Lars A. Britson (1857-1920)

BRITSON, JOHNSON, JONDALL, HUMPHREY, PAGE, THORSON, LARSON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/30/2016 at 20:42:44

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, March 11, 1920.

PIONEER PASSES AWAY

L A Britson, a Pioneer Business Man Passed Away Saturday

Lars A. Britson, a pioneer business man of our city died on Saturday afternoon, March 6, having been in poor health the past two years.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at the Bergen church.

Lars A. Britson was born in Sonhorland, Norway, April 2, 1857. In his early youth he spent a number of years as a sailor. In 1880 he came to this country and located in Story City, where he engaged in the wagon making, and buggy painting trade in a successful way for a number of years. In 1883 he was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Johnson, who now survives him. To this union seven children were born, three of whom have preceded their father in death. He leaves to mourn his death a wife, one daughter, Mrs. Hosea Jondall, three sons, John, Bert and Arthur, all whom are married and reside here, four sisters, Mrs. A. E. Humphrey of this place, Mrs. Earl Page, Waterloo, Mrs. Thorson and Mrs. Larson, Sonhorland, Norway . Both his parents are dead, his father having died last May at the age of 100 years and his mother died four years ago at the age of 98 years.

In 1890 he and his family moved to Roland where he was engaged in the lumber business with R. K. Gaard. In the spring of 1897 Mr. and Mrs. Britson and family moved to a farm in southern Texas, to benefit the health of Mrs. Britson. Here they lived two years, returning in the year 1899 and re-entering the lumber business again with Mr. R. K. Gaard, whose interest the latter purchased and which business he owned at the time of his death. Mr. Britson has not been actively connected with his busines interests in later years, having left same in charge of his sons.

Mr. Britson was one of the kindest of men, loved and respected far and wide. He was of a cheerful disposition and with a heart that palpitated with goodness. He was interested in church and all that it stood for. Mr. Britson was an ideal father and husband. He was also a man of unusual physical and mental capacity, possessing good judgment and managerial ability. In his daily life, as well as in his sickness he was fearless, patient, cheerful and faithful. The home and the family circle were dear places to him and it was at his own fireside that one learned to know him best. He is no more, but the influence that he left will live on.