Hello Erik, My name is Donald Nelson and I live in Laurel, Montana, which is a small town 15 miles west of Billings. I don't know if Roy N. Nelson is a relative or not, but I will check into it. Where in Norway are you located? My ancestors left Meråker, Nord-Trodelag on April 13, 1854, immigrating to a location near Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin. After sailing from Bergen, Norway, they came first to England, then on to Quebec, Canada, and from there through the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From Milwaukee, they proceeded by railroad to their final destination. In the spring of 1856, they moved further west, to Wanamingo township, Goodhue County, Minnesota. The first of my ancestors to leave Minnesota was my great great uncle Jonas, who ventured to the Dakota Territory in the spring of 1866, with his wife, one child and his best friend John Thompson, who had just gotten married. My great great uncle Jonas (who went by John in America), was the very first person to file for a homestead in the Dakota Territory. He built a log cabin on his homestead, as did his friend John Thompson on his own homestead land. Then in the spring of 1867, they both went back to Wanamingo, Goodhue County, Minnesota, to move the remaining relatives and friends to where they had established homesteads in Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory. Their homestead locations were located near the present day locations of Renner and Baltic, just north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. My great great grandfather, Nils Ivarsen (Iverson in America) and his wife Susanna had four children, Iver, Jonas (John), Anna and Nels. The children adopted the surname of Nelson, except I have found Iver going also by Nilson. In official records I have also found my great great grandfather Nils Ivarsen (Iverson), as well as with Iver, Jonas and Nels, going by the surnames of Evjen and Fosmoe, which are farms names back in Meråker. Nels is my great grandfather and the last born of the four children, all of which were born in Meråker. I can't find any information on Anna, but the three boys had quite a few children between them and those children had even more children, all living in the vicinities of Renner, Baltic and the Sioux Falls area. Just this last spring I finally located living relatives in Sioux Falls and drove over to meet them in August last year. We had a get-together and I was able to meet many more of my relatives, relatives I had no idea existed. I have since learned that there are many many more relatives living in South Dakota and with a great many different last names. I have also found living relatives in Norway, living in and near Meråker and one I write to on occasion lives in Hell, not far from Meråker. His name is Ragnar Olsen and is related to me on the Aspaas side of the family. Aspaas is the maiden name of my great grandmother Marit, who went by Mary. She too was born in Meråker and immigrated to America with her parents and siblings. There is to be a 150 year celebration in Meråker this fall, to celebrate the first who had left Meråker for America. My great great grandfather Nils Ivarsen (Iverson) was the organizer and leader of that very first group. I want so very bad to go to Meråker, to experience the celebration, but I haven't a way of getting the money to go. I am disabled, due to a drunk driver nearly killing my son and I in the fall of 1996 and the Social Security disability money I get barely allows me to get by. As a result, once my bills are paid, I'm unable to save any kind of money for much of anything. I can only imagine how many of my relatives will be at the gathering and of how much information I could gather on my ancestors. Sometimes I could cry, just in thinking of how much I will miss by not going there. But, that's just the way life is! Sincerely, Donald Nelson -------------------------------------------------- Subj: [SDMinnehaha] Roy Nelson descendants? Date: 2/20/04 1:31:25 PM Mountain Standard Time From: [email protected] (Erik Hov) To: [email protected] Hi list. Wonder if anyone in Sioux Falls knew Roy N. Nelson?? He was born in South Dakota (Hartford?) in 1903 ,and died regarding to the SSDI in Havana ,Sargent County ,North Dakota in 1995. In both 1930 ,1973 and 1980 he lived in Sioux Falls ,SD. I`m related to him a bit distant. I would be really interested in hearing from anyone who knows something about him or his possible family. I only know that in 1930 he was still unmarried and at his father Lars Nelson`s farm. Really hope someone can help me trace this Roy. Hope to hear from someone. Erik in Norway.