Larsen, Peter Laurentius “Laur” Dr. 1833 – 1915

LARSEN, LARSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:41

Source: Cresco Plain Dealer Mar. 5, 1915 P-FP C-3

Decorah, Ia., March 3.—Special- Dr. Laur Larson who for forty-one years was president of the Luther college of Decorah died in the city hospital Monday night after an illness of several weeks.
Dr. Larson was born in Christiansand, Norway, Aug. 10, 1833. He came to the United States in 1857 and engaged in missionary work and in 1859 was given a professorship in the Concordia college at St. Louis. The war closed that college and the Norwegian ministers began looking for the establishment of another college devoted to the Lutheran faith. A college was started in a small way at Halfway Creek, Wis., in 1861. The next year the college was moved to Decorah, Prof. Larson coming. At the semi centennial celebration in 1911 of the college he was made president emeritus and retired to devote himself to editorial work on the church publications. At the semi centennial celebration the king of Norway conferred on him the order of St. Olaf. He was the oldest educator among the Norwegians in the country.

Transcriber’s Note: His biography shows the spelling of his name as Larsen. After much research I discovered his name was Peter Laurentius Larsen. He is buried in Lutheran Decorah Cemetery.

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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