Southwest Florida’s history includes a rich tapestry of colorful characters and engaging stories. Over the years, though, some of those stories can become muddied in interpretation and conjecture, perhaps none more so than the story of a Danish sea captain who became the founding father of the town of Alva. Peter Nelson was an engaged resident who funded schools and libraries and even held a seat on the County Commission until he was removed in disgrace following a grand jury indictment. This week’s essay from News-Press storyteller Amy Bennett Williams takes a closer look at Capt. Nelson, and another long-time Lee County resident who worked hard on setting the record straight about Nelson and on restoring his tarnished reputation.
Captain Peter Nelson
