LARSON, Bastian Eide

LARSON, NORDHUS, JOHANNESDATTER, BERHOW, MICHELSON, DRYNES, ORLAND, TORMODSDATTER, VARO, SCHOGER, JOHNSON, OLSEN, SYSE

Posted By: Deidre Badker (email)
Date: 7/27/2014 at 09:12:53

Bastian Eide Larson was born at the Eide farm, Halsnoy, Fjelberg, Hordaland, Norway to Lars Eide Bastiansen (b August 10, 1794 Hordaland, Norway, d July 19, 1869 Hordaland, Norway) and Britha Johannesdatter (b 1799 Hordaland, Norway), the oldest of their nine children.

His siblings (all born at the Eide farm) were:
Johannes (b April 1, 1828, married Anna Marie Andersdatter, d 1896 Mitchell, Iowa);

Anna (b July 27, 1830, married Johannes Larson, d unknown Norway);

Bretha (b August 1, 1832, married Ole Olsen Berhow, d April 13, 1910 Story, Iowa);

Margarethe (b July 12, 1834, married Nels Michelson, d January 25, 1919 Kanawha, Hancock, Iowa);

Mari (b January 13, 1837);

Lars (b February 23, 1839, married Maria Martinsdatter Dyrnes, married Kari Orland, d September 1, 1931 Story, Iowa);

Mons (b January 8, 1842) and

Ole (b May 2, 1845, married Aasa Tormodsdatter, d October 31, 1925 Huxley, Story, Iowa).

The Eide farm was on the island, Halsnoy, east of Leirvik. Leirvik is north of Haugesund on the west coast of Norway and commonly was called Hardanger. It is part of Hordaland.

Bastian was baptized on March 27, 1826 at Fjelberg, Hordland, Norway. Bastian's birth and baptismal records found in the Norwegian Digital Archives on-line for Fjelberg, Hordaland, Norway, 1822-1834, pg. 28, entry # 45.

Bastian was a fisherman by trade in his homeland and an apprentice carpenter. His fiance, Anna Petersdatter Nordhus, was born September 10, 1828 at Fjelberg, Hordaland, Norway to Peder Povelsen Nordhus and Helga Larsdatter. Family lore says their marriage met with some disapproval.

Bastian and Anna were married on March 23, 1857 at Hardanger, Hordaland, Norway. Wedding record found in the Norwegian Digital Archives on-line for Fjelberg, Hordaland, Norway, 1851-1867, pg 216, entry #5. A conflicting wedding date of April 3, 1857 is found in the Ancestry.com records.

On March 24, 1857, the newlyweds left Norway to emigrate to America. Emigration record found at the Norwegian Digital Archives on-line for Fjelberg, Hordaland, Norway 1851-1867, pg 352 (right side of page), entry # 56. The record says they left March 16, 1857 (conflicting date) and the group traveling together were: Lars Larson Eide, Bastian Larson, Anna Petersdatter Nordhus and Martha Larsdatter. For about six weeks, they crossed the Atlantic by the northern route, experiencing rough seas. After landing in Montreal, Canada, they crossed southern Canada, came down into Minnesota and settled at Fayette County, Iowa. One year later, they moved to near Blue Earth, Minnesota.

Found in the 1860 census living at Lynden, Freeborn, Minnesota: Bastian Larson, 34, Anna Larson 32, Hellen L Larson 2, Betsey L. age 1.

Many people had lost their families in the Indian massacre at New Ulm, Minnesota and decided to leave the state. They stayed in the Bastian Larson home to rest before walking on to Decorah or McGregor, Iowa. Since the Indian threat was ever constant in Minnesota, Bastian and his family decided to move in 1862 to a farm near Mona, in Otranto Township, Mitchell County, Iowa.

Two years later, they moved a final time to a farm in East Cedar Township, 80 acres, purchased from James and Lucinda Dudley on December 1, 1863, for $300 ($4.00 per acre).

