Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-03-16
DEATHS uNRELENTING HAND

Again Appears, and Our Late District
Attorney. John $. larson. is Taken
From Us in the Commencement of His
Usefulness-Was Young and of Bril-
liant Attachments.
A dispatch received by his law partner,
Jackson Silbaugh, last Friday morning,
announced the peinfu' aews of the death
at San Bernareiuo, Cal, of Dis riot
Attorney John s. Larson, which occurred
the previous evening. That there was
universal and deep sorrow over the an-
nouncement among all classes of co
pie tells the high esteem in which our
young friend was held in the community
Although citizen of this city ard
county for less than five years, John
Larson had endeared himself to the
people Unassuming, congenial, public
spirited and of brilliant talents, his good
nature and gh character were readily
recognized and appreciated. 1t is the
saddest duty of an editors life to pen
the words of farewell to such as he.
In the morning of life and manhood
John S. Larson was cut down. His
future was full of possibilities for USE
fulness and good works among his fell
lows. OF his life we know little except
that it had been full of struggles and
priyations and a will to reach the coveted
goal "a good education on which to
build his professional and business
career. This he accomplished. He was
for the worlds battle, but it
came by overwork aud at the sacrifice
of health. The trite admonition. MAN
God disposes," is true in his
case, and he has gone to just reward.
Mr.. Larson was born in Norway
twenty eight years ago, removing to the
United States, with his parents, when a
mere child. They lived in Trempealeau
county. Besides the common schools,
John availed himself of the advantages
of Gale college, at Galesville, from which,
we believe, he graduated. He entered
the state university anu graduated with
the law class of that institution in 1898,
coming immediately to Viroqua and
himself 10 the practice of his
profession with Jackson Silbsugh, with
whom he held close personal as we'll as
business relations, and who mourns his
death almost as q brother. Mr.. Larson
was chosen district attorney at the last
Ee was out of health, but
manfully to perform his official
duties till December last, when, on the
advice of friends and physicians, he went
to California in hopes of staying the
ravages of consumption, which he real
lied was sapping his vitality. The
letter from Fred G. Finkle,
who formerly lived here, tells the sad
story and finale:
SAN BERNARDINo. CAL, March H. 1898.
FRIEND SILBAUGH:-As you have already
learned from The telegram sent you, your
business partner, i. )hn :. Larson, is dead.
He died last evening at q O'Clock. For several
days prior to his death he was unable to say
anything, being i'll such weak condition
that his death was expected at any moment.
watch of a nurse, and his every want care
fully attended to, so that his last days were
as peaceful and quiet as could be. 1t is my
opinion that he did not suffer much, if any,
pain during his last illness, as he always
seemed to be contented and did not complain
in the least He was fully conscious up to
the very last, and although unable to con-
verse with any one, he always recogr zed
father, mother, Mrs. Finkle and myself with |
a pleased smile when we came into his room. |
Cow that all is over | deem j. my duty to
v 70 you full history of Mr.. Larsons ca SO |
SINCE he came here. As you probably know, |
before he came he asked fathers advice on |
the matter. When father received his letter
of inquiry he at once brought it to me and |
requested me to assist him in making "a suit !
able reply. Together we advised him to try /
this climate. But had we known of his con- |
ri, fiNrln ugAEalF1
been directly opposite to what it was. The |
fact is, we were lead to believe from his letter
that he was only in the very first stage of
phthisis, and strong enough to |
stand fair chance of recovery in this eli |
mate, if he should come here and engage in |
some out-of-dOOr occupation.
The day of his arrival could see that he |
was In u very weak and emaciated condition. |
but did no. even then realize that he was so |
far gone, as attributed his weakness largely |
to fatigue from the long journey. He after
wards told me that he was so weak when he |
arrived at Los Angeles, that he was COM |
PEELED to stay there for day or two and rest
before he came on here: Then saw that he
was in a very bad condition, but did not inti-
mate to him that | thought so. even when
could see him failing every day, as | know
The Importance of a cheerful frame of mind |
him up and create hone in his mind, but |
think he relied his own condition then nearly |
rs we'll as we did, and it was plain TO see his
utter helplessness. Father took him out |
both to give him exercise and to take his |
thoughts from his ailmont. but it seemed to
have no effect on him aud he was very gloomy |
md Respondent. With the exception of |
4 few days the weather was al o favorable,
and had Ii 8, been in the early lagos l think
be would have improved rapid ~.
About a month since he became so ill that |
il was thought best to have u doctor care for
him, and we sent him to the best physician
mere. After examining him the doctor told |
me that he could not live more than few |
weeks, as his stomach was in such Il condition |
that digestion was almost impossible 1t |
seems that the dread disease had attacked |
The bowels, and he had turbulosis of the |
stomach even more severely than of the |
lungs. From this time on he failed very rap
idly, a. he could get no benefit of his food |
and the last week he was practically lie 1t |
alive by means of stimulants and careful |
nursing.
don't think there is anything further to |
be said Mt this time and have written more |
than feel like doing as ! must confess that
In spite of my short acquaintance | hal
formed a strong friend hip and respect for
Mr.. Larson and his many good qualities and /
feel Il true and prJtound sorrow to think that |
his young life, SO full of promise and hope but |
IL short time since, should so soon be ende d. |
| can only say in conclusion that It is a pleas
ure to me to think that my people and were |
able to be with him and assist him in his last |
illness, when he was so far from his own fam |
lily and friends, and if you have the oppor- |
tunity extend to all such my heartfelt sym
pathy. Very truly yours,