Morris tribune., 1905-03-11
SAMUEL LARSON DEAD.
One of the First Business Men Here
and Prominent Man in
Public Affairs.

est settlers OF Stevens CouuIy, ulou
last Tuesday afternoon between and
6 o'clock. He had been failing IN
heath since Christmas but was able
tn he about and look after his bust
ness until week before, when he
went to bed and ali that medical aid
could do was done for hin's His
death was caused by general col
lapse.
MIR, Larson has held various Offices
for the county and city and has also
been prominent in politics and public
ffaics. He was one of the oldest
members of the K 2. and A o . W
lodges and has always been foremost
N helping to build up those orders.
We publish the following from the
Biographical Album of Pope and
Stevens counties which gives Mr..
Larson's history from the time he LETT
Norway until the time the book was
published, about thirteen years ago:
Samuel Larson, one of the Oldest
hns,ness men of Morris, came here
in July, 1871, in the first passenger
coach, previous to this, in 1870, he
had been here. and again in the
spring of 1871. While here on the
latter visit, he determined to locate
and accordingly returned to Chicago
for stock of goods and came back
to Morris. On his arrival he put up
a rough shanty, in which he COM
menced business and at the same
time began the erection OF suitable
store building. This was the second
store in the Young village, Wilkins q
Wolff having opened their establlh-
ment some four or five weeks previous
In company with Mr.. Larson was
Mr.. N. A. Nilsson, who was his
partner up until about ten years ago.
when Mr.. Nilsson withdrew his IN
terest an Mr.. Larson continued the
business alone, In their first store
they did business for some three
wears. and then moved to his pre-
sent location. November 23, 1882,
their store with it's contents were
consumed by fire, with a loss TO
them of between $4,000, aud ST.
600, but undismayed within three
weeks they opened again in rented
building, and the following spring
began the erection of their present
building into which they moved
upon it's completion.
Mr.. Larson hes been prominently
Identified with the official life OF the
county since coming here. He was
the first county treasurer, having
been elected to that position at the
time of the organization of the county
in 1871, and held that office for eight
wears. In 1884 he was elected to
the Office of clerk of the district
court. He has also served number
of terms as a member of the village
council and on the school board, and
has given much time and thought to
the cause of education. In 1882 he
was nominated for representative IN
the Legislature by the republican
party, but was defeated by very
small majority, as there was one
democratic, and two republican
candidates in the field, thereby
dividing the republican vote. Mr..
Larson has been treasurer of both
the county agricultural society and
the Morris fire company.
Samuel Larson is native of
Norway, and was born near the town
of Skien, November %, 1913. When
he was but five years old he was
brought by his parents, Lars and
VuDl1u lMdIl0 LdlSOa3 w ULO ~ h1IS0
States. The family settled in Mani
towoc county, Wisconsin, where he
was reared. He remained with his
father and mother until 1852, after
which he was employed on farm
for two years. From 1864 until 1870
he was engaged as a sailor on the
lakes, and then in company with N.
A Nilsson, who was also a sailor,
came to Morris, where he has resided
ever since.
Mr.. Larson was united in marrrge,
December 30, 1870. with Miss Sina
Anderson, and they have family OF
six children, Lille A., now Ms. E. j.
Lehman; Marie L., now Mrs. Qualley;
Lewis M, William T.; Sophia A. and
Cora E In addition to the above