August P. Nelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peder Nilson, was born in Sweden, coming to the United States in 1881, locating in Valley City, Dakota Territory.

In October, 1894, August Nelson and Theoline Torkelson were married. Theoline Torkelson was born in Norway and came to the United States in 1892, arriving in Valley City.

The Nelsons had three children: Adelia, who was employed at Municipal Utilities as office clerk, is now retired and living in Valley City; Palmer, who married Myrtle Baenan of Jamestown, North Dakota, in November, 1925, and have a daughter, Anne, living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Alvin, who married Florence Hamilton of Long Beach, California, in September, 1928. Palmer is retired but still associated with Jamestown Grocery Company, which he has been for over fifty years. Alvin served on the Los Angeles Police Force for twenty years. He passed away in January, 1961.

August Nelson was a carpenter by trade, having received his training in Sweden. About the year 1898, he built an unusual chair, using buffalo horns for a trim. The horns were found on the North Dakota prairie. The chair was originally upholstered in red plush, and has since been recovered in a gold velvet.

Mr. Nelson built their first home in 1897, which is located at 462 Sixth Avenue Northeast in Valley City.

In 1909, Mr. Nelson thought he would try farming, so filed on homestead in Broadway, Montana. This did not prove very successful, as 1910 was a very dry year. The family decided to move back to Valley City. Mr. Nelson continued with his carpentry for a few more years. He passed away in January, 1931 and Mr. Nelson died in May, 1934.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 168