A. H. Larson

LARSON

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 10/10/2006 at 22:22:46

Among the young men who are contributing to the business development and upbuilding of Grafton is A. H. Larson, the cashier of the Farmers' Exchange Bank. He was born in Norway on the 9th of August, 1886, a son of Hans C. and Maren M. Larson, who came to the United States in 1889 and established their home in Mitchell county, Iowa. The father was a shoemaker by trade and on arriving in this state he opened a shoe store in Carpenter. He continued in active identification with the shoe business there until the time of his death, which occurred about 1898. His widow survives but has been an invalid for the past sixteen years.

A. H. Larson was educated in the district schools and was still quite young at the time of his father's death. The family being in modest financial circumstances, he did not have the advantages of higher education but found it necessary to start out in the business world in order to aid in the support of the family. He took up the study of telegraphy at an early age and subsequently was made telegrapher and station agent at Carpenter, being given the agency there prior to the fifteenth anniversary of his birth. He was the youngest agent ever appointed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. He remained in the employ of that corporation for four years and then resigned his position in 1905, in which year he removed to Grafton and became identified with the banking business through acceptance of the position of bookkeeper in the Farmers' Exchange Bank. A year or more later he was advanced to the more important position of assistant cashier and two years afterward, when the bank changed hands, Mr. Larson, then but twenty-two years of age, was made cashier and placed in charge of the financial policy of the institution. The deposits of the bank at that time were about thirty-eight thousand dollars. Under his direction and capable management the business has had a remarkable growth and the deposits in the past eight years have reached the total of more than a quarter of a million dollars. He has also been instrumental in securing the erection of a new bank building in 1913 at a cost of between twenty-five and thirty thousand dollars.

Mr. Larson was married on the 18th of June, 1912, to Miss Amanda Dalluge, a daughter of Gottlieb Dalluge, who was one of the active representatives of farming interests in this part of the state for many years, having become one of the pioneer settlers of Union township, Worth county. He is now living retired in Grafton, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in a well earned rest. To Mr. and Mrs. Larson has been born a son, Merle G.

In politics Mr. Larson is a republican and for four years he filled the office of mayor of Grafton, while at the present time he is city treasurer and also treasurer of the school board. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. He is deeply and helpfully interested in everything that has to do with the welfare and progress of his community. He views all public questions from a practical and progressive standpoint and his aid and support are given to those measures which he believes will be of future as well as present benefit.

Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, Pages 507 & 508.