Lars Knudson

Lars Knudson was born January 20, 1843 in Aalin Hallingdal, Biskerud, Norway and died in Detroit Lakes, Mn Hospital on October 27, 1937. He was the son of Knud and Bergit Larsen and they immigrated to America on May 17, 1868 on the Brigg Erin from Liverpool to New York.. He married Olianna Engerbretsdtr. on August 18, 1873 in front of the Justice of the Peace in Detroit Lakes, Mn.

He was the father of eleven children with his only wife Olianna whom he married at the age of 17. Olianna was the sister of Inger Marie and they came over to Amerca together with Jakob Fagerlie and 14 others from Dovre, Oppland in 1870 arriving in Becker county in 1971.

Lars was the third born to a family of five children.  At the age of ten he began to earn his own livelihood by tending sheep in Christina.  He spent two years in the Norwegian Army before leaveing for America.  He landed in New York City and from there he went directly to Wisconsin where he worked for the railroad for one year.  

He then moved on west to Duluth, Mn. where he worked in the sawmills and learned a trade of masonry.

Lars walked from Saulk Rapids to Becker County in the fall of 1870. Here he staked a claim in section 34 and that winter he began getting logs from Buffalo Lake area

to build a house. He planted a half acre of potatoes and sold them in the fall for $1. per bushel.

His close friend and neighbor, Jakob Fagerlie moved in just to the west of his claim in the fall of 1871. Jakobs wife, Inger Marie, was sick with TB and died in the spring of 1873. Jakob fetched his sister in law Olianna from Alexandria to care for his two children and incouraged Lars to marry her. She was 17 at the time.

Lars and Olianna kept son Ole who was two years old at the time and Lars's sister Guri Sorum took in Minna Rosina.

The Knudsons went on to have 13 children of their own.

Lars was a strong member of the Audubon community and was a leader in the start of the First Lutheran Church

there.

Lars built a beautiful large home for his family that still stands today as the home of decendents, the Sharpe family.

Lars var gjætar i 8 år m.a på Sandanbråten i Nes. Så fekk han arbeid hjå Eivind Smestad, V. Aker inntil han gjekk i militærtenest 1866 på Oscarsborg. Lars reiste til Am. 17. mai 1868. (Oppl. av dottera Elma).

   Lars skreiv høves-dikt og var aktiv i Hallinglaget.

Knute was an early resident of Audubon, Mn. community and his accomplishments from a poor Norwegian immigrant to leader in Becker County are many. Lars was born to Knud and Berget Rime Larsen in Hallingsdal, Norway on Jan. 20th, 1843. He was baptized on March 26, 1843. Lars was the third born in a family of five children. He was raised on a farm and had little formal education. At the age of ten he began tending sheep in Christina, Norway. Lars was confirmed in Langsleth, Norway in 1857.He spent two years in the Norwegian Army and came to America in 1868 landing in New York City and from there went diredctly to Wisconsin where he worked on the RR. In 1869 he went to Duluth, Mn. where he worked in the saw mills and did some masonry work. He walked from Salk Rapids to Audubon in Becker County ;where he staked a claim on farm land south of Audubon. His soon to be brother in law, Jacob Fagerlie staked claim to land just west of his property. This was in section 34 of Audubon twnsp.

Jacob was married to Inger Marie in Norway before they came to America and she had a younger sister, Oliane

who was 14 years younger than her. Jacob was instrumental in getting lars and Oliane together and they married on August 18, 1873 in front of the Justice of the Peace in Detroit Lakeas, Mn. Lars and Olaine were very fertile and they had thirteen children.

The major part of their family are buried in the St. Peters Cemetery South of Audubon.

Lars and Olaine died one month apart, she from a broken leg and he from a broken heart.