Albert D. Larson

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.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller

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