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- George Nielson, was born in Denmark in 1861 and came to the United Statesat the age of 21. His first winter here was spent at Blair, Nebraskawhere he knew a family. He lived in a lean-to and frequently awoke tofind snow on his bed. The following year he moved on to Tilford, SouthDakota where there was a Danish settlement. En route, he bought a ticket on the stage linefor a part of the journey but as it turned out he walked most of the waybecause the roads were so muddy that the horses could not pull the heavyload. His first homestead was on Sour Dough Creek northwest of Hulettwhere he spent one winter cutting poles to fence it. He didn't see anyone during that longwinter and about the first of April two cowboys from the J H Ranch rodein to see what had happened to ‘Copenhagen’. He told the story that hewould have frozen that winter if his pet tom cat had not slept on thefoot of his bed and kept his feet warm. He had worked the range as a cowboy prior to taking upthe homestead and returned to the range for summer work and spend thewinters in Tilford. One of his sisters was living there by this time.He had taken up a ranch on the Belle Fourche River about ten miles northof Alva and when he married Lulu Amanda in Alva, he took his wife there to ranch. There were six Neilsen children, Grandma Ruland attended at all of thesebirths, as well as many others in the area. Mrs. Neilsen also was onhand for many new born infants. The closest doctor was in Sundance orSpearfish, 50 miles away. Later Hulett did acquire the services of adoctor but even then most of the births were not attended by him. George Nielsen died in 1928, leaving Lulu with four teenage children andthe responsibility of a ranch. She managed to hang onto the ranch duringthe depression when many around were unable to do so. All three sons andMerlin O’Haver were on hand to help with the work. This account is stated in the book on pages 362, 363 and 364 --'Pioneers of Crook County 1876-1920', by Crook County Historical Society, Crook County, Wyoming, copyright 1981
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