Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-04-13

Prominent, Citizen of Minnesota
and Well Known Figure Among
Norwegians in America Is No
More
STATE SENATOR EIGHT YEARS
An eventful and Busy Life.
Funeral Attended by Many
Dignitaries.

Dignitaries.
Hon. L. o. Thorpe, widely known
citizen Of Willmar, passed from this
life last Thursday morning, April Z,
at six o'clock He had been ailing for
two years. A year ago he underwent
an operation for appendicitis. He con-
tinued, however, in the numerous ac-
tivities with which he was connected,
and was at his Office in the Kandi-
yohi County Bank quite regularly. His
physical ailment was diagnosed as
cancer Of the stomach and on the
advice of specialists he submitted to
an operation April 5. It was found,
however, that the malady had made
such progress that it was useless to
proceed with the operation. The news
great shock to the people of the COM
munity.
Senator's Thorpe's life was closely
identified with the interests OF the
city from it's early days, with the
County, with the State, and with his
Church. His was a busy and useful
life
Lars Olson Thorpe was born in
Hardanger, Norway, on Christmas
Eve, Dec "a, 1847, thus attaining the
age of 70 years, months and 13
To- Il: fofh Ciy "
years of age. At sixteen, he made
made his way to America, locating
in a Norwegian settlement at Jeffer-
son Prairie, Wis. In March, 1865, he
came to Winona County, Minnesota.
In the fall he attended Luther College
at Decorah, Iowa. He was taken i'll,
and on recovery taught Norwegian
school, In the spring of 1857 he
made a trip up through Central Min
nesota passing thru this county. At
the end of four years in America, he
returned for visit to his mother in
Norway, having promised her to do
so when he left In the following
spring he was back in the States. He
worked at railroad grading work in
Meeker County, and in the fall OF
1869 he came to Kandiyohi County,
filing on homestead in Sec. s, Dovre
township. Later he abandoned this
and went to Minneapolis to learn the
printers trade. In 1871 he came to
Kandiyohi station and worked as a
typo on the Kandiyohi Reveille, pub
Ished by A. J. Clark. When the
County seat was moved to Willmar,
the Reveille suspended publication
and Mr. Thorpe went back to Dovre
and bought a claim from John T. Fla
debo, where he farmed four years. He
was also postmaster at the post office
of Dovre while there and served as
Town clerk and justice.
In the fall of 1875 Mr. Thorpe was
elected to the office of Register OF
Deeds of Kandiyohi county, assuming
the Office in January, 1875.
At that time he moved to Willmal
and here resided until his death. Ir
1877 he was reelected, and again ir
1879 he was chosen for the office. Or
the first day of May, 1881, he was
chosen cashier Of the newly organized
Kandiyohi County Bank, and assumed
the new duties at once engaging
deputy to serve out the unexpired tern
in the court house.
In 1884 Mr.. Thorpe was one Of thu
Republican Presidential electors TO
the state of Minnesota. In 1894 NJ
was elected State Senator, serVln|
one term. He was elected TO ina
office again in 1902, serving in tina
capacity until 1908. In 1904 he wa
one of the delegates from the Seventh
Congressional district to the Republ]
can national convention.
Mr.. Thorpe continued to serve a
cashier of the Kandiyohi County Ban]
until June /, 1914, thirty-three years
During the last seven years ne ma
served the bank as Vice President an
Director, with an office in the banf
He was also President Of the Pennoc
State Bank.
In village and city affairs Mr.. Tho1
ne has taken his share OF the publ
work entailed in the various activitle
thruout his busy life at Willmar. A
the time of his death he was the Pre
sident of the Public Library Board an
was President of the Charter Commi'
sion which drafted the sixteen ament
ments which we're adopted by tn
people last week.
In educational work Mr.. Thorpe wa
active. He was the President OF tn
Willmar Seminary board thruout it
existence of 3S years, contributin
much money as we'll as giving hi
best efforts in the severe tinancl;
struggle oft-times required to kee
the school going. He also served q
member of the City Board of Educatio
for a time, and all the schools mail
tanned by his church denominatlo
we're objects Of his good will.
The late Senator Thorpe was vel
prominent among Americans OF No
wegian extraction everywhere, toe
part in their activities and among the
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