MOE, Lars 1830-1910
MOE, OLSON, LANGE, THORSON
Posted By: Karen L. Robertson (email)
Date: 9/3/2011 at 17:10:50
The subject of this sketch was born at Gerstad pr Risor, Norway, August 21, 1830, and passed away at St. Ansgar, Iowa, December 27, 1910. Mr. Moe immigrated to America in 1850 and landed in New York July 1, after a voyage of eleven weeks on the sea. He was the first person who had ever been granted a permit by the King of Norway, Oscar the First, to leave that Kingdom for America from the parish in which he resided. He drifted westward and located at Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Deceased was accompanied by none of his own people when he came to this country and the only other member of the family who came to America was his sister, Mrs. Carrie Olson, now residing at Hersey, Wisconsin.
Lars Moe and Caroline Anderson were united in marriage at Dodgeville, Wisconsin, September 7, 1854. In that year Mr. Moe bought government land, about four miles from town at what is known as Garrison's Grove, opened up a farm and built a home. On account of failing health he was compelled to give up farming and after renting the place for a couple of years sold the property in 1808 and removed to Dodgeville, and engaged in mercantile business. In the spring of 1869 he decided to move west. In May of that year in company with the late Mr. Anderson he came to Iowa to look up a suitable location to engage in business. He was very favorable impressed with Clear Lake and had about decided to locate there, but deferred investing until after visiting St. Ansgar, where Rev. Clausen and his colony were located.
He came here, met Rev. Clausen and others with whom he appears to have had a casual acquaintance. They prevailed upon him to cast his lot among them and as the county seemed to possess great possibilities he decided to do so. The present line of railroad had then been surveyed and graders were at work at different points in the north part of the county and the question of securing railroad facilities was a reasonable certainty. Returning to Wisconsin he disposed of his business interest there and with his family removed to St. Ansgar, arriving here July 21, 1869. Mr. Moe at once commenced the erection of a store building and opened up business the first week in October of the same year. The material for his store building was hauled here from Adams, Minn., and the first stock of goods from Charles City, Iowa. He continued in the mercantile business until 1882, when he disposed of his business to his son, S.O. Since that time he has lived a retired life.
Mr. and Mrs. Moe are survived by a family of seven children, Martin Moe, Samuel Moe, Lewis C. Moe, Annie C. Moe, Mrs. W.W. Lange, Mrs. O.E. Thorson, all of St. Ansgar, and Andrew T. Moe of Zion City, Illinois. During the past six months both Mr. and Mrs. Moe have been failing in health, but a life of moderation and temperence permitted them to reach ages which very few attain. When the final summons came to go their bodies were racked by no pains, but the breaking of life's brittle threads was like the gentle sleep of childhood.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. M.E. Waldeland at the Norwegian Lutheran Church and were largely attended by neighbors and friends who came to pay a parting tribute to the dead and assit in the last rites. The mortal remains of this old couple were laid away, side by side, in one grave, in the Lutheran cemetery.
The following were here from abroad to attend the funeral of Mr. and Mrs. Moe; Andrew T. Moe of Zion City, Illinois, Martin Ausland, Emmettsburg, Iowa, Martin Olson and Anna Olson of Hersey, Wisconsin, Linda Moe of Spooner, Wisconsin, and F.J. Moe of Merriam, Minnesota.
Card of Thanks
We wish, through the medium of the Enterprise, to return our heartfelt thanks to the neighbors and friends who extended to us their assistance and symnpathies in an hour of deep sorrow. While we fully realize that the parting was for the best, the thought that the chain of our companionship has been broken would naturally cast a shadow of gloom over housholds where visitations from the messenger of death were almost unkown.
Mr. and Mrs. Lars Moe's Family
Caroline Moe died December 27, 1910 at 8:05 a.m.
Lars Moe died December 27, 1910 at 10:05 a.m.[ St. Ansgar Enterprise ]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photo of Lars and Caroline Moe, from Standard Historical Atlas of Mitchell County, Iowa, 1911.
Caroline Moe's obituary
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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