The Reinhart Nelson FamilyNorman 1883
Olga 1885
Regina 1886
Ida 1887
Tedeman 1888
Victor 1890
Ben 1891
Alma 1893
Esther 1894
Richard 1894
Clarence 1898
Charlie 1899
Martha 1902
Reinhart and Martha were married at Ada, Minnesota, in Norman County on January 1, 1883.
That spring they traveled three days by covered wagon pulled by oxen with a cow tied behind to homestead in New Solum Township, section 8.
Norman was the first white child born in New Solum Township.
Nelson and his wife worked side by side to build a cabin. She sat on the downed trees while Nelson peeled off the bark. The small log house had two small sqaures of icing glass for windows. He took all the money he had and bought a 50 cent wooden door to keep the Indians and the bears out. Imagine sleeping with an axe by your bed to protect oneself against predators!
By 1890, he built another room to the log house and also a big barn. In 1900, he built a house 28' X 28'.
Twelve children were born in the log house and the 13th child in the new home.
In 1898, Nelson built the Edgewood School close to their home. There were nine Nelson children attending school at the same time. Sometimes they took turns going to school, as they didn't have proper clothing and shoes for all of them.
The family moved to Texas about 1905. They are listed on the 1885, 1895, 1900, and 1905 censuus as being residents of the New Solum Township.
