Though he was born in New Jersey, and lived in Mexico and Texas, Nelson is best known for establishing a homestead-turned-zoo on the shore of Florida's Loxahatchee River.
Filled with exotic and wild animals, his zoo was a popular tourist spot in the 1940s and 1950s, visited by local and national celebrities.
On December 17, 1931, Charles Nelson shot partner John Dykas in the back, killing him.
[2] Disillusioned with civilization, Nelson withdrew from the beach, settling deep in the woods on the Loxahatchee River that same December.
[4] Trapping could only bring Nelson income seasonally, and as south Florida became a popular tourist destination, he came up with a new way to earn money.
Tours along the river from West Palm Beach would stop there for lunch and stretch breaks, and Nelson shared the profits with the boat captains.
[3] Locally prominent people and celebrities alike visited,[7] including boxing champion Gene Tunney[3] and actor Gary Cooper,[8] to see his animals, watch Nelson wrestle alligators,[2] and buy souvenirs.
[9] Rumors were started about his handsomeness, his eating habits (Bessie DuBois denied he ate raw possum[4]), and his romantic exploits.
It was told that he courted heiresses and countesses from wealthy Palm Beach, and that one conquest was a direct descendant of President James Monroe.
He joined the Military Police in Texas, but while training, he tore a muscle in his leg and was transferred to Camp Murphy, which was very close to his land.
He divorced his wife, and after that Nelson bought cars for the women he wooed, paying for them in installments to ensure they would stay for at least a while.
[3] Shortly after he began his forays into real estate, a health inspector declared his zoo unhygienic and demanded he install lavatories.
He began to dam the river leading to his camp to keep boats away, and installed fences and padlocks to discourage land travelers.
He ventured into town once a week to check his mail at the post office, and would sometimes buy steaks, but for the most part he remained holed up in his cabin.
John DuBois, at whose house the meeting was supposed to take place, became worried and drove to Nelson's camp.
[2] The theory was that he stuck the shotgun in the ground, leaned over and pulled the trigger,[2] even though it would have taken considerable effort and flexibility on Nelson's part.
Shortly before his death, a man who repaired one of Nelson's jeeps found out he was sick and had not seen a doctor in six months.
"[3] Nelson's family never considered foul play, said grand-niece, Cynthia Celmer Tomassetti, "Vince had discussed his failing health with my father, brother and mother.
[12] In April 1984, park rangers discovered Nelson's "treasure": a hiding place in his chimney held 5,005 coins, totaling $1,829.46.
[14] There are also fruit trees that he planted, including surinam cherry, Java plum and wild almond.