Hans Larson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1218, 1221 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HANS LARSON. 

	Hans Larson, who for the past twelve years has resided on his 
farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 10 and 11, Split Rock 
township, Minnehaha county, has for twenty-three years devoted his 
attention to both agricultural pursuits and carpentering. His birth 
occurred in Norway on the 10th of August, 1857, his parents being Lars 
and Christina Hanson, who emigrated to the United States in 1869 and 
took up their abode in Chicago, Illinois. The father was for many years 
a ship's carpenter and sailed the high seas for over thirty years, 
touching at all principal ports of the world. After coming to this 
country he worked at carpentering in Chicago for three years and in 
1872 made his way to Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, where he took up a 
homestead. In 1882 he came to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he 
worked at his trade for about three years, on the expiration of which 
period he went to North Dakota and preempted a quarter section of land 
in Dickey county, residing thereon for twelve years. Subsequently he 
returned to Sioux Falls and here spent the remainder of his life, 
passing away in 1910 at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother of 
our subject died two years later, at the age of seventy-nine, and was 
buried on the same day of the month on which her husband passed away- 
April 3d. 

	Hans Larson, who was a youth of twelve years when he accompanied 
his parents on their emigration to the new world, was reared at home 
and acquired a limited education in the common schools. At an early age 
he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade and this has been 
his life's occupation. He learned his trade in Chicago and in 1878 came 
to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Soon afterward he took up a homestead and 
a tree claim in Buffalo township, Minnehaha county, but held it for 
only a short time and then sold his relinquishment on both claims and 
continued his trade in Sioux Falls. For the past twenty-three years, 
however, he has combined farming with carpentering and now owns one 
hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 10 and 11, Split Rock 
township, on which he has made his home during the past twelve years. 
In 1912 his two sons undertook the operation of the farm. Mr. Larson is 
a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Brandon and has long 
been numbered among the enterprising, representative and successful 
citizens of his community. 

	On the 14th of December, 1880, Mr. Larson was united in marriage 
to Miss Gertrude Qualley, of Sioux Falls, who is a native of Norway. To 
them have been born six children, four of whom survive, as follows: 
Arthur and Louis, who operate the home farm; Louisa, who is the wife of 
Evan Lommen, of Lincoln county, South Dakota; and Hilda, who gave her 
hand in marriage to Garfield Hanson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

	Mr. Larson is a member of the board of trustees of the 
Congregational church, to which his wife also belongs. The period of 
his residence in Minnehaha county covers thirty-seven years and he has 
won an extensive circle of friends here, for his life has been upright 
and honorable in all relations.