Andrew Larson has been actively and successfully identified with the
agricultural interests of
Crawford county for many years past and is now the owner of a well
improved farm in Otter Creek
township. He is a native of Sweden, born August 19, 1849, and is a
son of John and Mary (Anderson)
Larson, both of whom were born in Sweden. They came to America in 1867
and established their home
in Pennsylvania, where the mother died. In 1877 the father removed
to Crawford county, Iowa, and
engaged in farming. He was killed by a tornado about 1882. There were
nine children in his family,
seven of whom are still living.
Andrew Larson came to America with his parents when he was eighteen
years of age and continued at
home until after reaching manhood. He began his business career by
working in the coal mines in
Pennsylvania but subsequently became connected with farming in Crawford
county, Iowa, and carried
on his work with such energy and good judgment that he was enabled
to purchase two hundred and
twenty acres of land on sections 25 and 26, Otter Creek township. He
has made many improvements
upon his farm, building barns, corn-cribs and fences, and setting out
trees, etc., thus greatly
enhancing its value. He engages in general farming but makes a specialty
of raising and feeding
stock for the market and has met with gratifying success.
In 1888 Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Falk, a native
of Chicago and a daughter
of Erick Falk, who emigrated to America with his wife from Sweden and
is now deceased. The mother
is still living and makes her home in Minnesota. Five children came
to bless the union of Mr. and
Mrs. Larson, namely: Hollis L., who was born October 10, 1889; Ive
E., born June 22, 1892; Ervin
E., born August 7, 1894; Ruby I., born January 9, 1897; and Orange
H., born February 19, 1899. All
are living at home.
Mr. Larson was called upon to mourn the death of his beloved wife, who
passed away August 22,
1906, and whose remains were interred in Kiron cemetery. She was a
faithful member of the
Methodist church and was a woman of many excellent qualities which
endeared her to all with whom
she was associated. Mr. Larson is a man of genial disposition and is
recognized as one of the
reliable citizens of Crawford county, whose word is entirely to be
depended upon and who aims to
perform his whole duty in everything he undertakes. He is a sincere
friend of education and a
lover of his adopted country. He has set an example of unflagging industry
well worthy of
imitation by those who come after him, as it leads to almost certain
victory. He is not identified
with any religious denomination but is a firm adherent of the Republican
party whose principles
appeal to him as being highly essential to the perpetuity of a free
government.
Son: CHARLES A. LARSON
A member of a family that is well known in Crawford county, C. A. Larson
has gained an established
reputation as one of the substantial citizens of his locality, being
the owner of a well improved
farm in Stockholm township. He is a native of Sweden, born December
10, 1854, a son of John and
Mary Larson, a record of whom is presented in the sketch of Andrew
Larson, which appears elsewhere
in this work.
C. A. Larson received his education in his native land and at thirteen
years of age crossed the
ocean to America and lived for several years in Pennsylvania. He then
came to Crawford county,
Iowa, continuing with his parents until after reaching manhood, when
he began farming on his own
account and rented land for five years. In 1887 he purchased the place
on which he now lives,
embracing one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, Stockholm township.
Subsequently his wife
inherited one hundred and fifty acres on section 6, the same township,
and both farms are now
being cultivated by Mr. Larson. As they are provided with modern facilities,
the work is carried
forward very satisfactorily. Mr. Larson makes a specialty of raising
and feeding stock and as he
keeps a gook grade of animals and thoroughly understands farm management,
he has attained a large
measure of success.
On March 20, 1882, Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Ereka Erickson,
who was born in
Sweden, October 22, 1861, a daughter of Herman and Julia Erickson,
both natives of Sweden. They
came to America in 1862 and lived for eight years in Minnesota and
then located in Crawford
county, Iowa, where they continued during the remainder of their lives,
the mother passing away
April 18, 1888, and the father November 6, 1896. Three children were
born to Mr. and Mrs.
Erickson, the wife of our subject being the only one now living. Twelve
children constitute the
family of Mr. and Mrs. Larson, one of whom died in infancy, the others
being: Lillie E., born
February 22, 1883, who received a musical education and is now the
wife of Rufus Morgan, of
Crawford county; Alma B., who was born January 15, 1885, and is a graduate
of Highland Park
College of Des Moines, Iowa; Alfred O., who was born December 9, 1886,
and is now farming upon the
old homestead; Julia J., born June 7,1888, Etta I., born February 15,
1890, and Eldred R., born
March 16, 1892, all of whom are at home; Alvin L., who was born February
18, 1895, and died on the
8th of March following; Russell A., born April 25, 1897, Edna F., born
April 14, 1898, Earlin L.,
born June 28, 1900, and Lafe Theodore, born July 7, 1902, all of whom
are at home.
Mr. Larson owes his present prosperous condition to his habits of industry
and a laudable ambition
to win a reputable place for himself in the community. His success
is proof of the possibilities
in America for young men of good habits who are willing to apply themselves
in early life in order
to enjoy an abundance in later years. Politically he gives his adherence
to the Republican party
and although he has not sought the honors of office, he has served
with marked ability as school
director and road superintendent. He and his wife are stanch members
and supporters of the Baptist
church.
Many of the most prosperous and public-spirited citizens of Iowa are
natives of Sweden or
descendants of Swedish ancestry. The traits of frugality, industry
and self-reliance so prominent
in the people of the mother country have been exemplified by their
representatives in the new
world, and it is seldom we meet with a Swede in America who is not
self-supporting or financially
independent. Frank F. Larson, who owns a valuable farm of two hundred
and twenty acres in Crawford
county, is a striking example of success in agricultural pursuits accomplished
by one who was born
in Sweden and sought a home in this republic. His eyes first opened
to the light of day November
22, 1862. He is a son of John and Mary (Anderson) Larson, a record
of whom appears in the sketch
of Andrew Larson, which may be found elsewhere in this work.
Frank F. Larson came to this country with his parents and remained at
home until arriving at
maturity. He worked in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and subsequently
engaged in farming in
Crawford county, Iowa, prosecuting his work with such ability that
he now owns one of the most
beautiful farms in Otter Creek township. He has made many improvements
thereon, erecting buildings
and fences, and putting in drainage, etc., and as he is very energetic
and enterprising he meets
with a goodly measure of prosperity. He specializes in the raising
and feeding of stock, which he
handles to excellent advantage, being thoroughly acquainted with this
line of business.
In March 1896, Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Meyers,
who was born in Sweden,
March 7, 1873, and came to America when she was seventeen years of
age. She is a daughter of
Charles and Martha (Falk) Meyers, both of whom were born in Sweden.
The mother died in 1887, but
the father is still living in the old country. There were six children
in their family. Four
children have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Larson, namely:
Rudolph, Edith, Erma and Ray
C.
Mr. Larson and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and are rearing
their children in the
same faith. Politically, he gives his support to the Republican party,
believing that in so doing
he is advancing the permanent interests of the nation. In business
affairs he is prompt and
reliable, and in all the relations of life he aims to perform his duty
to the best of his ability
and has thus gained a reputation as one of the substantial men of this
section.