Henryson [Henderson], Lars (1822-1896)

HENRYSON, HENDERSON, ASKELSDATTER, RAFDAL, JOHNSON, GARVIG

Posted By: Pat J. (email)
Date: 3/23/2011 at 14:55:33

Story City Herald*

One of the area's old pioneers went to his last resting place.

Since the last publication of our newspaper Lars Henryson died November 12 last with burial on the evening of the 14th.

The deceased was, at death, 74 years, 7 months and 16 days old. He was born on the farm Kallestedbakken in Etne on the 27th of March 1822 and got married to Anna Askelsdatter Rafdal of Skanevig's parish in the month of April 1847. They then traveled to America the same year in the month of May. After a difficult passage, they landed and went to Lisbon, Kendall County, Illinois where they arrived on July 12 that same summer. After a delay until the next spring 1848 they moved to Grundy County in the same state, where they lived until 1857 when, in May, they moved to Scott Township Hamilton County, Iowa. After a number of years his wife died. He later got married to Sarah Johnson from Garvig, Skanevig. Here they lived for 36 years on one of the largest and best farms in the county.

The deceased was a very creative and intelligent man with large interests and work in both the church and politics. The time he moved here he suffered hardships and endured much like all pioneers. Here at that time were limited churches and no one joined a church. They got together a joint effort and a church building project was begun immediately east of Story City. Mr. Henryson participated in the building three churches, first was the above mentioned, after that St. Petri Church here in town and later in Randall. He held many positions of trust such as Town Clerk and Trustee. Also for many years was "Justice of the Peace", was a member of the Board of Supervisors for many years, and that commendation must have given him, that he was entrusted a position of trust for so long that he was content. In that last year he hid himself from the public district while he pondered his advance age and moved to Randall in the month of May 1893, where he lived in a fine residence. The deceased was active and of sound mind to the end.

He leaves a wife, 12 children, 40 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren (he was both father, grandfather and great grandfather), and so was known as a faithful family father.

The deceased was in full consciousness right up until the end and was heartfelt glad to move from here and to repose away from long days of labor.

*Norwegian obituary translated by great great grandson, Stephen A. Sheldahl