Ola Nielson was born in a humble little cottage, April 3, 1836, in Ostra, Odaslof, Skane, Sweden.  Thus he was a hundred years old this last April 3, 1936.  He was the son of Ola Nielson, and Karna Parson.  He like other boys went to other churches, before a knowledge of this gospel, when first the glorious light of truth came to his father's home, this gospel message was brought to him through the visits of our missionaries, he became very much interested, began to investigate, study the scriptures, to know for himself the surety of this work, so prepared himself by the purity of his life, to abide by its glorious truths, that embraces the principles of eternal life.  He shortly after asked to be baptized, joined the church at the age of 28 years, was baptized in the river in the winter month of February 4, 1864, by Peter Nilson, also confirmed him.  This coming into the church, has been a guiding star through the paths of tribulations and trials, the most glorious that could crown the life of any man.  He was the only child, third to the oldest of a family of ten, to join the church, thus one of a family and two of a city.  His brothers and sisters are as follows:  Nils, Hannah, Ola, Betsy, Peter, Jens, Jens, Hans, Andrew, and Carl.  The family turned very bitter towards him, the missionaries when preaching the gospel, preached of coming to zion, this he had in mind to do, that he might worship the almighty God, according to the dictates of his own consciences.

His father's family was very poor, he set out to work, when just a mere boy of nine years, to herd pigs, and geese, many times he went to bed hungry.  In his early teens he still had to work for a living, he was working for a widow and her family back in Sweden, but soon after this family hearing of the gospel truths left Sweden, and came here to zion, settled in Millville, their were a number of saints leaving for the same purpose.  Father very much wanted to come to zion, He at once ready to go, bid farewell to his family, friends, to his native soil to leave it forever.  He set sail sometime in the fall 1865, the sailship he came on was called (Wyoming). he with others of those foreign countries, who came were Jonnes Anderson, his wife Celia, mother and father of Charles C. Anderson, Anna Hunt, mother of Matilda Shaffer, Hans Olson, and others.

The waters of the ocean were at times very rough, as they were sailing smoothly along, a strong wind came up send them back to almost to where they started, then again the wind would be in their favor, again they were sent back, they were six weeks on the ocean.  They finally reached land.  After stepping on the grounds of New York they were taken by train to Omaha Nebraska, and there they began their journey across the plains.  Father not having much to do with worked his way acrossed by driving Oxteam, walking most all the way.  At night they made camp, made their beds on the ground, have very little to eat, next morning proceeded on their way, endured many hardships and trials, that many a pioneer endured.  The indians annoyed the saints very much.  One particular incident which happened was of a woman, who came in the same company as father did, this woman was very much discouraged, and wished she hadn't of come, wanted to go back, she lagged on behind, finally the Indians nabbed on to her, when the saints last saw her, the Indians were taking her over the hills, she screamed for help, but the saints were unable to assist her.

Father arrived in Salt Lake City in the month of Dec. 1865, walked from Salt Lake City to Millville, arrived in Millville the 20 of Dec. 1865.  All he owned was the clothes he worn, and what he carried in a red handkerchief.  He worked where-ever he could get work.  He camped on the premises of Knut Olson, just below the canal, where the big barn now stands, occupied by LeRoy Jessop.  He lived there the first winter, he set out to get logs to build him a home.  He built a one room log house, and lived there till he was able to buy him a city lot of his own, he bought the city lot now occupied by James Olson.  He built one room and a lean, then years after he added two more rooms onto it.  The widow and her family were the only ones father knew in Millville, he made visits there quite frequently, then their courtship began, and sometime after were married, she in later years were known to us as Aunt Elsie.  This log house father built, he and Aunt Elsie occupied from 1867 to 1898, when father sold the home and city lot to James Olson.  Father was an Indian War Veteran, and was ready to stand guard for the sake of the people, if at any time the Indians might bounce upon them.  He helped immigrate families to Utah, the people arriving as far as Ogden, these immigrants were met by men from Cache Valley, including father, they went down to get them with team and covered wagon.  There were no bridges from Brigham City to Millville, the men had to wade in water up to their knees.  The team had a hard pull across the waters, and pulling up the steep hills, the roads were very rough compared with the roads of today through the Sardine Canyon, to Ogden, they brought them to Millville, and went back for more immigrants.  One of Father's most inspiring Hymns of the L.D.S. Song-Book was (Hard Times Come Again No More.)

