Larson, Jens Peter 1861-1930

LARSON, NIELSEN

Posted By: Linda Mohning (email)
Date: 3/28/2012 at 14:20:21

HELPED FOUND LOCAL CHURCH. J. P. LARSON WAS PROMINENT FARMER IN FREDONIA TOWNSHIP.
J. P. Larson, of the prominent farmers in Fredonia township, and a resident there forty-seven years, died suddenly at his home at 9 o’clock Monday morning, his death being due to a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Larson was 68 years old, and is survived by his widow, three daughters and six sons. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon.
Mr. Larson visited neighbors the night before his death until a late hour and retired in the best of spirits. He had never complained of poor health. Monday morning he arose at 7 o’clock as was his custom, went out and fed the chickens and attended to some household duties in preparation for the family washing. After partaking of breakfast he complained of not feeling well and went into an adjoining room to rest on a couch. Viola, his youngest daughter, went into the room at ten minutes before nine to bid him goodbye as she was leaving for school. He replied in his usual affectionate way, and these were his last words. A few minutes later other members of the family found him dead.
Mr. Larson was born in Veile, Denmark, August 4, 1861, and came to this country and directly to Plymouth county in the fall of 1883. After working on farms in Fredonia for ten years, he was united in marriage in 1893 to Engeborg Nielsen, daughter of the late Nis Nielsen, of that vicinity, and soon afterward the couple settled on a farm in the same neighborhood, which Mr. Larson purchased and which is still the family home.
Mr. Larsen was an affectionate father and husband, and among his ??? (difficult to read ) was considered one of the best men in the community. Everybody spoke highly of his character and pleasant manner. He was one of the founders of the Danish Lutheran parish in Fredonia township and for the past twenty-five years was its president. He took an active ??? in all church and community affairs.
Surviving Mr. Larsen besides his widow, are the following children: Louis P. Nis N., Elsie, Herbert J. Henry D, Niels C. Martin L, Herlig and Viola. All are living at home with the exception of Louis and Herbert, who are married and occupy farms in Fredonia township. Four children died in infancy. He leaves two brothers, Mart?n Larson in Denmark and Thomas Larson in Seattle, Wash.
Funeral services held Thursday ??? were conducted in the Danish Lutheran church in Fredonia by the Rev. N J Hansen? Of Marcus and burial was made in the Remsen cemetery. - Le Mars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, April 18, 1930, page 8.

Also –
J. P. Larson. J.P. Larson was born near Veile, Denmark, August 4, 1861. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church there. He immigrated to the United States in the fall of the year 1883 and came directly to Plymouth county where he spent his early manhood and in 1889 he began farming for himself. In 1893 he was united in marriage with Engeborg Nielsen. After their marriage they moved to their farm in Fredonia township where he made his home until his death, April 14, 1930. He suffered a paralytic stroke and died very suddenly, having attained the age of 68 years, 8 months and 10 days.
To this union were born thirteen children, four dying in infancy.
He had always been an ideal husband and father, respected and loved by everyone with whom he came in contact.
He had taken an active part in religious, social and civil affairs of this community. He was a member of the Lutheran church of Fredonia township being a charter member of the congregation. He had been president of the church for the last twenty-five years and still held that position at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, and nine children: six sons and three daughters, Louis P., Nis N., Elsie, Herbert L., Henry D., Niels C., Martin L., Herlig and Viola. Two sons, Louis and Herbert , are married and reside on farms in Fredonia township, the remaining children being at home. He is also survived by two brothers and one sister, Morton, Thomas and Marian, and many other relatives and friends in this vicinity. – Le Mars Globe Post, April 21, 1930, pages 1 and 8.

Also -
A death which caused lumps in the throat of numberless people and which brought tears of sorrow and grief was that of J. P. Larson, who died in his home near here Monday morning, while lying down to rest because he had not been feeling as well as usual that morning. There has seldom been a man more sincerely loved and cherished as Mr. Larson was for he never willingly harmed a soul or was inconsiderate of anyone’s feelings. He was one of nature’s gentlemen, square, honest and kimd and the people who knew him longest and appreciated him most are finding his loss poignant and deep. We wish Mr. Larson could have known of the big place he filled in the hearts of all of his devoted friends and of his family but we, at least, can offer this final tribute to a great man, of love and reverence that our lives were made more thoughtful and more beautiful because of the pleasure of knowing him. Our understanding and sympathy in his death is extended to his family, who can be consoled in the knowledge that his memory will always be something to be proud of, one that few can boast of – the memory of J. P. Larson one of the finest men any of us will ever know. – source unknown, perhaps the Remsen Bell Enterprise.