Christian Nelson was born in Naan?stad, Norway in 1850. He was the son of Nils and Karen Nelson Kirkeby. At the age of 20 he came to Rushford, Minnesota with his parents, where he resided until 1880. In 1875 he married Julia Thompson and to this union three children were born: Carl Elmer, who was associated with the Anderson Clothing Store in Valley City; Thea Jeanette (Nettle) who was a Seamstress for a lifetime in Valley City; and Dena Charlotte who married Nels Johnson in 1898, and also lived her whole life in Valley City. (Chris Nelson was a Blacksmith for all the years he lived in Valley City.) Christian Nelson died in March, 1904, his wife lived until 1914. Son Elmer died in 1915. Nettle died in 1953, and the last of this family Dena died in 1965.

Only the children of Russell Johnson t live to carry on the name and the line of these early residents of this area.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 168