The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-07-28
OBITUARY

| The following is from a paper
published at Madison, Mimi, relative
10 a former resident OF Blue Earth
county:
H. A. Larson passed away at his
home in this city on Friday after.
noon, June %, at four o'clock, after
a long illness. He had been ailing
for about two years, when he had
his first stroke Of apoplexy, and be-
lore his death had perhaps as many
as twenty similar strokes. For the
last ten days preceding his death he
mad been confined to his bed and was
practically helpless.
Funeral services were held at the
home and in the Ness Lutheran
church Tuesday afternoon, RevA J.
William Carlson officiating, and the
large church was packed to its ut
most capacity with people who ga
thered to pay their last tribute of
love and respect to Mr.. Larson, who
enjoyed a very wide acquaintance
throughout this section of the state.
The pallbearers were his two sons,
Oscar ]. Larson of Marietta, M. Al
fred Larson of this city, o. G. Dale,
e. o.. Querna, ]. R. Swami and Tho
mas Nelson.
Hans A. Larson was born in
Norway May "a, 1849, and was the
son of Ole and Maren 0saacsen)
Larson. When he was four years old
his parents left their native land and
came TO America, settling in Fayette
county, Iowa, being among the pio-
neers of that section. In 1866 they
followed the tide of immigration then
starting toward Minnesota, and
came to Blue Earth County where
the parents spent the remainder of
their lives, the father dying in 1890
and the mother in 1908.
H. L. Larson received his educa-
ton in the public schools of Iowa
and Minnesota, and in 1873 he star
ted out for himself and came to the
village of Lac qui Parle, where he
established general store in com
panyi with the late Philip Lortz.
From the very start this business
venture was a success, although they
saw some very hard times in the
early days of the county, when it
was. necessary to do very extensive
credit business. In 1874 he was unit
ed In marriage to Gertrude Johnson
and established a home at Lac qui
Parle, where he continued to live un-
til in 1885, when Madison had been
established. During his residence in
Lac qui Parie he served as county
treasurer, but the duties of that Of
nee then did not take great deal Of
his time in those days.
He established general store
In Madison and continued in bust
ness here, in later years being asso-
clated with his two sons. The bust
ness here was a success and was
continued until 1911, when the store
was sold. Since that time Mr.. Larson
had not engaged in active business,
but his time was taken up with his
large interests.
Twice his stores were DESTROYED
by hre-in Lac qui Parle in the early
eighties, and later in Madison. The
stores were rebuilt each time on a
larger scale than before.
Mr.. Larson took a keen interest
in civic Affairs and served as city
treasurer, councilman and as a
member Of the school board for
several years.
HE travelled extensively ana
made three trips to the old coun-
tries, visiting his native land, the
Holy Land, Africa and Asia He al
so travelled considerably in this
country. - -
He is survived by his wife, two
sons, Oscar J. of Marietta, NJ. Alfred
of Madison, two brothers, Martin
Larson of Baxter, Ole Larson OF
Bruno, Minnesota, two sisters, Mrs.
Anna Hanson of Appleton and Mrs.
Lucy Thompson of Minneapolis. All
were present at the funeral.
Mr.. Larson was a public spirited
citizen, always willing to do his
share for the upbuilding of the com
munity. of which he was a part