GORTON NELSON. Buffalo, New York.
Gorton Nelson, of Scotch and Irish parents, was born at Attica, Wyoming County, New York, in 1863. Here he attended school until the age of 14, when he began his business life as clerk in a grocery store in his native town. This he left to follow in the footsteps of the father of our country, and carried the rod for Mr. W. A. Haven, Assistant Chief Engineer of the Erie. This work finished, young Nelson began firing, August 5, 1882, on the B.S.W.D., in both freight and passenger service; on January 8, 1883, he was transferred to the Buffalo Division, where he was made passenger fireman on September 19, 1899, firing for Henry Schilling, who is mentioned in another part of this book. Just one year after this last transfer, he was promoted to the grade of engineer, running freight on the rounds between Buffalo, Hornellsville and Niagara Falls.

While it is useless to say that Mr. Nelson never had any minor accidents, as the saying is that "it costs money to make engineers," yet his record shows that he has never had an accident of moment, and, although one of the youngest engineers in the service of the road, he is credited with being as careful and efficient a man as any in their employ. Mr. Nelson, almost needless to say, is a member of the Brotherhood, and has been one for over six years, and has already, although so young a man, held the office of Chaplain with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow members. He has also held the position of First Engineer in that body, and was elected alternate member of the Legislative Board, serving last year in the place of Mr. H.W. Clendenning. He is a true Brotherhood man, first, last and always. Judged by the standard of his career during the last seventeen years, Mr. Nelson has ahead of him a life of honorable advancement in his chosen profession, and his name will doubtless be heard in the future achievements of the Brotherhood.

Mr. Nelson was married on the 23rd of December, 1890, to Miss Cora Kriegelstein of Attica, who presides with innate hospitality at their home at 403 South Division street, Buffalo.

Excerpted from: "American Locomotive Engineers, Erie Railway Edition," H.R. Romans Editor; Crawford-Adsit Company Publishers, Chicago, IL 1899.

From the March, 1910 issue of Erie Magazine:
Engineer Gordon Nelson, who has been ill for the past six months, was a recent caller at the shops and everybody was glad to see him out again

From the February, 1913 issue of Erie Magazine:
BUFFALO MACHINE SHOP NEWS
It is with much regret that we announce the death of Engineer Gorton Nelson, which occurred on January 9th, 1913, after a brief illness. Mr. Nelson is survived by his father, Francis B. Nelson, and sister, Mrs. John Lang, wife of Road Foreman of Engines J. Lang. The funeral was held on January llth, under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of Attica, N.Y., with interment at Attica.

Mr. Nelson was employed as locomotive fireman on the B. & S.W. Division, August 5th, 1882, and was transferred to the Buffalo Division, January 8th, 1883. He was promoted to locomotive engineer September 22nd, 1890. For the past two years or more he was regularly assigned to Castile switch engine. Mr. Nelson was well liked by all who knew him, and the entire community join in expressing their sorrow for the bereaved ones.