Born in Sogne, Norway, on September 1, 1841, a son of Lars and Karel (Bakke) Larson. Both resided on the Bakke farm in their native country. Mr. Larson and his father came to America in 1854, going to Minnesota in search of those opportunities of which they had heard so much in their native country. They spent the first winter there and in the spring of 1855 located in Winneshiek County, where he has resided ever since. On July 29, 1862, Mr. Larson was married to Miss Julia Kjornme, a native of Minnedahl, Norway, where she was born on February 22, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Larson became the parents of a family of twelve children. Ever since 1864, when he cast his first vote for Lincoln, he has remained true to the republican. Aside from political work he has ever interested himself in educational matters and has done much toward promoting the educational system of the county, while he has always taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the Lutheran church. Ever since 1867 Mr. Larson has held one or more offices. For eleven years he was township assessor and township clerk for about the same length of time, and for fourteen years he was township clerk under the old law. He was appointed and elected justice of the peace but did not qualify for the office. In 1879, he was elected to the county board of supervisors and served for six years or two terms. In 1885, yet higher honors came to him in his election to the state legislature as representative from Winneshiek County. He was reelected in 1887 and nominated for a third term but defeated in the election with the whole ticket as a democratic landslide overran the state in 1889 and Governor Boise was elected.

Born in Sogne, Norway, on September 1, 1841, a son of Lars and Karel (Bakke) Larson. Both resided on the Bakke farm in their native country. Mr. Larson and his father came to America in 1854, going to Minnesota in search of those opportunities of which they had heard so much in their native country. They spent the first winter there and in the spring of 1855 located in Winneshiek County, where he has resided ever since. On July 29, 1862, Mr. Larson was married to Miss Julia Kjornme, a native of Minnedahl, Norway, where she was born on February 22, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Larson became the parents of a family of twelve children. Ever since 1864, when he cast his first vote for Lincoln, he has remained true to the republican. Aside from political work he has ever interested himself in educational matters and has done much toward promoting the educational system of the county, while he has always taken an active and helpful interest in the work of the Lutheran church. Ever since 1867 Mr. Larson has held one or more offices. For eleven years he was township assessor and township clerk for about the same length of time, and for fourteen years he was township clerk under the old law. He was appointed and elected justice of the peace but did not qualify for the office. In 1879, he was elected to the county board of supervisors and served for six years or two terms. In 1885, yet higher honors came to him in his election to the state legislature as representative from Winneshiek County. He was reelected in 1887 and nominated for a third term but defeated in the election with the whole ticket as a democratic landslide overran the state in 1889 and Governor Boise was elected.