My grandmother Clara Amelia (Nelson) Erickson wrote down some of her early memories of Sweden, her and brother's upbringing on the farm in Painted Woods and other Nelson Family recollections. Her words are gold, and tell the tales short and sweetly.

Here is a one of a kind family portrait taken one hundred years ago. As I continue with my research of the Nelson Family, this image photographed on the family farm in Painted Woods, North Dakota in 1918 is beyond the pale of uniqueness.

It is truly something to behold. It comes from Clara's photo album, the original being in black and white. The first three generation of Nelson's to immigrate from Sweden to the Dakotas in 1900 and 1903 are present.

Clara wrote along the side of the image the name of every parent, brother aunt, uncle and cousin you see here. I truly thank her for that. Makes all this far easier than guessing or never knowing.

left to right - top row:
Uncle Anton Tony Nelson, Uncle August Valentine Nelson, Uncle Albert 'Bob' William Nelson, Great Grandfather Anders Nelson, Great Uncle (brother of Anders) August Nelson, cousin Tom Hanwell (husband to Josie (Amelia Jr.) Nelson Hanwell) and Uncle Sture Albin Nelson.

left to right - sitting:
My Grandmother Clara Amelia Yunhild (Erickson) Nelson, cousin Berthe Nelson (holding daughter Mary Jane), Great Grandmother Gertrude 'Gerda'(Miljander) Nelson (holding Josie Jr - daughter of Tom and Josie (Amelia Jr.) Hanwell), Great Aunt Amelia (Aunt Molly), wife of Great Uncle August), cousin Josie (Amelia Jr.) Hanwell (daughter of Amelia and August Nelson) and cousin Elsie Pederson.