Ernest William Nims, son of William and Fannie Nims, was born in Sumas, Washington, on March 12, 1887.
Camilla Susanna Johnson, the daughter of H.P. Johnson and Maria Hanson (both from Denmark, was born April 21, 1892 in Bow, Washington.
Ernest and Camilla were married December 19, 1908, in Bellingham. In 1910 Ernest and Camilla, with daughter Opal, were living temporarily with Fred and Laura Nims (Ernest's brother). They then purchased 40-acres about 4 miles east of Sumas, just a quarter mile south of the Canadian border. They built their first house on the wagon road along the slough just east of the Leon Nims place. About 1927 they built a modern home on the knoll facing the Jones Road.
Ernest and his family operated a small dairy farm as did most farmers in the area and worked off the farm when he could get work. He was an excellent hunter and enjoyed fishing. Once he bought a 300 Savage rifle enroute to an elk hunting trip in eastern Washington and killed an elk with the first shell he ever fired trough the rifle. Ernest made extra money sharpening saws.
There was always lots of music in the Ernest Nims house. This was passed on to the children who were quick to play musical instruments.
In later life, Camilla was killed when struck by an automobile. Ernsest remarried to Jessie (Loomis) McCullough and lived out his later years in Bellingham, where he died in August 1980.
Ernest and Camilla had the following children:
| Opal Anetta Nims | Born in 1909 |
| Verl Ernest Nims | Born in 1911 |
| Charles Hulbert Nims | Born in 1914 |
| Beatrice Lenora Nims | Born in 1916 |
| Harold Wayne Nims | Born in 1919. |
| Jeanette Vera Nims | Born in 1925 |
| Eldon Nims | Born in 1930. Eldon died as an infant. |
| Faye Lorrene Nims | Born in 1932 |