Nils Peder Nilson and his wife, Anna, immigrated to the United States from Sweden in May, 1880, coming to Valley City, Dakota Territory.
The Nilsons had five sons; August, Albert, John, Frank and Wolf rid. They arrived from Sweden in January and June, 1880, and November 1881.
In December, 1887, Mr. Nilson filed on a homestead on the Southwest ΒΌ of Section 30, Township 138, North of Range 58, now known as Nelson Township.
,Nils and Anna Nilson moved off the farm in 1900, having bought a couple of lots in Valley City, where they established their residence on Maple Avenue, now Seventh Avenue Northwest.
In their retirement years, they enjoyed gardening, raising potatoes, and other vegetables. They also had black currant and gooseberry bushes.
The youngest son, Wolfrid, took over the operation of the farm for a few years. The farm was sold in 1917.
Mr. Nilson passed away in April, 1917, at the age of 95 years. After Mr. Nilson's death, Mrs. Nilson made her home with her son, August, and family. She passed away in 1920, at the age of 93 years.
The son, August, changed his name from Nilson to Nelson.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 175