Bernt M. Nordley was born April 11, 1878 in Oslo Norway, the oldest of thirteen children, born to Martin and Mathilda A. Nordlie.

The family moved to the United States in 1879 and came to Eckelson, North Dakota, in 1899, where Bernt worked as a carpenter.

On December 22, 1909 he married Emma E. Gulmon and they farmed three miles south of Sanborn until 1928. They then moved to the Gulmon homestead two miles north of Sanborn, where they farmed until 1939 and then moved to Valley City.

Bernt was known as a "fiddle player", playing at many house parties, granary and barn dances, his pay coming from "passing the hat".

Emma (Gulmon) Nordley was born March 31, 1884 at Canby, Minnesota, the youngest daughter of Agil and Annie (Lawrence) Gulmon, who came to Sanborn in the early 1900s.

Bernt Nordley died in 1971 at the age of 93.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 179