John Larson was born April 7, 1841, in Norway, son of Peter and Betsey Larson. When eight years old he emigrated with his parents to America. After a year spent in Wisconsin they removed to Clayton County, and settled in Farmersburg Township. There were but very few houses in the county at that date, and but three or four Norwegians had settled here. He was educated in the district schools and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years old. He was married in 1866 to Nettie Christianson, born in Norway. They have six children, viz.: Bertha O., Mary H., Willie H., Oliver H., Louie T., and Alice. In 1877 he bought a farm of 230 acres in Wagner Township, on section 25. In September, 1881, in partnership with Mr. Embertson, he started a creamery at St. Olaf, which is now doing a good business. They have a new building for this purpose in process of construction, which will be supplied with all the modern apparatus for carrying on the business. He now holds the office of Town Trustee. Mr. Larson is considered one of the best and most enterprising citizens of this section, and is much esteemed as a man and a neighbor. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. In politics, Republican. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1136 |