The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-11-01
A MEMOIR OF GEORGE HoLCoMBE
LARSON.
Prepared by Walter #. Hayhurst' for the
Hunterdon County Historical Society.
at its regular annual meeting OctO-
Der 2Ist, 1898.

The subject of this sketch was interest
ed in so many OF our local institutions,
and so many sketches have already APP
peared, that the present cannot be expect
ed to contain much that is new. And
the writer also conceives the object Ut an
article like this to be principally to per-
petuate in the records of the Society the
facts as they may be of interest or affect
the general history He has, therefore,
collected from any source that he has
found available, the facts as they have
appeared, principally in these other arti-
Giles, and thus gives a general credit with
out in each instance referring to the
source of his Information.
George Holcombe Larson, or as he was
long Familiarity known DIR. Larson,
claimed descent from one John Larson,
Danish noblemau whose property was
confiscated in his own country In 1865 for
some political offence, and came to this
country, settling upon large tract of
land on Long Island, one of whose sons,
James, afterwards settled in Hopewell
Township, Mercer Co., N. j., on land of
which the farm new occupied by Ralph
Eye Is part, and where he died in 1892.
This James wss the father Of Andrew,
who was the father of another Andrew,
and he the father of Benjamin, who mar
ried Hannah Ann, a daughter OF Capt.
Geo. Holcombe, and their son was George
Holcombe Larson, of whom we now
write. He was born 10 Delaware Town
ship. Hunterdon County, New Jersey,
January 4th, 1881, aud his boyhood was
all spent on his fathers farm. What we
learn OF his life here exhibits the same
characteristics for which he was distin-
guished He was not content with the
ordinary routine OF farm life but was
constantly seeking new directions in
which TO exercise his active mind, as well
as his hands. We learn that he was Of a
mechanical turn and constantly con-
structing toy water or wind mills and ma
chinery for them TO operate; he manu-
featured baskets, Indian fashion, which
he sold, aud during some building opera
| tons on the home farm, developed quite
proficiency as mason. His taste for
books ard study was also developed into
great fondness, and he went about his
work with a book generally in his peck.
ct, aud on one occ lsion when about sew
enteen years of age, having concluded
that he wanted a new book (Bonecastle Is
Mensuration) he saved up the money,
and without disclosing his intention,
started as usual with his brother Corne-
Illus for school, but before arriving diyid
cd the dinner in the basket, and instead
of going on, started to walk to Trenton,
TO buy the book, which he did, and got
home about ten O'Clock the same night,
having walked forty-six miles 10 accom-
plish his purpose,
On the 2nd day of December, 1851, he
left home, walking as far as New Bruins.
wick, N. j. and then by common con-
veyance, to enter the private school OF
George Beckwith, at New Haven, Conn,
who seems to have been quite mathe-
matician, and it was supposed that George
was studying to become a civil engineer
But 1t seems that he already had regu-
lar college course in contemplation, and
considered engineering, as he expressed
it, 'but small business at best-too
trifling" for him.
Iu November, 1862. he entered the Uni
versity of Lewisburg, Pa, (now Bucknell
University which he attended for two
years. He then also spent one year at
Madison University, at Hamilton, N. Y,
leaving in March, 1866. This change
seems TO have been made on the score of
economy, 'because the board was cheap
err" The University of Lewisburg after
wards conferred the degree Of A. NJ. upon
him. During all his time at school and
college, be was supported by his own
labor. 1t is said that while at New Hav-
en-, he worked at farming. At Lewisburg.
among other things. he dug cellar for
one of the professors, and at Hamilton be
exercised his knowledge as a mason on
some additions TO the College buildings
And during his summer vacation 10 1858
he taught the district school at what is
known as Van Dolah's school house,
where he seems to have been very sue.
cessful and given great satisfaction, to
found it in n neglected and disorganized
condition, before he left it was necessary
10 increase its seating capacity. About
the time he completed his college educa-
ton, he leased of his father tract of land
and set out what is said to have been the
first large peach orchard In this section OF
the country, from which he gathered his
first full crop in the year 1859.
In this year, the 9th day OF March,
1899, he married Sarah L., daughter OF
Caleb F. Fisher, of Ringoes, N. j., who
still survives him.
Iu the meantime, April, 1855, he com
menced the study of medicine in the Of
fice of Hon. Samuel Lilly, NJ. d., at Lam
bertville, N. j., and in October of the
same year matriculated in the Medical
Department of the University of Pennsyl-
vania at Philadelphia, and from which he
graduated an M. D., in March, 1868. He
commenced practice at Dolngton, Bucks
Co., Pa, almost Immediately, but in the
winter of 1859, he removed to Lambert
vile, N. j., where he continued in prac-
tice until the day OF his death and where
he is now succeeded by his only child,
Frank w. Larson, M. D.
During the many years of his practice
it was most extensive, not only in the
town but for many miles throughout the