Nels Mathias，Nelson F. Mathias was initiated into I.A.T.S.E. Local 80 on January 18, 1936. Nels was the first born of four children. He was raised on his parents farm in Shadeville, Ohio. He quit school when he was 12 years old to help support the family. At 16 years of age he learned construction, working for his Grandfather. He arrived in California in 1927.