When people first joined the church, and were baptized, there were no records kept in those foreign countries, as are now adays kept.  Father having been baptized back in his native land, had no record, on coming here, had to be re-baptized, this was done the tenth of July, 1875, by George O. Pitkin, and re-confirmed by Richard Jessop, was received into the ward, December 22, 1875.  People of all ages, from those foreign countries, who heard the gospel message, and were preached to of coming to Zion, arrived in various parts of Utah.  Among them was a young girl of 15 years of age who did not cross the plains, but came by way of train, whose name was Carrie Nilson.  On arriving here from Salt Lake City, she lived for a period of time in Smithfield, but later on she came to Millville.  In those days the Lord permitted the men to live in polygamy, and take to them more than one wife, for the building up and the replenishing of the land of Zion.  This young girl Carrie got acquainted with Ola Nielson, soon their courtship began, they made arrangements they day they were to be married, they drove to Salt Lake City, with team and covered wagon, they took a load of grain.  On their arrival in Salt Lake City went to the endowment house, and were married by Daniel H. Wells October 21, 1876.  They sold their grain so they could get some furniture, they went to a furniture store, obtained some of which consisted of a bed, a clock, chairs, and other furniture.  They came back to Millville, father had bought two city lots, where the old frame house now stands, occupied by his daughter Frances.  There he built a log house with a dirt roof, this in due time was giving away, whenever rain fell, or snow came, the water came splashing down through the dirt ceiling, they had to get buckets or pans or anything they could find to catch the water from going on the bed, where at one time mother lay very very sick, but through the administrations of the Elders, and the kind hand of our Heavenly Father, soon restored her to health and strength again.

After two years of their married life, Father received a letter from the First Presidency of the church, calling him to a mission, back to his native land, this he accepted willing heart, he was thankful he had a privilege of spreading the gospel of Christ, probably to his own people, and to others who had not as yet received the light, although they like other pioneers had a hard struggle to make a living.  He at once made preparations to leave for the mission field, leaving his wife in poor circumstances, but he felt the spirit of peace resting upon him, therefore he knew that it was his Heavenly Father which called him, through his servants, who were servants of God.  Thus, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you.  Leaving Millville, for the mission field, the fall of October 25, 1878, three weeks before mother's first baby Hulda Olson was born.  He arrived in Sweden on the 20 of November, 1878.  He was sent to the Skane conference, and to the city of Helsingborg, his field of labor, and stayed with a family of saints, by the name of Peter Johnson, Matilda Olson's father's home, he boarded there and they did his washings.  He stayed there for some period of time.  He preached many a sermon by the fireside, to those who had not as yet received the light.  Missionaries at that time didn't have the means to get their own clothes, many of those staunch men went without purse or scrip.  The saints clubbed together to get clothes or shoes or what-ever they needed.  He walked many many miles, preaching and teaching to the people, the principles of this glorious gospel, which we now enjoy. He made many a visit to the saints, and to those who were unable to get out, he made friends where-ever he went.

Times when conferences were being held, he walked to those meetings, Seven-Swedish miles, which is Forty-nine English miles, he never knew what it was to have a ride.  He didn't have the means to take a train, so walked where-ever went.  His missionary companion was either Peterson or Hanson.  After serving as a missionary to the church for two years, he returned home to his wife and baby the year of 1880.  After Father's settlement to stay in Millville, he was a busy man, trying to make a living for his family, he bought many acres of land, in order that his family may not want for anything.  He said work was a blessing.  He was a very ambitious man, his chief occupation was farming.  He took great interest on his farm, but in the winter of 1891, he was stricken with Sciatic Rheumatism, this he had for six whole months.  He was down at Aunt Elsie's at the time he was stricken.  Mother went back and forth to care for him, his screams were heard for blocks away.  Mother's family was small, also needed her attention, so she had father brought up to her home, four to six men carried him upon stretchers.  He was soon restored to health and strength again, as soon as he was able and strong enough, he went back to his farming, and was as busy as ever, for he worked at it ambitiously three weeks prior to his death.

After the children were old enough, they one by one choose a companion, and left the home nest, to seek a home of their own, For the Lord says; therefore shall a man or a woman leave their parents and cleave unto their companions, and to abide by the commandments of God, which is to multiply and replenish the earth, that man may have joy, which by now the family has grown in numbers.  Father reached a good old age of 8? years, and departed this life at eleven o,clock, A.M. on the morning of Wednesday, December 5, 1917, surrounded by his wife and children, leaving them to mourn his loss.  He was respected and loved by all who knew him, especially for his cheerful disposition.  He was always full of courage and hope, cheering every one whom he came in contact with.  He worked in the different quorums of the Priesthood, being willing to sacrifice both his means for the upbuilding of the church, and the ward in which he resided.  He was the Father of a large family of thirteen children, His posterity numbering now to 69 Grand-children, 36 Great Grand-children, Total 105.  Out of that number three Grand and one Great-Grand-child has passed away, leaving 101 living Great and Grand-children to cherish his memory.

Written by Frances Nielson. 1936