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Arner Nelson reminiscence, 1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Nelson, Arner D., 1907-1972
Title
Arner Nelson reminiscence
Dates
1968
Quantity
1 item
Collection Number
0591
Summary
Arner D. Nelson was a homesteader near Flatwillow, Petroleum County, Montana, and later worked as a cement contractor in Roundup, Montana. The Arner D. Nelson reminiscence, "Recollections of Homestead Days," recalls Nelson's boyhood on his father's homestead claim in southern Petroleum County, Montana. Nelson describes a train trip from Spokane, Washington, to Roundup, Montana; a wagon ride to the Flatwillow area of Petroleum County, Montana; life on the new homestead; his family's first car; and school experiences.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
Collection materials are in English
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Biographical Note

Arner David Nelson was born in Polk County, Wisconsin, on October 6, 1907, one of three children of David and Ingo Lambert Nielsen. His father changed his name to "Nelson" and, in 1914, moved with his family to a homestead claim near Flatwillow, Petroleum County, Montana. Arner grew up working on the homestead and, on November 25, 1935, married Teresa Lucas and moved to Roundup, Montana, where he worked as a cement contractor. The couple had two sons: Arner Edward in 1947 and David Louis in 1948. Arner died at Roundup on December 3, 1972.

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Content Description

The Arner D. Nelson reminiscence, titled "Recollections of Homestead Days," recalls Nelson's boyhood on his father's homestead claim in southern Petroleum County, Montana. Nelson describes a trip with his mother and sisters on the train from Spokane, Washington, to Roundup, Montana, and then overland in a wagon to the Flatwillow area of Petroleum County. He also describes life on the new homestead, his family's first car, and school experiences. The manuscript includes a brief addendum by his sister, Jennie Nelson Rorabeck.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

An original typed boyhood reminiscence by Arner D. Nelson was donated to Montana State University by his brother-in-law, David Rorabeck, College Place, Washington, on April 9, 1968.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2012 June 27

Names and Subjects

Subject Terms

  • Automobiles--Montana--Petroleum County
  • Families --Montana--Petroleum County (Mont.)
  • Farm life--Montana--Petroleum County (Mont.)
  • Frontier and pioneer life--Montana--Petroleum County (Mont.)
  • Schools--Montana--Petroleum County (Mont.)

Personal Names

  • Nelson, Arner D., 1907-1972
  • Rorabeck, Jennie Nelson, 1909-2005

Family Names

  • Nelson family
  • Nielsen family

Geographical Names

  • Flatwillow (Mont.)
  • Montana
  • Petroleum County (Mont.)--History--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Reminiscences--Montana--Petroleum County
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