Torjus (Tom) Nelson was born March 18, 1859, in Stavanger, Norway. He came to Rantal, Illinois, in 1880, where he worked until 1888, when he came to homestead land in Meadow Lake Township.

On March 4, 1889, he was united in marriage to Marget Thorstenson, who was born in Norway, November 3, 1856. She had come to Valley City in 1882, and worked until her marriage.

To this union were born seven children; Betsy Emelia, Emma Agnette, Nels, Anna Tomina, Albert, Tony Sofia and Bernard Thomas.

Forty-one years were spent by Tom and Marget on their farm. Marget passed away May 6, 1930, at Litchville, and Tom died May 22, 1939.

Of the children, Emma never married. She died January 4, 1972. Nets married Myrtle Eckel, and a son, James, survives. Betsy left the farm and married John Worthington. Six children survive. Anna married Jack Lingle in 1919, and she passer) away in 1968. Albert worked for the railroad for fifty years. He married Bessie Peterson of Thurston, Nebraska. Tony Sofia, a daughter, married Frank Hodges and is deceased.

Bernard died at the age of twenty-three, the first to finish high school, graduating from the Consolidated High School in 1916.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 173