Nine children were born to Bastian and Anna:
- Hellen (born February 1858 at Freeborn, Minnesota, married Elias Eliason Varo 1889, d before 1920 Hancock, Iowa);

- Betsey Louisa (b March 25, 1859 Freeborn, MN, married Andrew Christiansen Schoger 1879, d June 2, 1928 Rock, Mitchell, Iowa);

- Peder (b November 9, 1861 Freeborn, Minnesota, d 1861 at Freeborn, MN);

- Anna Regina (b March 2, 1863 near St Ansgar, Mitchell, Iowa, married Lars Iver Syse Olsen 1881, d July 9, 1900 Osage, Mitchell, Iowa);

- Peter Bastian (b November 5, 1864 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, married Breta Helen Johnson 1906, d May 1, 1959 Fort Dodge, Webster, Iowa);

- Lars Bastian (b November 2, 1866 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, married Katrine Marie Nelson 1892, d October 21, 1939 Mitchell, Iowa);

- Anders (b 1868, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, d before 1873 same);

- Anders Bastian (b June 21, 1873 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, d September 26, 1886 same) and

- Johann (b August 29, 1874 Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa, d before 1880 same).

On May 24, 1870, Bastian Larson became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Family found in the 1870 - 1905 censuses living at Cedar, Mitchell. Iowa:
1870: Bastian 45; Anna 43; Helen 12; Betsey 11; Anna Regina 7; Peter 5; Lewis (Lars) 4; Andrew 2. Real estate value: $1600.00; Personal goods: $600.00. Anna could not read or write English.

1880: Bastian Larson 54, Anna Larson 52, Hellen Larson 22, Anna Larson 16, Peter Larson 15, Lars Larson 13, Andreas Larson 6.

1885: Baccan Larson 60, Anna Larson 55, Peter Larson 20, Louis Larson 19, Andrew Larson 10, Helen Larson 24.

1900: Peder B Larson 36, Bastian Larson 74, Annie Larson 71.

1905: Peter Bastian Larson, Bastian Larson, Anna Larson.

On April 15, 1891, Bastian sold his home and land to his son, Peter. The farm is two miles west of the Old Dudley Mill. The house was originally two rooms with a hay loft. Later, three more rooms were added, making it L-shaped, which was typical of old settlers' homes. In 1921, it was extensively remodeled and modernized into the present home, at a total cost of $5,000.00.

Peter built the barn in 1898. He sold the farm in 1940 to his son, Philip. Philip sold it in 1966 to Loren and Altje Larson. As of 2002, it has been owned by family for almost 140 years.

Besides farming, Bastian made caskets for the Rock Creek Lutheran Church cemetery.

Bastian Eide Larson died April 12, 1906 at Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa and is buried at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa.

Obituary from Osage, Iowa Press News, April 18, 1906:
One of the pioneer settlers of the Rock Creek settlement passed away at his home in Cedar township last Thursday morning, April 12, 1906. Bastian Larson was born in Halsnoy, Hardanger, Norway, March 26, 1826. In the year 1857, he was married to Anna Petersdtr Nordhus and they came to Fayette County, Iowa, the same year. The following year, they moved to Freeburn County, Minnesota where they lived about 4 years, then in 1862, came to Otranto Township to live 2 years. Finally, they came to Rock Creek, Meroa, Cedar, Mitchell, Iowa to their present home.

This venerable old couple have had nine children, six sons and three daughters. Four sons have gone before. One daughter, Mrs. Lars Iver Olsen, died in Osage in the year 1900.

The children living are: Peter Bastian, who lives on the old homestead, Lewis B., who lives on another part of the old homestead, Mrs. Andrew Shoger, and Mrs. E.E. Varo, of Wright Co, Iowa. Also his aged wife, seventeen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Bastian has 1 brother and 1 sister who stayed in Norway, 2 brothers and a sister who settled in Polk County, Iowa and 1 sister who settled in Wright County, Iowa. The funeral was held last Saturday, April 14th, 1906, at the Rock Creek Lutheran Church, Meroa, Iowa. He was one of the oldest members of the congregation. He was laid to rest in the Rock Creek Lutheran cemetery.

He has a memorial at Find A Grave #76300031.

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Some information above courtesy of family member recollections.