Larson, Nels, Hon. 1841- 1917

LARSON, BAKKE, KJORNME, WENNER, PETERSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/6/2015 at 08:55:38

HON. NELS LARSON.

Of sterling Norwegian stock and himself a native of the Norseland kingdom, Hon. Nels Larson has ever since his childhood resided in Winneshiek county, having witnessed the changes that have here occurred as primitive conditions have given way to the onward march of civilization. Since 1855 he has been a resident of this county and since 1868 he has made his home upon a farm on section 16, Highland township, which under his able management has become one of the most profitable agricultural establishments in the section. It originally comprised two hundred and forty acres but several years ago Mr. Larson gave eighty acres to his son, retaining one hundred and sixty acres. Of late, however, he has rented this also to his son, who operates the homestead, and now he lives in well earned retirement, enjoying the fruits of his former labors. Not only has Mr. Larson become prominent along agricultural lines but he has ever been one of the leaders in republican politics in this section and has continually held important offices not only in connection with the township and county but also in the legislature, in which he sat for several terms, exerting his influence to the best of his ability in the interests of his district and promulgating the welfare of the state by doing effective work in committee rooms and sustaining valuable measures on the floor of the house. Ever since 1864, when he cast his first vote for Lincoln, he has remained true to the republican standard and he is today as stalwart as ever in his support of the political colors in the principles of which he believes. Aside from political work he has ever interested himself in educational matters and has done much toward promoting the educational system of the county, while he has always taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the Lutheran church.

Hon. Nels Larson was born in Sogne, Norway, on September 1, 1841, a son of Lars and Karel (Bakke) Larson. Both resided on the Bakke farm in their native country and when Nels Larson, our subject, came here and found that the farm upon which he settled had no name he took the first one of his father for the family name and has since styled himself Nels Larson. The mother died on the home farm in Norway in 1852 and was buried there, our subject being her only child. He and his father came to America in 1854, going to Minnesota in search of those opportunities of which they had heard so much in their native country. They spent the first winter there and in the spring of 1855 located in Winneshiek county, where Nels Larson has resided ever since. In 1874 the father moved to Ottertail county, Minnesota, and there he passed away in 1881. He married again while he made his home in Winneshiek county and of this union were born four children, of whom two have passed away. The father here bought eighty acres of land at one dollar and a half per acre from the government and later acquired by purchase more school land.

Nels Larson grew up under the care of his father and received such schooling as was afforded under the primitive conditions prevailing during pioneer times. He made his home with his father and he was twenty-one years of age when the latter married again. The father then let our subject have eighty acres of land on condition that he pay for it what it had cost. Nels Larson resided on this farm in Highland township until 1868, devoting himself to the cultivation of his acres and to improving the primitive state of the property. Upon selling it he purchased his present farm, upon which he has ever since resided. It comprised two hundred and forty acres but later Mr. Larson let his son have an eighty-acre tract, so that he now holds title to one hundred and sixty acres. A large house stood on the farm when Mr. Larson purchased it but he has since rebuilt, putting up a fine home, and has made many other improvements. He has set out a number of ornamental and fruit trees and as he has passed his years in arduous labor, has made his place one of the most valuable of the neighborhood. For many years his unflagging attention was given to general farming and stock-raising and that his well tried methods have proven of value, thereof his present prosperity stands as proof. Mr. Larson is now enabled to live in retirement from active labor, the home place being cultivated by a son who for a number of years has rented the same.

On July 29, 1862, Mr. Larson was married to Miss Julia Kjornme, a native of Minnedahl, Norway, where she was born on February 22, 1845. She came with her parents to the United States in 1853, and has ever since resided in Highland township. She is a daughter of Nels and Margaret Kjornme, both of whom passed away in Highland township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Larson became the parents of a family of twelve children: Caroline, who passed away at the age of eight months; Caroline, second of the name, who married O. L. Wenner, of Highland township; Nels, deceased, who left a widow and three children; Louis, a resident of Highland township; Maria, the wife of Ole Peterson, of Hesper township; Henry C, who operates his father's farm; Albert, also a resident of this township; Johanna, who married P. M. Peterson, who operates a creamery in Highland township; Emma, who died at the age of eight; and Julia, Gustav and Emma, at home.

Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Larson has always taken an active part in the political life of the county. He is a lifelong republican, having voted for Lincoln in 1864 and for every republican presidential candidate since that time. Ever since 1867 Mr. Larson has held one or more offices. For eleven years he was township assessor and township clerk for about the same length of time, and for fourteen years he was township clerk under the old law. He was appointed and elected justice of the peace but did not qualify for the office. In 1879 he was elected to the county board of supervisors and served tor six years or two terms. In 1885 yet higher honors came to him in his election to the state legislature as representative from Winneshiek county. He was reelected in 1887 and nominated for a third term but defeated in the election with the whole ticket as a democratic landslide overran the state in 1889 and Governor Boise was elected. Since that time Mr. Larson has held the office of township clerk off and on for about twelve years but declined reelection in 1912. He is a pillar of strength in the local councils of his party and has been a delegate to various state conventions and served many years as republican township committeeman. As he resides but one mile south of the Minnesota state line he was jocularly referred to in the legislature as "the member from Minnesota." Until sixteen years ago Mr. Larson was a member of the Big Canoe Lutheran church, at which time the Highland township church was built, of which he has since been a member. He gave evidence of his interest in the cause of education by serving as a member of the board of trustees of Luther College, Decorah, for fifteen consecutive years, declining reelection to the board at that time. He was treasurer of the township school district for twenty-two years. Five times he ably represented the Big Canoe and Highland churches in the annual meeting of the synod. He also served efficiently as treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company of this county for four years, declining reelection at the end of that time. Viewed from every point the career of Mr. Larson has been a successful one. An able agriculturist, he has done much toward building up this section of the country and toward establishing efficient agricultural standards. A public leader, he has ever willingly served in many important positions to the benefit of all concerned. A man thoroughly imbued with the importance of educational facilities, he has done much for the schools of his county and, last but not least, has ever shown himself to be a true Christian and a faithful adherent of his church, whose principles have always guided all his actions. He is a credit to Winneshiek county and his fellowmen, who have honored him so often with public office, have honored themselves by selecting one who so worthily has performed his public tasks as to draw commendation and high praise from every side. A forceful man and a man of strong character, Mr. Larson is sympathetic and kind to the unfortunate ones and to those in need, and there is no man within the boundaries of Winneshiek county who more justly receives esteem and respect than the Hon. Nels Larson.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Highland Lutheran Cemetery Gravestone
 

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