The Larson Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

The late Thomas Larson, who was a well-known citizen of Dane Prairie township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and who was prominent in the civic and political life of his community during his life time, was torn at Chicago, Illinois, August 18, 1857.

Mr. Larson was the son of Peter and Christine Larson, who were natives of Norway and who grew to manhood and womanhood in that country. Peter Larson was thrice married. After coming to America he was married in Chicago, Illinois, to Christine Larson. Shortly after his marriage, he moved to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he lived for a Eew years. In 1872 he moved to Otter Tail county, homesteading one hundred and sixty acres in the southern part of Dane Prairie township, which at that time was a wilderness. During the next few years, he improved the farm and erected modern buildings, living on the farm until his death in [905 His widow is still living and makes her home with her son. Christian. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Louis is a farmer in one of the western states; John lives one and one-half miles east of the Thomas Larson farm; Thomas F. was the third child; Carrie, who married Jens Peterson, is deceased; Christian lives on his father's homestead farm; Anna, who is a resident of Fergus Falls, has been twice married, the first time to Christian Dahl and the second time to Sorren Larson; Henrietta, who is deceased, was the wife of John McGrath, who is also deceased; Martin is a farmer in Tumuli township; Ludwig is a dentist at Finley. North Dakota; and Emma, who married Andrew Eollingmoe, lives in Fergus Falls.

Thomas Larson was educated in the common schools of Fergus Falls and in the high school. He was reared on the farm and in 1892 purchased about two hundred acres of land in Dane Prairie township, immediately thereafter erecting a new barn and a new house. lie lived upon the farm until his death and was always engaged in general farming. Some years before Mr. Larson's marriage, he operated a threshing machine and a well-drilling outfit, and drilled many wells in Otter Tail county, but at the time of his marriage he sold his threshing machine and well-drilling outfit.

On March 26, 1892, Thomas Larson was married to Mary Thompson, a native of near Trondhjem, Norway, where she was born on December 25, [862. Mrs. Larson is the daughter of Bernt and Inger (Guldseth) Thompson, who came to America in a sailing vessel in 1864. After living in Hudson county for two years, they moved to St. Olaf township. Otter Tail county, in 1866. After living there for one year, they moved to Dane Prairie township, and homesteaded a quarter section of land in section 21. There they lived for some years and then sold out to their son, Nels B., purchasing one hundred acres of land across the lake, where Mrs. Larson's father died on August 16, 1002. The mother lived with her daughter, Mrs. Larson, until her death on July 3, TQ.04. They were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Larson's father was a man of retiring disposition. When he came to Otter Tail county, he traveled from Hudson county to St. Paul by rail and then up the Mississippi by boat to St. Cloud. From St. Cloud, he traveled by ox team to Otter Tail county. spending two weeks on the way. He was an ardent Republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Larson were the parents of two children. 1..r.i, born on March 3, 1894, who was graduated from the Park Region Luther College in iqo and, after attending the St. Cloud normal, has been engaged in teaching; and Bernhard, January 6, 1807. who was educated in the public schools. The father of these children, the late Thomas Larson, died on March 15. 1908.

Mr. Larson was an ardent Republican and served in many positions of trust and responsibility. He tilled the office of township clerk for fifteen years and was also a member of the school board from the time he was twenty-one years old until his death. He could always be found at Republican conventions and was extremely popular in politics. Had he lived, he would have been a candidate for the Legislature. Mr. Larson was a member of the Swan Lake Lutheran church and his widow is an active worker in this church today.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

TOHN HENRY LARSON.

The second eldest living settler of Tordenskjold township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is John Henry Larson, who had many Indians for neighbors when he first came to this part of Minnesota. Bear and deer were also plentiful during the period of his early residence in this county.

Mr. Larson was born at Lolland, Denmark.' September 21, 1841, and is a son of Lars Christiansen and Annie Elizabeth Hendricksen, who spent their entire lives in their native land. Mr. Larson's father was a farmer and gardener. Both he and his wife were faithful and earnest members of the Lutheran church. They were the parents of five children, of whom Johanna, who married Hans Petersen, died in Denmark; Sophia, who married Peter Olson, died in Copenhagen Denmark; Henry died in infancy, and.M 111,1 died at the age of ten years; John Henry, the subject of this review, is the youngest child.

Educated in the common schools of his native land and reared on his father's farm. John Henry Larson enlisted in the Danish army in 1864, and served eight months in the Danish-German War. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and was confined in a prison camp for two months. During his service as a soldier he participated in the battle at Duble, and after that battle was driven on to an island, where he was captured. He remained m prison until the close of the war. As a result of his service in the Danish army he receives an honor gift every year.

