Junius Martin Larsson

Junius Martin Larson Written by Louise L. Peterson- Daughter

My father, Junius Martin Larson, was born in Kopinge, Sweden, 2nd of June 1856, to Martin Larsson and Ingrid Nordstrom. His mother was born 6th of March 1821 in Halmstad, Sweden, and died of “consumption” 28th of March 1872 in Copenhagen, Denmark when Junius Martin was sixteen years old. His Father was born in Skivarp, Malmohus, Sweden, 15th of July 1822. I received a letter from Ephraim Larson of Ririe, Idaho, who I find is the son of Eric, who is the brother of Junius Martin Larson. He says the Larson family came to the United States as Mormon emigrants. I found on a film in the genealogical library in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Martin Larson, age 56, a farmer from the Skane, Conference and Hannah Larson age 50, sailed on the ship “Wisconsin” in 1873. Also John Larson, from the Goteborg, Conference. I find no mention of the other members of the family. Ephraim Larson also said the mother of the family died in Copenhagen, Denmark. Grandfather married again and both came to Salt Lake City, Utah, and died somewhere in Utah. He also said the only daughter, Sofia Larson married a Mr. Jacobsen and moved to Chicago. Years later Sofia’s daughter moved back to Brigham City, Utah, and married a man by the name of Dewsnip. Grandfather Larsson visited with father and mother at their home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Leolette Christensen, a daughter of my mother’s sister, Charlotte, wrote the following for me: “Your father was a very kind, patient man- devoted always to his family- trusted and loved his brothers too much, was kind to his Sophie.” He was refined in speech and action. He loved to read good literature and your sister was just like him, she loved to read. They craved more education that they got. Junius was prompt and dependable. He tended to his work. He was a quiet man, about six feet tall, well built, good looking. His one eye had a shortened muscle that could have been corrected. His eyes were blue and his hair dark brown. I never heard him swear or use bad language, he joined the “United Order”- someone mistreated him- through this he became less active in church affairs, although he lived his religion- kept “The Word of Wisdom”- no tobacco, liquor, or so forth. He was very clean about his person and he was kind to his wife and children. He was in the restaurant business with his brother John for a while, also with him in the chicken business, also with his brother Eric in the harness business. He lost a great deal of money in these ventures. My father told me his father baptized him into the church and that he was ordained a deacon, a teacher, a priest, and an Elder- this latter was done by a Mr. P.O. Hansen. He was endowed at the old Salt Lake “Endowment House”. He was married to Anna Louisa Johnson by Elias Smith, in Salt Lake City, Utah on the 24th of December 1878. To this union were born five children, Martin Junius, who died from diphtheria when he was five years old, Anna Bendigte, who died when she was 30 years old, myself- Louise Leolette, Caleb Bertel (Kay), and Gustava Charlotta who died when she was 45 years old. My father and mother lived in the old “Turnbow Home” in the “Fourteenth Ward” in Salt Lake City, Utah, when they were first married. Later they bought a home on 6th Avenue and E. Street. My mother’s health was very poor. She had two major operations after my baby sister was born and medical expenses were very high. Our home was mortgaged twice but my father cleared this up. My mother died in 1901 after a major operation in the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. I do not remember much of my father after this. A year after, my older sister married, and we three younger children went to live with Uncle John and Aunt Hannah in Spring City, Utah. My father must have led a terribly lonely life for he lost his entire family at one time. I remember once he was working for the railroad. He wrote us he would be coming through Spring City on a certain day. Aunt Hannah fixed us a package of good things to eat to give him. We children were really excited at seeing our father. I didn’t realize till after the train pulled out that I was still holding on to that package. Our home in Salt Lake City was rented to a Mr. Higby for several years while we were with Uncle John and this money helped Uncle John a little with our keep. Then after we were married, it was sold and divided among we children, a portion being set aside for father’s burial. After I was married and living on the farm in Hinckley, my father came to live with us one summer. My father died in Provo, Utah, January 28, 1925, and we buried beside our mother on our plot in the city cemetery, at Salt Lake City, Utah. Note: There seems to be some conflict between the birth year on the headstone and the one on the death certificate.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 14 2018, 11:07:36 UTC