Berger Larson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 882-885 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				BERGER LARSON. 

	Berger Larson, a progressive and prosperous agriculturist of 
Benton township, Minnehaha county, is the owner of a highly improved 
and valuable farm comprising two hundred and sixty acres. His birth 
occurred in Sweden on the 13th of May, 1868, his parents being Lars and 
Annie Nelson. The father, who followed farming throughout his active 
business career, has passed away, but the mother still survives. 

	In the acquirement of an education Berger Larson attended the 
public schools of his native land and subsequently assisted his father 
in the work of the home farm until he had attained his majority. In 
1889, desiring to test the truth of the favorable reports which had 
reached him concerning the advantages of the new world, he crossed the 
Atlantic to the United States and made his way to Wisconsin, whence he 
later came to South Dakota. In this state he was employed as a farm 
hand for seven years and on the expiration of that period had 
accumulated sufficient capital to purchase land of his own, coming into 
possession of his present place of two hundred and sixty acres in 
Benton township, Minnehaha county. He has equipped the property with 
all modern improvements, has installed a lighting plant throughout and 
utilizes the latest farm machinery in the cultivation of the fields. In 
connection with the production of cereals he also devotes considerable 
attention to stock, feeding forty-five head of cattle, fourteen head of 
horses and one hundred head of hogs. He is likewise a stockholder in 
the Crooks Lumber Company. From comparatively humble beginnings he has 
worked his way steadily upward in the business world until he is now 
numbered among the substantial and representative agriculturists of his 
community, owning an excellent farm and attractive home. 

	On the 21st of October, 1902, Mr. Larson was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Matilda Johnson, a daughter of Samuel and Nettie Johnson of 
Benton township. She first married August Johnson, who died in Benton 
township in 1902. By that union she had six children: Clayth, a farmer 
of Benton township; David, who is also engaged in farming; May, the 
wife of Carl Holmberg, of Benton township; and Helma, Roderick and Max, 
all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Larson now have two children: Mildred, who is 
attending school; and Fern. 

	Mr. Larson gives his political allegiance to the republican party 
and has served in the capacity of school director. In religious faith 
he is a Lutheran, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern 
Woodmen of America. His life has been active, useful and upright and 
his many excellent qualities of mind and character have gained him a 
wide circle of friends.