The first settler believed to have settled in Nelson Township was Greger Anderson, who came to Barnes County in 1876. He built his log cabin in a bend of the Sheyenne River eleven miles south of Valley City.

He was a native of Denmark and had arrived in the United States shortly after the Civil War. He did not bring his family with him but his son, Peter, came to join his-father in 1879. None of the other members of the family ever did come to the United States.

Peter, known as Peter Gregerson, remained with his father until his death in 1887. He then found a job with the Colonel Marsh family. He had worked for Colonel Marsh when the dam was being built for the Marsh Flour Mill. Among his jobs was the floating of building materials down the Sheyenne River by raft from Valley City.

Marsh's Mill served the settlements south of Valley City for many years until the Valley City Mill was enlarged.

Shortly after the death of Greger Anderson, Peter married Bertha Borgerson, daughter of a neighboring homesteader. Five children were born to this union, all boys, who in due time grew into fine young men.

Aside from farming, Peter Gregerson was a thresher-man and continued in this work for many years. Neither Peter nor his wife ever left Barnes County and are buried in Barnes County.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 84