After leaving the army, Mr. Larson returned to the farm in order to earn money with which to come to America, and in 1868, while still unmarried, he emigrated to America and settled in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, about twenty miles west of Milwaukee, where he lived for one year. The next year Mr. Larson emigrated to Minnesota, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold township. He began life in this new state by clearing the land and improving it in various ways. From time to time he erected substantial buildings and has lived on the farm where lie first settled ever since. In the meantime, however, he has added to his original holdings and now owns two hundred and forty acres of splendid land in cue tract. Mr. Larson is a general farmer and stockman, and has met with pronounced success in his chosen calling. He is a director in the creamery at Rattle Lake, and takes an active interest in all local affairs which have for their object the betterment and development of his home community.

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with her mother and some of her brothers, later came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are the parents of ten children, as follow: Annie, the wife of Christian Hilton, lives at Red Wing, Minnesota; Sophia, who died in infancy; Dora, who also died while young; Sophia II is the wife of George Newman, and lives in Nebraska; Hans Johan, living at home; Dora, the wife of Emil Newman, a farmer of Elizabeth township; Mina, the wife of Bernard Carson, also a farmer of Elizabeth township; Henry, who lives at home; Julius, also living at home, and one who died in infancy.

John Henry Larson was identified with the Populist party. He served as a member of the school hoard in this township for many years. Although he was forty years a member of the Lutheran church, he is not now identified with any church. Mr. Larson is a very successful farmer, and a man who enjoys the confidence of a host of friends in this community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Jacob Larson, who is a successful farmer of Tordenskjold township. Otter Tail county. Minnesota, is a native of Seeland, Denmark, where he was born on March 13, 1862. Mr. Larson is the son of Lars Petersen and Kirstine Larson.

Mr. Larson's parents were born in Denmark. His father, who is deceased, spent his entire life in his native land. His mother, however, is still living. Lars Petersen was a soldier in the Danish army and a laborer. He was a member of the Lutheran church, as is also his widow. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Jacob was the fourth. The others were: Karen, who married Mads Larson, and lives in Denmark; Christena, who married Anders Gregeson, and lives in Denmark; Christian, who lives retired in Underwood; Sophia, who is the widow of Peter Peterson, and lives in Tordenskjold township; Peter, who fixes in the state of Washington, and Wilhelmina, who married Christ Jeppesen, and lives in Denmark.

jacob Larson was educated in the public scfiools of his native land and in iSS; emigrated to America, settling in Otter Tail county after fiis arrival in America, fie worked oil various farms in this state and also in the state of Dakota until about [886, when fie purchased eighty acres of land in Tordenskjold township. This farm was poorly improved at the time, but Mr. Larson replaced the old buildings with substantial and modern frame structures. Onh about twenty-five acres of the farm was cleared when fie purchased the land. Subsequently, fie purchased thirty-four acres from the railroad and later sixty-four acres more in Clitherall township. Mr. Larson has made a splendid success as a general farmer and stockman.

hi [886, just a few years after coming to America. Jacob Larson was married to Karen Olson, a native of Denmark and the sister of H. P. ( Hson, referred to elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Larson have eight children: Louisa, who married Joe Schiller, and lives in Fergus balls; Albina, Erwin, Henry. Dora, Carl, Amelia and Esther, all of whom live at home with their parents.

Jacob Larson is identified with the Democratic party and, as a Democrat, has served as school treasurer of district No. 2, a position which he filled most creditably. He is highly respected in the community where he lives and where he is well known.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HANS O. LARSON.

Hans ( Larson, who is conducting a successful mercantile business at Battle Lake. Minnesota, where he is a member of the firm of O. C. Nelson & Company, is a native of Goodhue county, Minnesota, born there on September 9, 1869.

Mr. Larson is a son of Ole and Catharine (Hansen) Larson, natives of Norway, the former of whom was born on January 13, 1841, and the latter on November 12, 1840. Ole Larson and family emigrated to America in 1867, settling first in Goodhue county. Minnesota, and in 1870 they removed to Otter Tail county, taking a homestead in Clitherall township. They also owned forty acres of land in Sverdrup township. They were the parents of three children, Hans O., Lauris and Minnie, the last named being the wife of Alfred Okeson, of North Dakota. Ole Larson and all his family are devout members of the Free Lutheran church.

Tans O. Larson was reared in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and received his education in the public schools of his home township. He lived on his father's' homestead farm until he reached the age of eighteen years, when he was employed as a clerk by Mr. Ubertsen, of Rattle Lake, with whom he remained for sewn years. Lie then entered the employ of O. C. Nelson, and after eight years of service became a member of the firm, which was organized in 1007.

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As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Hans Larson, well-known farmer and highly-respected citizen of Amor township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, was born in Sweden, on August 10. 1X64. the son of bar-, and Hannah (Olson) Hanson, both of whom were born in Sweden. Lars Hanson came to America in 1889, and located in Otter Tail county, where he joined his son, Hans, who had preceded him a short time. Lars Hanson now lives at Battle Lake, having retired from more active life, bars and Hannah Hanson were the parents of four children, Lewis, Xels. Olef and Hans. Hannah, the wife of Lars Hanson died on September 7. 1014. Hans Hanson is one of the well and favorably known citizens of his community, taking an active interest in all useful matters for the promotion of the life and interests of his locality. The elder Hanson is especially interested in the Swedish Lutheran church, of Amor, of which he is a leading member.

