Peter Larson Family

Peter Larson born December 13, 1866.  He was one of eleven children of Lars and Kristense Hansen who lived at Midstrom, near Hemnes, Norway.

At age of 21 years, he accompanied three brothers and three sisters to United States leaving his folks, three sisters, and one brother back in Norway.

His early days in America were spent working on the Cooper ranch to get his start in this county.  He filed a claim on land near Cooperstown, North Dakota, and received his homestead patent in 1893.

In 1893 he married Martha Dorthea Aasland - daughter of Aadne and Martha Dorthea Aasland.  She was from a family of ten children and came to this country at age eleven years.

Peter's sisters lived with him in his claim home when not out working.  Their herding cattle brought them in contact with Martha Dorthea Aasland, who was herding her folks' cattle.  While herding cattle and knitting stockings, these girls became good friends and helped bring about courtship and marriage.

Four children were born to this couple:

  1. Mabel Cora - daughter - married Harvey Alvin Benson, moved to Hannaford, North Dakota.  They had seven children.
  2. Leonard P. Larson - son - married Eunice Plummer from Wisconsin.  He farmed in partnership until 1939 when Peter died.  Leonard raised registered Colombia sheep on this farm until 1964.  He lived on the farm until his death in 1966.
  3. Lillian Ruth - daughter - taught school in the county and eventually went to the west coast and married.
  4. Eleanor Mercedes - daughter - married Alfred Odegaard, Hawley, Minnesota and raised four children.

Peter's farm has been farmed by relatives all but three years.  In 1903 he leased it out for three years and went to Oregon.  He came back from Oregon in one year and purchased a house on Vinegar Hill in Cooperstown to wait out his lease.

In 1967 Homer and Helen Benson, a grandson, purchased the farm from Eunice Larson and at the present time are raising registered Shorthorn cattle.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 201