Edward Larson Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 993-994

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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EDWARD LARSON. No foreign element has become a more important part in 
our American citizenship than that furnished by Norway. The emigrants 
from that land have brought with them to the new world the stability, 
enterprise and perseverance characteristic of their people, and have 
fused these qualities with the progressiveness and indomitable spirit 
of the west. Mr. Larson is a worthy representative of this class, and 
is today one of the leading merchants of Artesian, South Dakota. 

He was born in Norway, in 1862, and is the youngest in a family of five 
children, whose parents were Lars and Kari Larson. He was reared upon a 
farm in his native land, and all the education he has acquired since 
attaining his fifteenth year has been through his own efforts and 
energy. During his boyhood he always had a desire to become a merchant, 
and in play with other children was always a storekeeper. 

In 1880, Mr. Larson accompanied his parents and the other members of 
the family on their emigration to America, and during the next few 
years he was variously employed in different parts of the country, 
first working as a farm hand in Minnesota for one year. In 1881 he 
first came to what is now Sanborn county, South Dakota, stopping at 
Denton Postoffice. In the summer of that year he worked on a farm near 
Sioux Falls, this state, and in 1882 was engaged in railroad work, 
first in Iowa and later in Manitoba, where he assisted in the 
construction of the Canadian Pacific railroad. During this time he 
experienced more hardships and privations than had ever before fallen 
to his lot, as he had to sleep on the ground in all kinds of weather 
and work in the rain. In the fall of 1882 he went to Minneapolis, and 
five days after his arrival secured a position as clerk in a grocery 
store, where he remained for two years. At the end of that time he came 
to Diana, now Artesian, South Dakota, to visit relatives, who persuaded 
him to remain here, and for three years he worked for his brother. In 
1887 he purchased a tract of land, on which he erected a house, 10 x 12 
feet, and lived there alone for one year. 

Mr. Larson was then married, the lady of his choice being Miss Bell 
Figland, who was born in this country and reared upon a farm. They now 
have six children, as follows: Lorence, Alice, Elvera, Anna, Alfred and 
William. Upon his marriage our subject enlarged his house and began 
life in earnest as an agriculturist. For two years he met with 
excellent success, but during the following two years his crops were 
total failures and he was forced to borrow the seed needed for 
planting, while he used hay and cow chips as fuel. In order to get food 
for his family he worked with a threshing machine. At length prosperity 
smiled upon his efforts and he is now the owner of a fine farm of three 
hundred and twenty acres, of which two hundred acres are under 
cultivation, and upon the place is an artesian well, good buildings and 
other improvements. Leaving his farm in 1896 he removed to Artesian and 
established a general store. Two years later he removed to his present 
location and enlarged his stock, so that he now has one of the best 
stores in town. 

On the 9th of August, 1898, his little son, nine years old, hitched up 
a team of horses which ran away with him. In passing the store Mr. 
Larson saw that the boy was vainly endeavoring to stop them, and ran to 
his assistance, but was knocked down and run over, breaking his right 
arm. He was unconscious for some time and it was two months before he 
recovered from his injuries. Since casting his first presidential vote 
he has been a supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and 
has taken quite an active and influential part in local politics. In 
1898 he was the nominee of his party for the office of register of 
deeds for Sanborn county. In religious faith he is a Lutheran.