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Allamakee County >> 1913 Index Past and Present of Allamakee County Iowa L Unless otherwise specified, these biographies are submitted by Dick Barton. Albert
D. Larson, who since 1912 has served with credit and ability as
sheriff of Allamakee county, has for a number of years past been
identified in an important way with agricultural interests of Hanover
township and still owns his valuable farm of three hundred acres in that
locality, although he makes his home in the sheriff's residence in this
city.
He was born in Hanover township, December 31, 1867, and is a son
of Christian Larson, one of the earliest settlers in Allamakee county,
of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work.
Albert
D. Larson was reared upon the family homestead and acquired his
primary education in the district schools, supplementing this by two
years' attendance at the Waukon high school.
When not engaged with his
books he assisted in the operation of the homestead and when he was
seventeen years of age assumed entire charge of the farm, acting as
manager until after his father's death, when he purchased the interests
of all the other heirs.
He thus came into possession of one hundred and
twenty acres of fine farming land and to this he later added other
tracts, owning today three hundred acres.
Upon it he built a fine new
residence, a barn, a silo and other outbuildings and he fenced and
cross-fenced his place into convenient fields with woven wire.
He gave
his attention to general farming and stock-raising and was also a
shipper on an extensive scale.
Success steadily attended his well
directed labor and in the course of time he gained an enviable degree of
prosperity, winning recognition as one of the prominent, substantial and
representative farmers of his locality.
He was one of the promoters of
the Farmers Stock & Produce Company of Waukon and is still a
stockholder
and director in the concern.
Although
Mr. Larson is an able farmer and an influential business man it
has not been along these lines alone that he has accomplished useful and
beneficial work, for he is one of the leaders in local politics and an
active force in republican circles of this vicinity.
He has served as
assessor of Hanover township and as township trustee and for a number of
years was deeply interested in school affairs, serving for twelve years
as president of the board of education.
In the fall of 1912 he was
nominated sheriff of Allamakee county and after a hard fought campaign
against two opponents was elected to the office by a gratifying
majority.
He is now serving and has proved capable, efficient and
businesslike in the discharge of his duties.
He moved to Waukon upon
assuming office and, although he owns the old Todd homestead in the
city, he now occupies the sheriff's residence.
In
Waukon, on the 4th of October, 1899, Mr. Larson was married to Miss
Louisa M. Todd, who was born and reared in the city and who was later
for nine years a teacher in the Waukon schools.
She is a daughter of
Frank and Margaret Todd, of this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson, having no
children of their own, have adopted and reared two, a son and a
daughter:
Oscar Williams, whom they adopted at the age of thirteen and
who has now reached maturity and is in business for himself;
and Julia
Flather, whom they took into their home when she was a child of four and
who is now a student in the Waukon schools.
Mr. Larson's mother is also
a member of this family.
She has now reached the age of eighty-seven
years.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Waukon Presbyterian
church and fraternally Mr. Larson is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen
of America.
He is wisely and favorably known throughout the section
where he was born and where his entire life has been spent and in his
various responsibilities as a business man and as a public official has
discharged his obligations so as to merit and receive the respect of all
who know him.
Anton
C. Larson, a prominent real-estate dealer in Waukon and well known
in business and political circles of the city, is a native of Allamakee
county, born June 2, 1857.
His father, Christian Larson, was born in
Norway and there grew to maturity and married.
He and his wife
emigrated to the United States in 1853, coming direct to Iowa, where
they settled in Hanover township, Allamakee county.
The father entered
an eighty acre tract of land which he broke, fenced and improved, later
purchasing more property to which he added from time to time until he
owned a fine farm of two hundred acres.
Upon this he made substantial
improvements, erecting a good residence, barns and other outbuildings
and installing all of the necessary machinery and equipment.
He made
his property valuable and by his practical and progressive methods
secured for himself a place among the prosperous and successful farmers
of Hanover township.
He spent his last years upon the homestead, dying
at the advanced age of eighty-two.
His wife survives him and makes her
home with one of her sons on the old farm where she has lived for the
past fifty-nine years.
