Louis O. Larson
Louis O. and Mary (Ingebretson) Larson
Louis O. Larson has been a resident of Allamakee county since
1850 and is therefore numbered among its early pioneers, while
his business qualifications have won him a place among its
substantial and valued citizens. He has witnessed almost the
entire growth and development of this section of the state, for
few settlements had been made within the borders of the county at
the time of his arrival. He was reared amid the usual conditions
and environments of frontier life and experienced the hardships
and trials incident to pioneer existence.. Since attaining
manhood he has thoroughly identified his interest with those of
this section and in the course of a long, active and honorable
life has made substantial contributions to its agricultural
development.
Mr. Larson was born in Rotnem, Gol, Hallingdal, Norway, March 25,
1841, his parents being Ole and Ann Larson, of whom extended
mention is made above. He was christened Lars, but later
Americanized the name into Louis. The parents brought their
family to the new world in 1849, when the subject of this review
was a lad of eight years, and at nine years of age he came with
the family to Allamakee county. He attended the district school
and afterward continued his studies in the Lansing high school.
In his childhood he divided his time between the duties of the
school room and the work of clearing the land and developing and
improving the homestead. He was ambitious to advance
intellectually and made such good use of his opportunities that
he became a successful teacher, following that profession for ten
terms following his graduation from the high school in Lansing,
where he had studied under Professor Haven in 1861-2. In the fall
of the former years he obtained a teachers’ certificate from
Professor Loughran, of Waukon, who was then superintendent of
schools. He secured the position of teacher for six months in the
Climax-Excelsiour district and in succeeding years he taught in
the Storla, Dahl, Waterville, Little Paint and Climax schools.
While teaching in the winter seasons and farming in the summer he
also hunted the Virginia deer in the open seasons and trapped the
predatory animals for fur and bounty, deriving also much sport
therefrom in the ascents and descents of the precipitous hills in
the townships bordering on the Mississippi river. In fact there
are few phases of pioneer life with which Mr. Larson is
unacquainted. Thirty years ago Tom Dunlevey, associated publisher
of the Allamakee Journal, dubbed him “the mighty hunter with
sword and pen” and the sobriquet has clung to him in the
same manner as “magniloquent vagueness” has been pinned
to President Wilson’s coat-tail by a Chicago Inter-Ocean
cartoon. Mr. Larson has also been designated “the
peacemaker” because of his settling lawsuits which had been
taken to the district courts, and furthermore has been termed
“ the savant of Little Paint” because of his
contributions to the newspapers. Eventually he concentrated his
efforts upon agricultural pursuits, in which he has met with a
gratifying measure of prosperity, success steadily rewarding his
well directed efforts through the years., he now owns and
controls four hundred acres of land on sections 17 and 9, Taylor
township, operating a quarter section and renting the remainder.
Upon the homestead he has made many substantial improvements. He
employs the most modern methods in carrying forward his farm
work, using the latest labor-saving machinery. He rejoices in his
success because of what it enables him to do for his family, yet
he has never regarded the acquirement of wealth as the real end
and aim of life, the education of his children being his chief
endeavor, and he has made heavy sacrifices to achieve this end.
That he has realized his ambition is evident from the fact that
at the Rema Grove Fourth of July celebration his was pronounced
the “nicest family” and Judge L. E. Fellows, of
Lansing, said to him: “What a fine family you have
raised!” The Larson family have ever been noted for their
interest in those things which have a broadening effect and are
of educational value. Eleven of the family visited the
World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, three saw the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis and one the Portland
Exposition. In 1905 Louis O. Larson rode over the trails in Idaho
as an Arrogant in company with his brother Stanley, viewed the
interior of the Mormon Tabernacle in Utah and swam in the great
Salt Lake.
