James H. Larson (1869-1924)

LARSON, FJELDHAUGEN, ERICKSON, OLSON, THOMPSON, JOHNSON, OPSTWEDT

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/26/2024 at 06:20:53

From the Roland Record, Roland, Story County, Iowa, May 22, 1924.

LARSON FUNERAL LARGELY ATTENDED

More Than Thousand People Attended Funeral Last Sunday

The funeral of James H. Larson was held last Sunday afternoon at 2:30 from the family residence and at three o'clock from Salem Lutheran church. The church was filled to the utmost capacity with relatives and friends and nearly as many were forced to remain outside the church edifices. Rev. J. N. Sandven preached the funeral sermon and the choir furnished special music. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, place there by loving hands to show the high regard in which the deceased was held in the community. The remains were laid to rest in the Roland cemetery.

James H. Larson was born near Lisbon, Ill., March 10, 1869 and died at Omaha, Neb. Mary 15, 1924, being 55 years, 2 months and 5 days at the time of his death. When only a small child, he came with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Lars and Johanna Fjeldhaugen, to Iowa, settling on a farm about eight miles northeast of Roland, where he grew to manhood.

He was married to Anna May Erickson, October 17, 1898 and to this union were born five children, all of whom with their mother are left to mourn his untimely death. They are Leonard and Severt Larson, living at Roland, Malcolm, Mildred and Avis, who live at home. He also leaves two grandchildren, and his brothers and sisters are J. H. Larson, Slater; C. E. Larson, Portland, Oregon; John Larson, Silverton, Oregon; Lewis Larson and Cornelius Larson, Grenora, N.D.; Mrs. B. L. Olson, St. James, Minn.; Mrs. E. B. Thompson, Des Moines; Mrs. O. M. Johnson, Huxley; Miss Belle Larson, Ames; Mrs. Anna Opstwedt, Roland. Besides those named he leaves a number of relatives and other friends to mourn his death.

Shortly after his marriage, he engaged in the grain business in company with his brother-in-law, Jacob Erickson, and for a number of years they conducted this business, when he sold his interest to Mr. Erickson and purchased a lumber yard from S. J. Machaelson, which he still owned and which was operated by his sons, Leonard and Severt. A few years ago, he and others, organized a company to manufacture a vacuum pump and built a factory at Des Moines, and during the past two years has been spending most of his time looking after the management of the same, spending only the weekends at this place.

Mr. Larson was also a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank and served for several years on the board of directors until it was merged with the First National Bank last winter.

Mr. Larson was also associated in public affairs, having for a number of years served as mayor of Roland, and was a member of the local school board for many years. He also was an active member of the Roland Community Federation and served as its president during the first years.

Mr. Larson has always enjoyed good health except that he had been subject to light attacks of indigestion, but it was not thought that it was of a serious nature. When he left for Des Moines last week, he was in his usual health, but on Wednesday, he had not been feeling well and had almost given up a contemplated business trip to Omaha. He did finally decide to go and left about five o'clock in the afternoon, arriving at his destination about midnight. After registering at the hotel, he spend a few minutes in the lobby and had a light luncheon before retiring. Shortly after four o'clock Thursday morning one of the patrons of the hotel came from his room to catch an early train and found Mr. Larson lying in the hallway. An examination revealed the fact that life was extinct. From every indication it would appear that Mr. Larson became seriously ill after retiring and that he had risen and dressed, expecting to seek medical aid, but that he had been overcome upon reaching the hallway, where his death took place. The physician, who was summoned, stated that it was his belief that the acute indigestion made such a pressure upon his heart, thus causing his death. His son, Leonard, left Thursday evening for Omaha, and returned with the corpse on Friday evening, and it was during his trip there, that the information was secured.

Among those from a distance present at the funeral were, Mr. and Mrs. B. L. Olson, St. James, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Thompson, Misses Judith and Odetta Fatland, Messrs L. C. Baugham, G. E. Beck, Harry Hettner, all of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Peterson, Mesdames Severie Okland and Oliver Knudson all of Badger; Mr. Charles Knudson and daughter and Miss Larson, all of Fort Dodge; Messrs and Mesdames Peter Brown and Peter Brendeland, Mrs. O. M. Johnson, Miss Linnie Johnson, Mr. Martin Jhnson, all of Huxley; J. H. and C. A. Larson and Elias Orthun, all of Slater; Mike Munson and son, Alvin, Lakefield, Minn.; Miss Lillian Hanson, Toledo; Mr. Joseph Johnson, Kelley; Misses Belle Larson and Louise Hold, Ames; Mr. and Mrs. S. Langland, Williams; Mrs. J. J. Brekke of Radcliffe.