Hans Larson was educated in the common schools of Sweden, after which he came to America, in 1888. and located in Otter Tail county, following a short time in St. Paul. Minnesota. In the year 1891, Mr. Larson bought a farm in Amor township, a place to which he later added forty acres of land, and a farm on which he now lives as a general farmer.

On July 12, 1893, Hans Larson was married to Emily Lundstrom, who was born in Otter Tail county, on August 8, 1874, the daughter of A. O. Lundstrom and wife, natives of Sweden, who came to America and homesteaded a farm in Clitherall township, Otter Tail county, where they now live. To the marriage of Hans and Emily Larson have been born three children, Amy, Lawrence and Edith, the former of whom is married to Rex H. Sanders, of Bismarck, North Dakota. Hans Larson and his family are members of the Swedish Lutheran church, in which he is a prominent member, he for many years having been teacher of the Sunday school of this church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OSCAR F. LARSON.

Oscar I. Larson, farmer, of Carlisle township, Otter Tail county, was born on June 29, 1857. in Sweden, and is a son of Lars and Anna Anderson, lie was educated in the schools of his native country, and assisted his father on the farm until 1883, when he came to America, settling at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the coal mines. In 1885 he came to Otter Tail county, remaining one year, and for the next five years was employed in various pursuits in different state-. In [890 he bought his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, in Carlisle township, where he has ince lived. Mr. Larson has put all the improvements on his place, where he has followed general farming and-tock raising, including eight or nine good cow-. In politic-. Mr. Larson ian independent voter. He is a member of the United Lutheran church. In.addition to buildings and other valuable improvements, Mr. Larson haplanted a line grove and a g 1 orchard near his house.

Lars Amlcr-on. father of ( War F., was born in [809, in Sweden, as was also his wife, Anna Anderson. They were farmers and spent their entire life in their native country.

( (scar F. Larson was united in marriage, in 1890, with Christina Johnson, a native of Norway, by whom he has had two children: Alma L., who became the wife of 'William A. Gardiner, and has one child. Harold: Roy, the second child, is at home with his parents.

Mr. Larson is a splendid example of the thrifty and industrious citizen, and his career has been characterized by a marked degree of success.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

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Gunerius Larson is a son of Lars Sogge and Karen (Lesseth) Larson, both of whom were also natives of Norway, the former born in 1830. and the latter on May 26, 1836. In 1881 Mr. Larson's parents came to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where the father worked at his trade as a carpenter. He owned some eighty acres of school land for a time, but lived in Fergus Falls for about two years, after which he located in Sverdrup township, and spent his last days at Red Lake halls. Minnesota. His death occurred in [897 at the latter place, while his wife passed away at Rainer. Oregon, in [911. They were the parents of seven children, as follow: Anna, Hans Theodore, (iunerius, Ludwig, Julia. Inga and Helmer, all of whom are living.

(iunerius Larson received a liberal education in the public schools of his native country, and in 1885, came to America, locating in Otter Tail county, Minnesota. In [892 he purchased the farm where he now lives. This farm is located in Sverdrup township, and here Mr. Larson carries on a general system of farming and stock raising with a very commendable degree of success.

( )n November 3. 181)2, Gunerius Larson was married to Hausine Johnson, who was born on July 9. 1 876, in Calumet, Michigan, and who ia daughter of Hans and Gunhild (Svenson) Johnson, both of whom were born in Norway. Mr-. Larson's father was born on June 26, 1844. and her mother on January 13, 1852. Hans Johnson and wife came from their native land to the United States in the early seventies, settling at Calumet, where he died in the spring of 187(1, while his wife survived him several years, passing away in [881. Previous to this, in 1880, Mrs. Larson's mother had conic to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where her parent-.

Svend Jacobson and Anna (Peterson) Jacobson, both of whom were also natives of Norway, had located in an early day, and were pioneers of Tordenskjold township. Svend Jacobson died here in 1902. and his wife in [893. They were the parents of one child, who was Mrs. Larson's mother. Mrs. Larson was one of three children horn to her parents, the others being Anna and Hannah, the latter of whom is deceased. Mrs. Larson's maternal grandparents came from Norway to Calumet county, Michigan, in 1865, and to Otter Tail county in 1871.

Gunerius Larson and wife are the parents of eight children, one of whom, Dagny, is deceased. The living children in the order of their birth are as follow: Gladys. Lillian, Stella, Roy. Mildred, Doris and Alpha.

Mr. and Mrs. Larson are faithful and earnest members of the Lutheran church, and take an active interest in religious work. They are highly respected citizens of Sverdrup township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.