Mr. Larson married, on June 29, 1862, Miss Mary Ingebretson, a
daughter of Thore Ingebretson, an early settler of Center
township, Allamakee county. Mr. and Mrs. Larson became the
parents of thirteen children. Edmond Victor, the eldest, born
December 9, 1863, is a graduate of Slack’s Business college
of Decorah. He was married at the age of twenty-one years to Miss
Caroline Ellefson (Turkop) and lives at Pierre, South Dakota. He
has a family of one son and four daughters. Clarence Othello
Theodore, the second son, was born in Taylor township, February
3, 1866, was there reared and after attaining his majority became
a solicitor for the Ladies’ Home Journal, traveling in the
interests of that publication in every state in the Union and
receiving a two thousand dollar prize for getting more
subscribers than any other agent in the United States. He had
first made his headquarters in Fremont, Nebraska, where he
attended a Sunday school class taught by William Jennings Bryan,
our secretary of state of Washington, D. C., and he always spoke
in the highest terms of praise of Mr. Bryan. He was afterward in
Portland, Oregon, and frequently visited his early home in Taylor
township. After a visit to his parents he started for his
Portland home January 2, 1899, and in the spring of that year
started with some Young Men’s Christian Association comrades
for the Klondike. He was not in search of gold but in quest of
knowledge concerning this country., His health succumbed before
the rigidity of the Alaska climate, following his arrival in
Dawson City, and he returned to Seattle, Washington, spending
seven weeks in a hospital there. During his convalescent period
he purchased a team of burros and started for Arizona, thinking
that the climate of the southwest would benefit his health., He
seemed to improve greatly there for a time, but he was extremely
ambitious and energetic and indulged in long walks in the hot
sun. During one of these he overtaxed his strength and passed
away at Tucson. It is said that to gain strength he would daily
walk down the valley for a mile and a half to see a friend. C.
Brady, in the cool of the afternoon,. Not arriving at the usual
hour, on the 24th of May, 1900, Mr. Brady proceeded up the road
and to his horror found his friend's lifeless body. In all the
relations of life Clearance O. T. Larson was known as a man of
integrity, manliness and kindliness, which qualities won for him
the fullest confidence and the highest esteem. His life was well
worthy of emulation and his works and deeds will live in the
memory of all who knew him, more enduring than any chiseled
monument or table of bronze. The Bible was his constant companion
and guide and he lived a model Christian life. He belonged to the
Young Men’s Christian Association and to the Christian
Endeavor Society. With the craving for knowledge, he possessed a
very retentive memory and was as well versed in the history of
the world as upon topics of current interest. His remains were
returned to Allamakee county for interment and the large funeral
cortege indicated how highly he was esteemed by those among whom
he had been reared. Emma Victoria Larson, the third of the
family, was born February 14, 1868, and after attending the home
school she studied in the high schools at Waukon and Nora
Springs. After teaching for several years she married a cousin,
Peter Bieber, of Rock county, Minnesota, where she now resides.
She owns four hundred acres of land there and also a house and
lot in Jasper Minnesota, where she and her three sons, Edgar,
Clarence and Lloyd, live. Her husband died about five years ago.
Lily Idelia, the next member of the family, was born January 12,
1870, attended the home schools and in early womanhood became the
wife of David W. Martin. They lived in Waukon for a time, after
which Mr. Martin went away. Mrs. Martin is now living in La
Crosse, Wisconsin, where she is engaged in dressmaking, while her
daughters, Ilvarine and Naomi, are attending the State Normal
School. Another son of Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Larson was Louis Edward
Larson, who passed away in St. Paul in 1907. He was born June 5,
1872, at the family home on section 17, Taylor township,
Allamakee county. Thirteen years of his life were spent in St.
Paul, five years as a street car conductor and eight years on the
police force. He occupied a lofty place in the police department,
being known as one of the most reliable men on the force. Others
were dropped from the payrolls when incapacitated by sickness
from duty but when the condition of L. E. Larson was mentioned
the chief would reply: “Don’t worry about Larson, we
will take care of him,” and this proved true, and his pay
was continued until his death. It was written of him: “He
was loyal and true to all trusts committed to him, for honor was
his guiding star and he trod the path where virtue walks.”
