Image: Men at the Sexsmith Frontier Carnival. Back row: Mac Perkins, Mike Duda, Vic Spicer, Jack Thorpe, C. J. Leonard. Middle row: McCowan, Harry Knight, Scotty Murdoch, Nels Johnson, George Cameron. Front row: Cliff Williams, Bill Brown, Scotty Boyd, Art Menzies, Carl Anderson, Raymond Foster, Jack Campbell, Carl Larson. 1948. (SPRA 1969.39.969)
Regimental Number: 3213988; 1287202
Rank: Private
Branch: 1st Depot Battalion, Alberta Regiment; Lord Strathcona’s Horse
Nels was born in Aspas, Jamtland, Sweden in June of 1890. He immigrated to Canada in 1909 and was living in Grande Prairie when he was drafted in 1918. He never made it overseas and spent his time in the Canadian army just in Canada. In spring of 1920, Nels returned to Sexsmith and went into business as a blacksmith. He married Charlotte Cook Burns in 1930; Lottie had three children from a previous marriage. He continued working as a blacksmith until 1975. Nels died on February 24, 1979 and was buried in the Emerson Trail cemetery.
Sources: Wagon Trails Grown Over p. 615