LARSON, HARRY

LARSON, MATTISON, SWANSON, JOHNSON

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/21/2004 at 13:01:52

Biography reproduced from page 367 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Harry Larson is one of the well known and influential citizens of Kossuth county, where he is located on his home farm of three hundred and forty acres to the cultivation of which he gives his entire attention. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Seneca township and one hundred and sixty acres in Minnesota. He was born near Frederickshall, Norway, December 11, 1853, and is a son of L. and Emelia (Mattison) Swanson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was by occupation a farmer and died many years ago in his native land. The mother passed away when the subject of this review was a child of eighteen months. Our subject is the only child, born to this union. The father later was again married and had three children, Swan, deceased, John, who resides in Canada; and Martha, a resident of Norway.

Harry Larson was reared in his father’s home and received his early education in the public schools of Norway. At the age of fifteen years he started in life for himself, shipping as a sailor and followed the sea for eleven years during which time he visited all parts of the world, including Africa, China, America and South America. In 1879 he settled in New York where he was married. In 1880 he removed to the west and located on forty acres of land which he purchased in Swea township, Kossuth county, and there he established his home and has since continued to reside. He has added to his original purchase at various times until he now owns three hundred and forty acres of highly developed farm land in the homestead and one hundred and sixty acres each in Seneca township and Minnesota. He was a poor man when he reached Kossuth county and freely admits that in business matters he had made many mistakes but has nevertheless, succeeded in his purpose of life and has attained prosperity and gained esteem and regard wherever known. He feels confident that had he possessed ten thousand dollars when he landed in Kossuth county he could by this time be easily numbered among the men of fortune in this part of the state. In his native country he was raised on a farm and his object in settling in America was to obtain a home in a country which afforded better opportunities to a poor boy then could be found in his motherland, and he has not been disappointed in his hopes and has found and made good use of that opportunity he was seeking.

Mr. Larson was united in marriage in New York in 1879, to Miss Emily Johnson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willliam Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden and who emigrated to America in 1873. They were the parents of six children, only two of whom are living. Emily, the wife of the subject of this review, and Hannah, who makes her home in New York. The mother of this family is still living.

To Mr. and Mrs. Larson five children have been born: Henry W., who resides with his parents on the home farm; Emil Lawrence, who is engaged in farming in North Dakota; Arthur D., who also resides with his parents on the home farm; John E., a mechanic by trade, who resides in California; and Paul W., who resides with his father. Mr. Larson is affiliated with the progressive party but in local politics he votes for the man, irrespective of party lines. He has served six years as trustee of Swea township and several terms as school director in district No. 1, that township, and was a member of the school board before Seneca and Swea townships were divided. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Baptist church of Swea township, of which church Mr. Larson is a member of the board of trustees.

Harry Larson is well known throughout Kossuth county as one of the most enterprising farmers of this part of the state. In addition to general farming he is also extensively engaged in feeding hogs and cattle for the market, personally taking charge of all his stock shipments and giving careful attention to all the details of his sales. He is a man whose integrity in business matters is above suspicion and who is in every way entitled to be numbered among the most useful citizens of his county and state