Bio of LARSON, Oscar E., Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 518-521
O. E. LARSON (Oscar E. Larson)
The hardships of an immigrant, a stranger in a strange land, hampered by his
inability to speak the English language, patient search for a congenial and
remunerative occupation, disappointment when at last success seemed at hand, the
final triumph over all these obstacles-from such materials are written the life
history of O. E. Larson of No. 2301 Central avenue Northeast, Minneapolis. Mr.
Larson is the son of Lars and Anna (Peterson) Larson. He was born in Mora,
Dalarna, Sweden, and there he grew to manhood, receiving a good liberal
education that enabled him to follow the occupation of schoolmaster. After
several years of teaching he decided to seek the greater opportunities to be
found in America, and accordingly, in 1879, he crossed the Atlantic, and on
October 18, 1881, first came to this city.
In Sweden O. E. Larson had learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet worker, in
addition to being a school teacher, and now he turned to it for a means of
earning a living in the new country. In this connection he went into the woods
for the Staples Lumber Company of Stillwater, Minnesota, and there he had the
good fortune to become friends with a school teacher who, during the next four
years, helped him to master the English language. He then returned to
Minneapolis, where he soon had good reason to doubt the truth of the old
proverb: "Clothes do not make the man." Wearing his work-stained overalls, he
applied at Frazer & Sheppard's for work, but was rejected. Going home, he
shaved, donned his best suit, and returned to the same firm, where he was hired
at once. After working there a year he went to Taylor & Madison, and later to
Wheat & Reynolds, with whom he remained for nine years. At the end of that
period he started a carpentry and cabinet-working shop with a partner, and was
doing well when a fire destroyed their entire establishment.
Again faced by the necessity of beginning at the bottom, Mr. Larson started out
to find work and secured employment in the undertaking establishment of a Mr.
Lindquist, who engaged him to build hearses. From this position he eventually
launched into the undertaking business. He went to the University of Minnesota,
and took a course that enabled him to pass the examinations for an undertaker's
license. With this preparation he started his own business in 1901. He now has a
completely equipped, modern establishment at No. 2311 Central avenue Northeast,
and is reaping a generous reward for his long years of patient effort.
In Scandia, Minnesota, Mr. Larson was married to Miss Louise Anderson, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Anderson, who were married in Minnesota in the territorial
days. Mr. and Mrs. Larson have three daughters: Lilly, who is now the wife of
Mr. Albert I. Osborne, the superintendent of schools at Deer Creek; Myrtle, and
Edith.
As members of the Baptist church Mr. and Mrs. Larson take an active part in all
of its work. Mrs. Larson's father helped to organize the first Baptist church of
St. Paul, while her mother was the first person to be baptized in that church by
immersion. Mr. Larson is especially interested in the work of the Sunday school,
which he considers of incalculable value in giving the younger generation a
sound Christian training. He had the honor of being a delegate from Minnesota to
the great International Sunday School convention in Zurich, Switzerland, in
1913. A man of sound character and good principles, Mr. Larson is held in high
esteem by all of his associates who find in his life an example worthy of
emulation.