OBITUARIES: Lars P. LARSON, Ettrick, Trempealeau Co., WI ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by Marilyn Morgan 10 March 2004 ************************************************************************ 1931 Unknown newspaper Lars P. Larson Dies; Resident Since 1861 Broke Farms in Beaver Creek Valley with Four-Yoke One of the Last Survivors of Families Who Sailed On the Nordlyse Lars P. Larson, Trempealeau Valley Pioneer, is dead. He passed on April 9 at the home of his son in the town of Ettrick. He was 88. Although until a few months ago the pioneer seemed rugged, the infirmities of age were more apparent during the winter, and for several weeks before the end it was plain that his remaining days were few. Funeral services held Saturday at the South Beaver Church were attended by several hundred people. The Rev. Johan Olson, pastor of the congregation gave the sermon and also touched upon the long life of his old parishioner. The pallbearers were six nephews – Harry and Elmer Ekern, William and Alfred Truax, Roy Ekern and Lee Olson. Lars P. Larson was born in Biri, Norway, Feb. 24, 1847. He was 10 when his parents turned their faces toward America. The Larsons with a number of other families who became Trempealeau county pioneers sailed on the Nordlyse, a most unseaworthy ship, on which 400 passengers had been crowded. The captain narrowly escaped prosecution when the ship arrived at Quebec several weeks later. Other families aboard the Nordlyse were the Ole Gilbertsons, Matt Scareth, Ole Semb and Louis Johnson. The Larson family first settled in Coon Valley. There they remained until 1861, when they set out for Trempealeau county with an ox team and covered wagon. They crossed Black River at Gordon’s Ferry, just above the site of the present Hunter bridge and then drove across Decora Prairie and over the hills to Trempealeau Valley, where they built a log cabin on a clearing. By this time the boy Lars was 14 and doing a man’s work. This was something he continued to do through most of his long life. He helped clear the farm, and also neighboring farms. When still in his ‘teens he was driving a four- yoke ox team ahead of a breaking plow, and as a youngster he hauled lumber from the Douglas mill at North Bend to build the first farm barn in the town of Ettrick, which went up on the Robert Cance farm. Hauling wheat to Trempealeau was another job in his youthful days. It was a two days trip with oxen from the Larson farm. Frequently the wheat haulers went in caravans, camping overnight. The hollow in the creek bottoms near the Salsman farm was a favorite campsite. At other times the caravan would rest along the road at the Old Four ‘Mile House and this wayside inn would accommodate the drivers. Lars remained on the homestead or worked out until 1871, when he married Miss Grace Smith. He bought his father’s interest in the place (now the Deutrich farm) and with his bride set up housekeeping. Three children were born to them. Mrs. Larson died sixteen years ago. Two of the children survive. These are Mrs. Lud Emerson, of North Bend, and a son George, of the town of Ettrick. Lars P. was grandfather to seventeen and great-grandfather to five. In the days of his youth Lars P. Larson was one of the best known men in Wisconsin pineries, where he passed many a winter. The pioneer delighted in his last years to tell experiences of the early days. His memory was remarkable. When he first saw Galesville there were only a few scattered buildings in what is now the business section. There were a number of stores and shops and a hotel in the flat. © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm