LARSON, JOHN

LARSON, JOHNSON, OLESON, CARLSON, SUNQUIST

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/20/2004 at 13:09:14

Biography reproduced from page 307 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

John Larson, one of the early settlers and representative agriculturists of Harrison township, was born in Orebro, Sweden, on the 21st of January, 1843, his parents being Lars and Anna Elizabeth (Johnson) Larson, also natives of that country. The father, whose natal year was 1803, was a farmer by occupation and died at Orebro, Sweden, in the year 1867. The mother, whose birth occurred in 1815, was called to her final rest in 1897. Their children were four in number, namely: John, of this review; Lars, who died in Sweden at the age of fourteen years; Caroline, deceased, as is also her husband, Erick Larson; and Sophie, who is the wife of Olof Oleson and resides in Sweden.

John Larson attended the district schools in Orebro, Sweden, and grew to manhood on the home farm, in the operation of which he ably assisted his father. At the age of twenty-five he started in business for himself, having been given one of the farms of the family estate. The cultivation of that property claimed his attention for about five years or until April, 1873, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He made his way direct to the state of Iowa, locating in Greenwood township, now Harrison township, Kossuth county. Here he purchased a tract of eighty acres from the American Immigrant Company and at once settled upon this farm, remaining thereon for two years. This period is probably the most memorable of his entire experience in his chosen vocation. It was marked by disappointment and complete destruction of crops, occasioned by the coming of a pest of grasshoppers, whose insatiable appetites devoured all growing vegetation throughout western Iowa. After two years of persistent efforts to succeed in spite of this calamity he at last gave up the fight, left his farm and moved to Algona, where he remained for a period of fifteen years. A portion of that time was spent as an employe in the nursery of G. E. Stacy, while for five years he served as janitor at the Algona high school building. During this period Mr. Larson made occasional visits to his farm, which he improved as his time and means permitted. In 1890 he returned to his farm, on which he has lived continuously since.

On the 18th of December, 1868, Mr. Larson married Miss Christina Louisa Carlson, a daughter of Carl and Margaret (Sunquist) Carlson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father died in that country when his daughter Christina was but a small child, and the mother passed away soon after this daughter had attained her fifteenth birthday. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carlson were born three children, namely: Carl Anderson, who is a resident of Sweden; Johannah, also living in that country; and Mrs. Christina L. Larson. The last named became the mother of two children, Charles G., who is living with his parents; and Gustave Salem, who died when but four months old.

Mr. Larson is republican in politics and for one term served as a school director in his home district, acting in that capacity when the first schoolhouse was built. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Mrs. Larson also belongs to the Ladies Aid Society of that church. John Larson is one of the well known and substantial farmers of Harrison township and is one of the earliest settlers in that township, which justly entitles him to the honors belonging to a pioneer.