William Henry Larsen

William Henry Larsen is proprietor of the Winifred Hotel of Northwood, which is one of the finest hostelries in northern Iowa, and in its conduct he dis­plays the most progressive methods. He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, near Madison, December 12, 1861, his birthplace being the farm of his parents, Louis and Elizabeth (Bartlett) Larsen. The father was born in Christiania, Norway, and the mother was a native of Gloucestershire, England. Louis Larsen left Norway when a lad of fourteen years as a passenger on one of the old-time sailing vessels which was eight weeks in making the trip to New York, and by way of the Great Lakes proceeded westward to Wisconsin, the family home being established upon a farm near Madison, in Dane county. This was in the year 1852.

Soon after his arrival Louis Larsen entered the employ of William George Bartlett, who afterward became his father-in-law. He remained in Mr. Bartlett's employ for a number of years and later settled in Windsor township, Dane county, Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres. This he improved, bringing his land all under a high state of cultivation save ten acres, which was covered with timber. He remained upon the place for a number of years and then established his home in Otranto township, Mitchell county, Iowa, having traveled westward by wagon and crossed the ferry at McGregor. Mr. Larsen aided his father-in-law in operating a farm for four years and during that time he purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Otranto township, which he began to develop and improve, living thereon for a decade. He then sold that property and went to Miner county, South Dakota, settling near Carthage, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. This he also developed, adding to it modern improvements, and for ten years he remained upon that place. He then sold out and returned to Iowa, establishing his home in Deer Creek township, Worth county, where he lived for a time with his son, William H. He afterward bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Lac Qui Parle county, Minnesota, and resided thereon until his death. His wife has also passed away. They were both loyal and devoted members of the Nor­wegian Lutheran church and in his political faith Mr. Larsen was a republican.

His wife had come to the United States in 1850 with her father, the voyage having been made by sailing vessel, and after reaching New York they pro­ceeded over the water route to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then drove across the state to Madison, where Mr. Bartlett took up government land, securing three forty-acre tracts. He built thereon a stone house of two rooms and began life in the far west in true pioneer style. From time to time he extended the boundaries of his farm by additional purchases and he improved his land, con­verting it into a rich and productive farm. Later he sent to England for his father and mother and when they came here they settled on the land already purchased by their son. The father later sold his farm and in 1871 came to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he purchased ten hundred and forty acres of land in Otranto township. His father afterward joined him and made his home with him up to the time he was called to his final rest at the age of eighty-four years. His wife had died in Wisconsin. After removing to Iowa, W. G. Bartlett con­tinued to cultivate his farm here until his demise, which occurred in 1875, when he was sixty-one years of age. His wife had died in England. In his political views W. G. Bartlett was a democrat and he served as justice of the peace and in several local offices. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and was ever a worthy follower of the teachings of the craft. He was quite gifted in several respects, being a very fine penman and also well known as a composer of music and as a cornetist. He had a band room in England and there acted as leader of a band and throughout his life his interest in music was one of his strong characteristics.

William H. Larsen resided at Windsor, Dane county, Wisconsin, Until ten years of age, after which he spent the succeeding decade upon the home farm in Otranto township, Mitchell county. He acquired a public school education and when twenty years of age he went to Dakota territory, where the succeeding three years of his life were passed. When twenty-five years of age he took up general agricultural pursuits on a farm a mile south of the Otranto Station, in Mitchell county, upon which he lived for two years. He then removed to his father-in-law's farm in Deer Creek township, Worth county, and continued its cultivation for seven years, during which period he purchased two different farms, one comprising a quarter section of land, which he improved and after­ward sold. He also bought a quarter section elsewhere, which he improved, this tract adjoining his father-in-law's farm on the east. Mr. Larsen was at that time thirty-four years of age. He remained on the second farm for eight years, after which he rented the place and took up his abode at Kensett, where he embarked in the hotel .business, remaining there for six months. He afterward again spent a short time upon his farm and later went to Glenville, Minnesota, where he conducted a hotel for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Northwood, Iowa, where he opened the Park Hotel, which he conducted for six years. He later spent one year in retirement from business, at the end of which period he erected his present hotel, known as the Winifred Hotel. He has since conducted this hostelry and has made it one of the finest hotels in northern Iowa. The business men of the town of Northwood furnished four thousand dollars as a bonus when the hotel was erected. He sold his farm in Deer Creek township about six years ago and concentrates his energies upon the conduct of the hotel, which is most modern and attractive in its appointments. The hostelry is also noted for its excellent cuisine, its culinary department being under capable management, while its sleeping rooms are commodious, well fur­nished and well ventilated.

On February 15, 1885, Mr. Larsen was married to Miss Jessie Leedle, a daughter of Robert and Agnes (Gault) Leedle and a native of Rock county, Wisconsin. Her father was born in England, while her mother was native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Leedle learned the miller's trade in England and came to the United States when a young man of seventeen years, establishing his home in Rock county, Wisconsin, where he conducted a milling business until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He then responded to the country's call for troops and enlisted in the Union army at Cooktown, Wisconsin, becoming a member of Company K of the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, with which he served for two years. He later returned to Wisconsin and subsequently removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, but was married in Cooktown before he came to this state. He purchased eighty acres of land at the edge of Minnesota, just east of Myrtle, and the family looked after the farm while the father operated a grist mill, which was carried on under the name of Officers Mill and which was located south of Austin on Cedar river. He also operated Rice's mill at Osage, Iowa, and others, and for a time was in charge of a mill at old Otranto. Later he removed to his farm in Deer Creek township, Worth county, but eventually sold that property and took up his abode in Mountrail county, North Dakota, Where he purchased three quarter sections of kind. As once he began to improve and develop his property, upon which he lived for a time, but afterward removed to Saskatchewan, Canada, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near the home of his four sons. He died in 1915 and his widow is now living with her daughter. She was born in 1841 and is therefore seventy-six years of age. Mr. Leedle would never accept a pension from the government for his services as a soldier in the Civil war, saying that he willingly gave his aid to the Union cause and did not desire to be recompensed for doing his duty. To Mr. and Mrs. Larsen have been born two children, Josie Roberta and Velma Winifred. In his political views Mr. Larsen has long been a stalwart supporter of republican principles, although not an active politician in the sense of office seeking. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of the Eastern Star. Much of his life has been devoted to the hotel business, and his long experience in this connection well qualifies him for the conduct of the important interests now under his control. He is always courteous and obliging, and his unfeigned cordiality and geniality have won for him the friendship of many with whom he has been brought in contact.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 290-292

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, July 14, 2006