The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-05-17
Former Lake Captain and
Ship Builder Died at
Home of Daughter.
WON HONOR MEDAL
Was Former Member of the
Wisconsin Legislature From
Marinette County.

Captain James Larsen, aged 68 years
and for nearly half a century prom
inently associated with ship-building
and lake transportation on Lake Mich
gan, died at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. E. H. Eliason, 587 North Maple
wood avenue, on Saturday. Captain
Larsen had spent much of his life at
Marinette, but he had lived in Keno
sha since last September when he
came to the city to make his home
with his daughter.
During his long life in Wisconsin
he had been prominently connected
with the business and political life of
the state He was for some time a
member of the Wisconsin legislature
and.as an assemblyman from Marinette
county he had part in the framing Of
some of the important legislation of
fifteen years ago in Wisconsin. He
was widely known in all the ports
of Wisconsin and Michigan as he had
sailed the lakes in charge of his own
vessels for many years.
Was Native of Denmark.
Captain James Larsen was native
of Denmark He was born May %,
1856 and he came to this country when
he was twelve years of age and located
at Racine. There he started his life
as sailor on the lakes. Later on he
was a member of the Racine crew of
life savers and later in life his ex-
perience as a saver of lives won for
him medal of honor given him by
the United States government.
In 1871 when the Alpena storm swept
the lakes, Captain Larsen fisked his
life to save the lives of others and the
citation of honor given to him by the
government declared that he saved
the lives of seven persons. His medal
of honor was one of the proudest pos
sessions of Captain Larsen.
Built Many Ships.
life at Marinette where he was widely
known as a ship builder and a political
leader. He was one of the pioneers of
the Socialist party in Wisconsin and
he was elected to the assembly in the
Marinette district as a non-partisan
candidate. He served for four years
in the lower house Of the legislature
completing his service in the summer
of 1918. Shortly after he left the leg
islature he retired from active work.
Captain Larsen built the schooners
Defiance" and Reliance" which he
sailed on the lakes for a number of
years and they are still in service in
the lake carrying trade. He also built
the tug "Pugh" which is now in the
Kenosha harbor and the Lydia" which
sails out of Racine as her home port.
/ FavOrite of Children.
Captain Larsen was great favorite
of the children of Marinette and for
several years he had served as Santa
Claus to the children Of that city. His
long beard and his kindly face made
him an ideal portrayer ofs the role of
the patron of childhood.
The deceased is survived by five
children, Mrs. Carrie Passage, of Keno
sha, who is now critically i'll at St.
GATHERINGS hospital; Mrs. E. H. Ella
son, of Kenosha; Captain ]. L. Larsen
and Andrew Larsen, Of Green Bay; and
/. H. Larsen, of Marinette.
The funeral services will be held
at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon at
Forest Home chapel in Milwaukee after
which the remains will be cremated.
The ashes will be taken to Fish
Creek for interment in the family
plot there.