Harold John Nies was born May 31, 1902, in Beetown, Grant County, Wisconson, the son of Vincent Arthur Nies and his first wife Hattie May Basing (1/18/1881 - 6/16/1916). His full siblings were:

1. Viola Luella (Nies) Mayfield (1904-1996)
2. Benjamin Matt Nies (1908-1998)

After his mother died in 1916, Vincent married Laura Louise Duve in 1926. From this marriage, Harold's half-siblings were:

3. Clarence Vincent Nies (1927-2006)
4. Louise Elizabeth (Nies) Robinson (living)
5. Velma Dorothy (Nies) Hansch (1932-2004)FAG Memorial #145375179

Harold served in the United States Navy from December 9, 1920 to November 22, 1922.

He married a woman by the first name of Laura. Laura was born March 26, 1902, in Wisconsin and died January 19, 1964. They had the following known children:

1. Carl W. Nies FAG Memorial #151643767
2. Elva L. (Nies) Brueske FAG Memorial #134183051

Following is a transcription of his obituary (publication source unknown):

Harold J. Nies
Harold J. Nies, 71, Fennimore area farmer, died in a Rochester, Minn., hospital on Thursday, Sept. 6, after a brief illness.
He moved from Lancaster to Fennimore in 1955. He was a veteran of Naval service in World War I.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Ardell Brueske of Elgin, Minn.; a son, Carl, of Fennimore; his step-mother, Mrs. Laura Nies of Lancaster; a sister, Mrs. Viola Mayfield of Madison; two half-sisters, Mrs. Allen Robinson of Fennimore and Mrs. Jerry Hansch of Spring Valley, (Colorado Springs) Colorado; a brother, Ben, of Mineral Point; a half-brother, Clarence, of California; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon in the First Baptist Church at Lancaster, the Rev. Lowell Bush officiating. Burial was in Nagle cemetery, Patch Grove, the Volkmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.