John Larsen, 1850-1903

LARSEN, ANDERSON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/11/2012 at 15:51:45

DEATH OF A PIONEER

John Larsen, First Postmaster of Ringsted, Passes Away

John Larsen, one of the pioneer residents of Emmet county, died at his home in Ringsted, Tuesday, Sept. 2, after a short illness of lung fever, aged 51 years. The funeral was held Thursday under the auspices of the Danish Brotherhood society.

The Ringsted Dispatch among other things says:
He was born in Trankejar, Denmark and came to this country at the age of 26. He first made it his home at Chicago and later he moved to near De Kalb remaining about two years. From there he went to Mills and Pottawattamie counties in this state, where he remained until the year 1883, when he came to Emmet county and settled on his farm two miles east of town. He in company with Mr. Hans Johnsen had been here the year previous and secured land.

In the fall of 1885 when this part of Emmet county was but sparsely settled the few settlers then of this township petitioned for a postoffice and John Larsen was made postmaster, and it was he who gave it the name of Ringsted from a town by that name in his native home. He was one of th early settlers here and endured many hardships and privations incident to the settlement of a new country.

He remained on his farm until the town of Ringsted was started when he moved here and purchased property and erected his late home engaging in the stock and coal business with Mr. Lars Johnson until about a year ago, when he assumed the business alone as Mr. Johnson retired from the firm.

He was married in the fall of 1883 to Miss Karen Marie Anderson, who is left with his three daughters, Misses Emma aged 18 and Sine aged 14 and Dora aged 8, to mourn his death.

Source: The Northern Vindicator, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; September 11, 1902.