Nelson Story, Sr. (1838-1926) was a pioneer Montana rancher and entrepreneur. Born in Meigs County, Ohio to Ira and Hannah Story, Nelson grew up on the family farm and briefly attended college. He traveled west to Montana during the gold rush of the early 1860s and after achieving success in mining invested in Texas cattle, driving a herd back to Montana from Texas and establishing a ranch in the Yellowstone Valley. He later moved to Bozeman and became one of the town's most wealthy citizens. His many business interests in Bozeman included banking, real estate, and milling during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Story also invested in Los Angeles, California real estate towards the end of his life with his brother Walter. Story was married Ellen Trent and the couple had seven children.
From the guide to the Nelson Story, Sr., Letter, 1911 February 14, (Montana State University-Bozeman Library, Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections)