She is now in the eighty-seventh year of her
age.
Anton
C. Larson was reared upon his father's farm in Hanover township
and as a child aided in the operation of the homestead.
He attended the
district school and later supplemented this by a course in a commercial
college in Minneapolis.
He afterward went to Yellow Medicine county,
Minnesota, where he clerked for three years, at the end of which time he
returned home and clerked in a general store for five years, receiving
during this time a thorough and practical business training.
Returning
to Yellow Medicine county, he engaged in business at Canby, where he
made his home for five years, disposing of his interests at the end of
that time in order to come to Waukon, where he has since remained.
He
soon became prominent in local politics, winning the appointment to the
office of deputy county treasurer, a capacity in which he served ably
and efficiently for six years, resigning only to accept the office of
county treasurer.
At the end of his first term his able work was
rewarded by reelection and in all he served in this office for four
years.
Upon the completion of his last term he opened a real-estate
office in Waukon and has since given his entire time to the conduct of
his business.
He deals in Allamakee county improved farming lands and
town properties and handles also Dakota and Canadian real estate.
He
has bought and sold numerous farms in this section of Iowa and has
negotiated the sale of a great many business houses and residences in
Waukon.
Possessing a just comprehension of land values, he has so
conducted his business as to make it profitable not only to himself but
to his clients also.
On
the 17th of November, 1885, Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss
Matilda Larson, a native of Norway but reared and educated in Iowa and
Minnesota.
To their union were born three children:
Myrtle, who lives
at home;
Ralph, who is a student in the Waukon high school; and Alden,
also pursuing his studies.
Fraternally
Mr. Larson is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America
and the Yeomen.
He gives his political allegiance to the republican
party, with which he has been affiliated since casting his first vote.
Aside from the public offices before mentioned he was for five years a
member of the common council while a resident of Canby and he is known
as an eminently public-spirited and progressive citizen.
For many years
he has been a force in public affairs in this section and his efficient
services in various positions of public trust have had an important
effect upon local political conditions.
His interests have been
thoroughly identified with those of Waukon and Allamakee county and no
progressive public project seeks his support in vain.
In business and
politics he has won success and at the same time has gained the regard
and esteem of all who are associated with him.
Ole
Larson, honored as one of the early pioneers and worthy citizens of
Allamakee county, took up his abode in this section of the state in
1850, at which time he settled in Taylor township, Allamakee county.
From that time until his death he was closely associated not only with
the material but also with the moral development of the region and left
the impress of his individuality for good upon the community.
He was
born in Hallingdal, Norway, in 1811, was there reared and in that
province married Miss Anne Stenerson, who was also a native of the same
locality.
At length he determined to try his fortune in America,
believing that he would have better opportunities in the United States,
the voyage being made under hard and trying conditions.
The vessel in
which they crossed was known as the Draphna, and Captain Ekersberg, who
was in command, told Mr. Larson to take a goat on board the vessel in
order that they might have milk to mix the medicine for the sick.
This
was accordingly done and the precaution proved its value in the course
of the voyage.
At length the Draphna dropped anchor in New York harbor,
and from the eastern metropolis the Larsons proceeded by way of the Erie
canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago. They found very poor
accommodations were accorded emigrants there.
The children slept on a
corded bedstead and in the morning all were on the floor, having slipped
through the cords during the night.
The
Larsons spent the first winter on Rock prairie in Rock county,
Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1850 came to Allamakee county, their
home being established upon a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of
wild land on sections 9d and 17, Taylor township.
With characteristic
energy the father began the improvement and development of this property
and each year witnessed his increasing prosperity until he became one of
the substantial farmers and extensive landholders in his vicinity.
He
made good use of his opportunities and not only achieved individual
success but contributed to the upbuilding and uplifting of his section.
Unto
Mr. and Mrs. Ole Larson were born eleven children.
Birgitte, who
was the eldest of four children brought by the parents to America in
1849, was born at the family home, Unde Bergo, which in peasant parlance
means "below mountains," in Gol, Hallingdal, Norway, in 1839.
In early
girlhood she attended public schools and later continued her studies in
Madison, Wisconsin.
