Nels Peter Rasmusson was born in Galton Station, Jyuland, Denmark March 7, 1847, the son of Rasmus Nielson and Karen Neisdotter. He came to the United States in 1869, locating at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1881 he settled on a farm near Hope in Steele County, North Dakota, and later moved to a farm just south of Valley City, in Barnes County.

Mr. Rasmusson married Henrietta Harncane of Kellog, Minnesota in 1876. Mrs. Rasmusson passed away in 1886, leaving five children; Anna, George, Robert, Charles and Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Rasmusson made a trip to Denmark in 1887 and when he returned he married Mary Elizabeth Harncane, an older sister of his first wife. They lived near Valley City.

Mr. Rasmusson served on the State Board of Railroad Commissioners in 1893 and was elected to and served in the State Legislature in 1895-96.

The "Old Timers" recall seeing N. P. Rasmusson driving from Valley City to the Hope farm with his horse and buggy. He would stop along the way to visit other farmers and was a special friend of the children. He would sometimes throw pennies or hard candy in the stock water tank and watch the children scramble after them.

Dr. E. A. Pray told this story about Mr. Rasmusson. The good doctor had written a prescription for Mr. Rasmusson and he read, "Take three times a day and at night. Pray." Mr. Rasmusson asked the doctor which would do him the most good, the medicine or praying?

Mr. Rasmusson passed away in March of 1909 while he and his wife were spending the winter in San Diego, California. Mrs. Rasmusson lived with Charles Rasmusson and his family until her death in 1922. Another son, George, lived on a farm at Dazey.

When Mr. Rasmusson came from Denmark, he was told there were so many Nelsons here so he took the name Rasmusson, because his father's name was Rasmus.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 200