Nels R. Nelson was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin, February 24, 1848.  In 1872 with his two brothers, Oliver and Alex, he came to Humboldt County where he bought 120 acres of land which he improved.  On November 11, 1877, he was married to Dora Gilbertson of Norway.  He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was a township trustee and overseer for several years.  The family moved to Humboldt in 1894 where the younger members of the family were educated in public schools.  The older girls, Rose Jesse, Nellie, Eva, and Lulu taught in a rural school, while Alma was head of the dry goods in the D. A. DeGroote general store from 1898 until her marriage to D. T. Oxborrow in September, 1905.

Otis began his business career as a clerk for E. O. Bradley.  In 1914 with his brother Herb, who was then with the Welch Bros. Shoe Company of Fort Dodge, at the insistence of E. A. Wilder, bought his stock of general merchandise and moved it to the two story frame business building which  stood where now the Anthony Department Store is located.

Herb enlisted in World War I where in France he was severely wounded and was confined to the army hospital for months.

Otis carried on successfully until 1828 when he became manager of the Council Oak Grocery.  In 1936 he became post master of the Humboldt office and continued until 1961 when he retired.  He was succeeded by the genial Fred Hall, hardware merchant.

The N. R. Nelson family through the years has played an important part in the development of Humboldt.  Rose, the eldest, was the former Mrs. Matt Berrier whom she married in September, 1905.  She died in 1910.  Nellie married R. G. Henderson, a prominent farmer.  she died in Humboldt in 1954.  Jessie became Mrs. Carl Scarborough and died in Sabula, Iowa, in 1953.  Lulu became Mrs. Harvey Jensen, and is still living in California after leaving the Jensen farm on the river between Humboldt and Rutland.  Dr. Royal Nelson died in his early years in Humboldt in 1939.  Eva Wagner lives in Seattle.  Della lives in Bremerton, Washington where her late husband, Victor Lattier was employed in a technical capacity with the government ship yards.  Herb in later years married Fern Grove, granddaughter of one of our early Springvale settlers, Allen R. Beebe.  Herb has recently retired from the Chicago Post Office Department and has moved from Chicago to the Logan Apartments in Humboldt.

Otie has reached the retirement age now but as always, he just can't quit.  Through the years he has been on dozens of committees for the welfare of the town.  He is today general chairman of the Centennial celebration -- loves his home and little city, and has never known an enemy in the town.