Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/1215

 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY 1053 berman of German parentage. He died in 1886. The mother was of English parentage and died in 1891. Lars E. Larson has served as chairman of the town of Min- neola three years, as supervisor six years, as school director of District No. 92 twelve years, and as clerk of the school board twelve years. He has been treasurer of the Minneola Norwegian Lutheran Church and Parochial School twenty-five years and is a member of the building committee of the church. He is also a director in the elevator and creamery companies. Mr. Larson was born in Norway August 8, 1846, son of Elling and Solva (Peterson) Larson, Avho came to America in 1856, located in Dane county, Wisconsin, until 1860. In that year they came to this county and located in Belle Greek township, where the father purchased 160 acres of land, which he broke and improved, erect- ing several buildings and establishing a home. Father and mother are both deceased. Lars E. was trained in the schools of Norway and for a short time after his arrival in America at- tended the schools in the neighborhood of his parents' farm. He remained on the home farm until 1868, when he purchased 80 acres in Minneola township, to which he later added 120 acres, making in all 200 acres. He built a house and barn (personally superintending the building, doing considerable of the work him- self), improved the land and carried on general farming for many years. In late years he has rented his farm. He was mar- ried, December 30, 1868, to B. Furan, daughter of John and Ingerburg Furan, natives of Norway who came to America in 1865, located in Belle Greek, took up 160 acres and there remained until 1870, when they sold out and moved to Murray county, this state, where they purchased 170 acres. They then moved to Tracy Lyon county, and still later to Canby, Yellow Medicine county, where the father died in 1899. The mother is still living. Mrs. Larson died March 28, 1909. Michael Doyle is one of the grand old men of Goodhue county, his name and that of his father and brothers being inseparably connected with the early history of Belle Creek. A thorough Prohibitionist in politics, he has been county commissioner six years, representative two different times, town clerk fourteen years, chairman of supervisors one term, constable two years, clerk of school district No. 41 eight years, and internal revenue collector at St. Paul four years, having also served on many im- portant Democratic and Prohibitionist county and state commit- tees. Since 1890 he has been secretary of the County Alliance; he is a prominent member of the Old Settlers' Associations of the county and state, and for many years was master of the Grange. He also belongs to McKinley Post, G. A. R., at Gannon Falls. Mr. Doyle was born in Troy, N. Y., April 29, 1837, and after