In common with all pioneer children she assisted in
the early '50s in all kinds of farm work, in which men and women
engaged, including the milking of the cows and hunting the herd in the
primitive pastures which nature provided at that time[.]
In common with
girls and women of the period she made her dresses by hand no
experienced modiste being needed to fashion the cheap calico garments.
The daughters of the household had no time to spend on music and the
only musical instrument in the home was the father's monochord
"salmodikon," which he played at their Sabbath morning
devotions.
Arriving at years of maturity, Birgitte Larson, whose name was
anglicized to Betsey, taught school for some time and in 1860 she was
joined in wedlock to Peter S. Olson (Noes), the wedding ceremony being
performed by Judge White in Waukon.
For some years they lived on
section 35, Center township, and then removed to Rose Creek, Minnesota,
afterward to Holt county, Nebraska, and later to Alliance, where Mrs.
Olson passed away in 1898, leaving a large family of children and a
husband, who followed her to the grave in 1913.
Louis O. Larson,
christened Lars, was the second in the family.
Stener, called Stanley,
another of the family, is deceased.
Ingeborg, called Isabelle, born in
Norway, February 22, 1845, was the fourth and the youngest of the
children born in Norway and brought to America by their parents in 1849.
She spent her girlhood in the Larson home in Taylor township and in
early womanhood taught school for some years.
She afterward followed
others of the family to the county of Saline, Nebraska, where she became
the wife of John V. Ainsworth, who conducted a mercantile business at
Friend there for some years and afterward removed to Tobias, Nebraska,
where he operates an elevator.
He also owns a half section of land
joining the town.
Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth have a son, Frank, who is
married and lives near his parents, while a daughter, Anna May, is the
wife of Dr. W. S. Wiggins, of Dewitt, Nebraska.
The other children of
Mr. and Mrs. Ole Larson, Sr., were as follows:
Brigitte and Ragnild,
known as Betsey and Rachel, twins, were born January 5, 1850, in Rock
county, Wisconsin, and were the first addition to the family of Ole and
Anne Larson in America.
They spent their girlhood at home and after
attaining womanhood Betsey engaged in teaching for a number of years,
after which she became the wife of Julius Englehorn and lived in Lansing
township for several years.
She afterwards accompanied her husband to
the west, the family driving a team to Hoquiam, Washington.
There Mrs.
Englehorn and her two daughters, Mrs. Ada Crawford and Mrs. Eva Johnson,
still reside.
The husband and father has left home and is presumed to
be dead.
Rachel, twin sister of Mrs. Englehorn, also taught school in
Allamakee county in her girlhood.
She became the wife of George
Campbell and they removed to Saline county, Nebraska.
Mrs. Campbell
owns a farm near Milford but lives in the city, where she also owns
property.
Her husband died about a year ago.
One son, Washington,
lives on a ranch, and another, Andrew, is a resident of Chicago.
The
only daughter, Lilian, is now matron in the Soldiers' Home at Milford,
Nebraska.
Ole, Jr., called Olen, the next member of the family of Ole
and Anne Larson, died and was buried in New Mexico.
Extended mention is
made of him on another page of this volume.
He was the first of the
family born in Iowa.
Ambjor, called Emily, was born April 21, 1853, at
the family home in Taylor township and in early womanhood engaged in
teaching school.
She was married on the first of July, 1874, to John S.
Englehorn and they lived on the Lansing ridge for a number of years,
after which they removed to Alliance, Nebraska, where Mrs. Englehorn
passed away, in April, 1903, leaving a son and two daughters, the latter
being Minnie, now the wife of Odie Shofield, and Mrs. Hattie DeVenny, of
Seattle, Washington.
Anne Larson, the next of the family, was born June
17, 1854, and like the other sisters, engaged in teaching school.
She
became the wife of O. A. Dalberg, at Baldwin, and died at Dorchester,
Wisconsin, in July, 1888, her remains being there interred.
She is
survived by her husband, a son, Arnold, and three daughters, Edith,
Hattie, and Grace, the last named being Mrs. Louis Crane.
