Henryson, Lars aka Henderson, Lars (1822-1896)

HENRYSON, HENRIKSSON, TORKELSDATTER, ASKJELSDATTER, RAFDAL, TORGERSDOTTER, MIKKELSDATTER, JOHANNESSON, TJERNDSDATTER, SHELDALL, HENDERSON

Posted By: Pat J. (email)
Date: 3/20/2011 at 15:36:19

Lars Henryson was born 27 Mar 1822 Kaldestadbakken, Etne, Nordaland, Norway to Henrik Henriksson and Bretha Torkelsdatter. He died 12 Nov 1896 in Randall, Hamilton County, Iowa and is buried in the Mt. Olive Cemetery near Randall.

He married Anna Askjelsdatter, daughter of Askjel Askjelson Rafdal and Anna Torgersdotter born 2 Jan 1826, Rafdal, Skaanevik, Hordaland, Noway. Lars and Anna married 14 Apr 1847, before they sailed on the Kong Sverre (11 May 1847) for New York, arriving on 21 Jun 1847. Lars and his twin brother, Torkel Henryson, were instrumental in organizing the first major migration of Norwegians from western Norway to America. Lars and Anna purchased land and settled in Grundy County, Illinois where they had 7 children: Henry, Anna, Oscar, Torkel, Martin, Brit and Betsey. Martin and Brit died in Illinois.

Lars Henryson was, according to a number of histories, among the party of Norwegians who traveled to Iowa in 1855 in search of better and cheaper land. Lars purchased 160 A. of land in Story County. In April 1857 Lars purchased 112 A. in Ellsworth Township, Hamilton County and 133 A. in Section 30 of Scott Township, Hamilton County. In May 1857 he sold the land in Story County and went back to Illinois. In May 1858, Lars sold his land in Grundy County, Illinois and Lars and Anna and their children became members of a caravan headed to Iowa. Lars and Anna’s homestead was near the Skunk River in an area that became known as Christytown. Anna died there 12 Jan 1862 and is buried in the Boe Cemetery, Hamilton County, Iowa. Anna’s tombstone was found there although her name is missing on the last published list of burials in Boe Cemetery.

After Anna’s death, Lars married Sarah Mikkelsdatter on 10 Jan 1863 in Story County, Iowa. Sarah was born 2 Dec. 1839 to Mikkel Johannesson and Ingeborg Tjerndsdatter in Evena, Skaanevik, Norway. Lars and Sarah also had 7 children: Martin, Michas, Annas, Alexander, Anna, Ole and Margaret. Sarah is buried in Mt. Olive Cemetery near Randall.

A post office was established in the Henderson homestead April 1863 and Lars became the postmaster in 1864 but since he had not become a naturalized citizen, records show his son, Henry as the postmaster of record.

Lars was a carpenter and built the area’s first school building, the Sheldall School, on land owned by Lars Sheldall. Lars was a Justice of the Peace for Scott Township and served on the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors for many years. He also bought and sold land including owning and subdividing the property where the present day town of Randall is located.

There were two people in Scott Township, Hamilton County, Iowa, in the late 1800s who have been confused with each other, specifically in regard to service in the Civil War. Both were Norwegians, their children all carried the surname Henderson, they were close in age, had lost their first wives (both named Anna) and remarried, they were farmers and lived in the same township. Civil War records show that the Lars Henderson who served in the war was NOT the Lars Henryson (also known as Lars Henderson) of this family. The Webster City Tribune obituary, 20 Nov 1896, for Lars Henryson states his correct date of death but the rest of the data is that of Lars Henderson.

Written by great granddaughter, Patricia Holt Juon

Sources:
“Searching for Roots” - Stephen A. Sheldahl
Research for “The Coming of the Norwegians to Central Iowa” - Arlen Twedt
“History of Randall, Iowa and Adjoining Area” - Mrs. Albert (Sarah) Holt
“Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Webster and Hamilton Counties, Iowa”, 1888 - p. 235
“History of Hamilton County, Iowa” J. W. Lee, 1912 - p. 84 under biography of Martin L. Henderson, p. 186, p. 320-321
“Hamilton County History”, 1986 - p. 94
Hamilton County Iowa GenWeb Township Formation

Hamilton Biographies maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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