This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: kenstein Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.minnesota.counties.blueearth/192.369.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: My great great grandfather Nels Nelson immigrated from Telemark county, specifically the Sauherad area in Norway in 1862, with his wife Ingeborg, daughter Ingeborg, sons Halvor, Erik, Thomas, Nels, big Ole and little Ole. They first settled in northern Wisconsin in the Rio area of, I believe, Columbia county. There my great grandfather, Henry, was born in about 1865. Shortly after his birth the whole family, except for Ingeborg(the daughter,I don't know what happened), moved to Blue Earth county in southern Minnesota, where Nels and at least Big Ole homesteaded in the Butternut area. Thomas disappeared, Erik and Nels Jr. and families lived in the Butternut area, Halvor in Minneapolis, and Henry and little Ole Homesteaded in North Dakota east of Bismarck in 1905. Nels Sr. died in 1891 and his wife in 1883. big Ole also stayed in the Butternut area and raised a large family, eventually he and his wife passed away in Lake Crystal, near Butternut. There are many descendent! s in the Butternut-Lake Crystal area and the Driscoll-Steele area east of Bismarck, ND. If you would like to know more, just ask Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.