For four years he battled with the dread disease tuberculosis but
at length succumbed to the arch enemy of man, and his remains
were interred in the cemetery of the Old East Paint Creek church
in Allamakee county. The profuse floral offerings sent at the
time of his death indicated how highly was he esteemed among
those who knew him. Following his demise the Policemen's
Association of St. Paul acted in the capacity of pallbearers, the
chief of police also escorting the remains to the St. Paul depot,
where they were shipped home for interment. He made friends of
all with whom he came in contact, for his salient traits of
character were such as men everywhere admire and honor. The sixth
member of the family was Orange A. Larson, who died in childhood.
The seventh member, also named Orange, died in infancy. Helen
Annelia, born April 26, 1877, attended the public schools and
also the schools of Waukon and Decorah. She successfully engaged
in teaching for a number of years and then became the wife of
Henry Hanson, after which they conducted a store in St. Paul,
Minnesota. They are now residents of Lewiston, Montana, and have
a family of three sons, Henry, Harold and Russel. Minnie Cornelia
Larson was the first of the five daughters of Mr. and Mrs. L. O.
Larson to be called from this life, her death occurring in the
Swedish Lutheran hospital, Bethseda, St. Paul, December 2, 1911.
She was born in Taylor township, November 12, 1878, and in her
girlhood regularly attended the public schools and also studied
at Waukon, Decorah and the Iowa State Norman. Following her
graduation from the last named, she taught school for several
years in Allamakee county and in Minnesota. She was ever the
pride and joy of the family and a favorite among her schoolmates.
At the Normal it is said that the faculty as well as the students
clustered about her, being delighted to be near her owing to her
sweet and loving disposition. It was on the 18th of October,
1905, at the home of her brother, Orange, near Jasper, Minnesota,
that she became the wife of A. M. Fields, then of Cedar Falls,
Iowa, and entered upon a most happy married life covering six
years. She never knowingly offended or wronged anyone nor
deviated from the path of rectitude throughout her entire life,
so that she did not fear the coming of death. It was said that
she was the most perfect embodiment of all those virtues which
are the jewels of the soul and which reflect a pure and noble
heart. She left beside her husband four children, Helen, Charles,
Dorothy and Minnie, and the parents, brothers and sisters with
whom she was once so closely associated in the old home in
Allamakee county, where her remains were interred in the family
burying ground. William Orange, born July 1, 1880, supplemented
his study in the home school by a course in the Waukon high
school and in the Iowa State Normal and for a time he conducted a
store at Hardwick, Minnesota. He now owns a section of land near
Regina, Sakatchewan, Canada, which he has rented out while he
makes his home with his parents. Clara Luella also studied at
Waukon and in the State Normal School and is now the wife of J.
J. Martin, of Chicago, and the mother of one son, Jack. Wilier
Lawrence, after attending the district school became a student in
the Central high school of St. Paul, from which he was graduated.
He also spent some time in the medical department of the
Minnesota State University and is now teaching school nears
Lewiston, Montana, where he owns a quarter section. Lester
Arlington, born May 28, 1887, was also a student in the St. Paul
central high school and in the Iowa State Normal School at Cedar
Falls. He is now at home with his parents. The father lived a
strenuous life as a farmer in order to provide for and educate
his children and has certainly done a good part by them.
Mr. Larson has been a lifelong member of the Lutheran church.
Loyal to its teachings and exemplifying in his life his Christian
faith and belief. He gives his political allegiance to the
republican party. He inherits his father's love of learning, is
an extensive reader, a student and deep thinker, and is
considered one of the best educated men in his section of the
state. His well developed qualities and talents have made him one
of the forceful, representative and honored men of his community.
He delights in recalling the incidents of pioneer times, which
are still fresh in his memory, and since 1850 he has lived in
Allamakee county, his life forming a connecting link between the
primitive past and progressive present. He is a most
public-spirited citizen, taking an active interest in community
affairs, although he down not seek public office as he is too
independent and would never condescend to importune anyone to
vote for him as a reward for party fealty. He has given hearty
cooperation to many movements for the general good and Allamakee
county owes her development to such men who have dared to face
and endure the hardships of pioneer life and who have reclaimed
this region for the purpose of civilization.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index