Nils Bjornsen was born in 1853 in Sigdal, Buskerud, Norway. He immigrated to Northwood, North Dakota in 1886, and is found in Manfred in 1905. He purchased land from Joseph Le Grand. In 1910 he built an addition to his house, located 3 miles northwest of town. 

 

In 1897 Nils was admitted to the church membership at Vang Lutheran Church. In 1917 Nils and Reier Reistad spent the winter in Grand Forks. The 1920 census places him as a boarder at the Christ Roble home. They had a boarding home located at the end of main street in Manfred. 

 

Nils remained a bachelor. When he called at friends home he was known for bringing a small box of candy as a gift. 

 

Nils passed away in the spring of 1920 and is buried at the Vang Cemetery north of Manfred.