born of Irish immigrant parents. His father died when he was a child. His mother remarried in 1886 to Charles Harris (1850-), a journalist and editor.

At age 18 years old he joined the ANA in October 1892 and is listed in List No. 21, as ANA Member No. 676.

He began as a coin, stamp and curio dealer in the 1890's and was an avid aficionado of Yosemite geology.

Fig. Salter correspondence with John G. Laidacker postmarked March 31, 1895, Merced, California. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Laidacker Family Correspondence Archive.

The 1900 U. S. Census lists him living at home with his parents and working as a clerk in the Merced Post Office, Merced County, California. He worked for Henry Nelson, Postmaster of Merced, California.

In 1903, he opened a general store about one mile outside of Camp Curry, Merced County, California. David A. Curry applied for an application to open a lemonade stand and it was fought by Salter claiming it would infringe on his business. Curry won the application with the restriction of only selling within his camp.

In 1910, he published a book on the geology of the Yosemite Valley, authored by Galen Clark, The Yosemite Valley, Its History, Characteristic Features, and Theories Regarding its Origin.

In 1914, he was the owner/manager of the Emerald Bay Camp, Emerald Bay, [South] Lake Tahoe, [Yosemite Valley] California.

On September 23, 1921, he married Pear B. Coffman (1889-1971), at San Francisco, California.

The 1930 U. S. Census lists him living with his wife Pearl as the owners of a hotel in Fresno, Fresno County, California.

The 1930 U. S. Census lists him living with his wife Pearl as the owners of a summer resort hotel in Fresno, Fresno County, California.

He died on April 23, 1950. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Fresno, Fresno County, California.

Bibliography :

The Numismatist, October (1892) List 21

San Francisco Call Bulletin, October 16, 1903, page 7

Merced County Attractions For the Homeseeker : Gateway to Yosemite (Merced Evening Sun, July 1913)