Elizabeth ANDERSON/LARSON (*LARSEN)

“Smith County Pioneer “ Newspaper

November 15^th, 1951

Aged Athol Lady Taken By Death Mrs. Elizabeth *Larson Was Native of Denmark

Elizabeth Anderson was born in Smety, Denmark July 12^th, 1859 and died at the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center (Kansas), November 10^th, 1951 at the age of 92 years.

She came to the United States at the age of six years with her parents. They settled in Savannah, Illinois were she met and married Samuel Christian Larson in 1876.

To this union were born 10 children. Of these children there remains to mourn the loss of their beloved mother, one daughter, Mrs. Bolettie Kuhlman of Athol; and two sons, John H. *Larson of Smith Center and Lawrence A. *Larson of Mt. Vernon, Missouri. There also remain 19 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Also surviving are; one sister Mrs. Lillie  (*Tillie) Thomas of gibbon, Nebraska; two brothers, William Anderson of Shelton, Nebraska, and John Anderson of Mill City, Oregon, and three half-sisters, Jennie, Nellie and Anne, numerous other relatives and a host of friends.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, November 13^th from the Congressional Church in Athol, with Mrs. *Larson’s former pastor, Rev. C.G. Nelson, in charge. Burial was in Cedar Cemetery.

Samuel LARSEN

“Smith County Pioneer “ Newspaper

November 23^rd, 1933

Athol Stalwarts Gone, Both Yielded to the Inevitable on the Same Day.

Athol, and the entire community surrounding is in sorrow over the deaths last Friday of two of its sterling, stalwart citizens, Samuel Larsen and Walter Panter. Both men were of high ideals and spotless character and loved and highly respected by all who knew them. Mr. Larson died shortly after an abdominal surgical operation had been preformed to relieve him, while Mr. Panter’s death was preceded by a gradual decline in health for some time. The biographical sketches of the two (*only Samuel’s) will be found below.

Samuel LARSEN *(LARSON)

Samuel Christian LARSEN (*LARSON) was born in Denmark, Europe, April 24^th, 1856 died in Smith Center; Kansas November 18^th, 1933 aged 77 years 6 months and 24 days. He came to America at the age of 17 and settled in Illinois. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Anderson February 23^rd, 1877 at Savannah, Illinois. To this union were born 9 children, 6 sons: John, Elmer, John Henry, Alfred Samuel, Harry and Lawrence; three daughters; Violette *(Bolettie), Alma and Phoebe. Four children, John, Elmer, Alma, and Phoebe preceded their father to the beyond. He leaves to mourn his departure his wife Elizabeth, Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Larson and Mrs. D.F. Kuhlman of Athol; Mr. & Mrs. John *Larson of Smith Center: Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. *Larson and Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence *Larson of Goodland, Kansas, 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; two sisters Mrs. Marcus Neilson of Solvang, California and Mrs. Mary Bolske of Los Angeles, California and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Larson brought his wife and two children to Kansas in 1884, taking a homestead south of Athol. In 1907 he moved into Athol and engaged in business. In 1910 he bought a half section of land near Goodland, Kansas, and moving there farmed for 12 years. He again returned to Athol in 1922 where he had since lived.

Mr. Larson, coming alone to America, as a mere boy, liked the country so well that his father’s family came also. He went through all of the loneliness, joys and sorrow of those entering a strange land with an unknown language. Such experiences build strong character. He was an industrious citizen, a good businessman and an affectionate father.

As a child Mr. Larson was trained and confirmed in the Danish Lutheran church. He joined the Athol Congregational Church in 1909 of which he was a member at the time of his death. He greatly enjoyed sacred music, and listened to the Gospel Singers over the radio even during his last illness.

Service was conducted by the Congressional Church by his pastor, Rev. C.G. Nelson, Monday afternoon at two o’clock. Interment was in the Cedar Cemetery.