<P> The Little House books were later adapted into a long - running television series . Played by actress Alison Arngrim, Nellie Oleson was a manipulative, witty, sharp - tongued character on the NBC television show, Little House on the Prairie . Her parents, Nels and Harriet Oleson, owned the mercantile in the small town of Walnut Grove, set in post-Civil War Minnesota . Early in the series, the character of Nellie closely resembled her counterpart from the books - mainly as portrayed in On the Banks of Plum Creek . She had long, elaborately curled hair, acted very prissy and spoiled - yet underneath, she could display a vicious and manipulative personality . Nellie took after her doting mother Harriet (Katherine MacGregor), while father Nels (Richard Bull) tended to be stern with his two children and had little tolerance for Nellie's often cruel antics . Nels and Harriet frequently conflicted on the rearing of both Nellie and Willie; Harriet's assertiveness frequently won out, although Nellie was not always allowed to get away with her behavior . For example, on the episode called "The Cheaters", Mrs. Oleson finds out Nellie has cheated, and Mrs. Oleson started hitting Nellie with her jacket . </P> <P> Arngrim's character grew in importance during the series (as did the roles of the entire Oleson family) as she served as a perfect antagonist to honest, tomboyish Laura Ingalls, played by Melissa Gilbert . Nellie and Laura feuded during their school years together, which was at times comically paralleled with quarreling between the two girls' mothers, Harriet Oleson and Caroline Ingalls (Karen Grassle). </P> <P> After Nellie graduated from school, her mother, Harriet, bestowed her with a restaurant and hotel . At first, Nellie balked, showing great incompetence in the hospitality business . Eventually, Nels and Harriet hired Percival Dalton (played by Steve Tracy) to help Nellie learn how to cook and run the restaurant . During this time, Nellie began maturing--thanks to Percy's work with her and Nels's values winning out over Harriet's--and fell in love with Percival . The two eventually married, and Nellie gave birth to twin children (Benjamin and Jennifer). </P> <P> Nellie became a close friend of Laura's in her adult years and Laura attended her wedding . Before Nellie takes off for her honeymoon, she throws the bouquet to Laura . In the episode "Come Let us Reason Together", Laura's mother Caroline helped deliver Nellie's twin babies . </P>

Who married nellie on little house on the prairie