All of these
daughters are graduates of the Stout School at Marinette, Wisconsin, and
are domestic science teachers.
Sophie Larson was born September 9,
1856, and lived at the parental home until her marriage to Hans Moe in
Paint Creek township.
Her husband died ten years ago, leaving four
young sons:
Arnold,
Herbert, Olvin, Clement, and two daughters, Hattie
and Alice.
The family reside on a quarter section of land in Paint
Creek township, save Clement, who owns a farm in Amanda, North Dakota.
Andreas, called Andrew, was the youngest in the family of Ole and Anne
Larson, and after reaching mature age he turned his attention to mining
in Colorado.
After a few years, however he abandoned that pursuit, was
married and took up his abode upon a ranch, but is now in business in
Antonito, Colorado.
They became the parents of four children, but one
girl Navada, died in early girlhood.
The father of this family died upon his farm in Taylor township at the age of eighty-seven years, and the mother passed away when eighty-two years of age. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and intellectual force, was well educated and widely read, and took a most active and helpful interest in religious work. He made it a custom to hold religious services for the benefit of the children in his neighborhood, and largely through his influence Christianity received its first impetus in this section. He was numbered among Allamakee county's earliest and most worthy pioneers, for at the time of his arrival here the house at Thompson's Corners was the only one between his homestead and Lansing, a distance of ten miles. In his death the county lost one of its most honored pioneers, a man of high integrity, of unquestioned honor and exemplary moral character. David Lowrey, D.D., was born in Logan county, Kentucky , January 20, 1796 . His parents were worthy members of the Presbyterian church, but, like many other good people, were entrusted with little of this world's treasury. The widowed mother died when he was only a little over two years old, leaving him a penniless and friendless orphan. He was bound out to a family that, in course of time became very reckless and intemperate; but at a Cumberland Presbyterian camp meeting, held near his residence, he solemnly consecrated his heart and his life to God. This event happened when he was eighteen years of age. Shortly after his conversion he became a candidate for the ministry, under the care of Logan Presbytery, and his proficiency and usefulness were so great that he was soon licensed and ordained to the work of the ministry. On the 16th of December, 1830 , he began the publication in Princeton , Kentucky , of the "Religious and Literary Intelligencer." It was a weekly journal, ably edited, and was the first paper published under the auspices of that church. To him, therefore, belongs the honor of being the father of Cumberland Presbyterian journalism. Some years afterward he was editor of the "Cumberland Presbyterian," then published in Nashville , Tennessee . In addition to his editorial duties he had the pastorate of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Nashville , which was then in its infancy; and for his year's labor he received, as compensation, the astonishing sum of one wagon load of corn in the shuck! In the year 1833, under the administration of his friend, President Jackson, he received the appointment of teacher to the Winnebago Indians. He arrived at Prairie du Chien with his family in the month of November, of the above year. Shortly after his arrival he organized a "Military church," and here was spread the first communion table in the northwest. He was an able and original preacher, and in many respects a remarkable man, loved and admired by all. A traveler visiting Prairie du Chien in 1837, Wm. R. Smith, says in his letters from Wisconsin , published at Philadelphia in 1838: "I was much pleased and instructed in attending divine service on the Sabbath day, in the courthouse, listening to an excellent discourse by the Rev. D. Lowrey, who is stationed in this neighborhood, teacher of a Winnebago school. He is a gentleman of strong mind and original conception, eloquent and persuasive. The numerous congregation, their perfect decorum and the presence of so many well dressed ladies and gentlemen, formed a striking contrast with the rude and half-naked Indians within a stone's throw." When the Yellow River Mission was discontinued Rev. Lowrey was transferred to the Fort Atkinson charge (as was also Farmer Thomas), and remained with the Winnebagoes the greater part of the time, until about 1863, when the tribe was moved west of the Missouri river . At the close of the late Civil war he removed from St. Cloud , Minnesota , where he was then living, to Clayton county, Iowa , near the scene of his early labors with the Indians. Some years prior to his death he removed to Pierce City , Missouri , where he died in January, 1877, leaving an aged wife. He had two sons, both of whom he outlived. |