Oscar Emil "Carl" Larson was born August 15, 1878, in Marysville, Yuba Co., CA, and died July 21, 1893, in the Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., WI, at age 15. Buried in Salem (Old Swede) Cemetery, Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., WI. He is the son of Olaus Larsson of Fröbbestorp, Kalmar Co., Sweden, and Catarina Olivia Wilhelmina Larsdotter of Varna Parish, Östergőtland Co., Sweden.

TIMELINE

In Wisconsin, a town is an unincorporated jurisdiction within a county; Wisconsin towns are similar to civil townships in other states. All areas in the state that have not been incorporated as cities or villages are parts of towns. Towns provide a limited number of services to their residents.

In 1875, there was a money shortage in Michigan. Father said the laborers were paid off with purchase orders good at the company store. Not happy with that arrangement, he corresponded with his brother Erik, who was working in California and said that times were good out there. So, Father left Mother, who was expecting a child, and went to California. He hired out to a company of loggers operating on a ranch in the foothills some distance north of Sacramento. Mother then followed him to California. It took thirteen days to make the trip.  There were no dining nor sleeping cars, so hammocks were hung for sleeping, and stops were made at stations along the way to purchase food. Because of fear of Indians and robbers attacking the train, Olivia had a money belt around her waist under her clothes in which she had $500 in gold.

Olaus – hereafter referred to as Dad - was the foreman of the ranch, and Mother was in charge of the ranch household. The owners lived in the town of Marysville which, at that time, was a very small place. Language proved a major hardship, since most of the men and women they had to deal with spoke only Spanish, and neither Dad nor Mother could speak English very well. 

Emily Sophia was born December 22, 1875 – with a mid-wife in attendance - and two years later Carl Emil blessed their lives. Soon after Emil’s arrival, Mother was taken ill. The doctor said she would have to go to a higher climate, so she went up in the mountains for a while, but it became apparent that life in California was unsatisfactory in many ways.

Oscar Emil "Carl" Larson was born August 15, 1878, in Marysville, Yuba Co., CA.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 10, 1880, shows Olaus Larsson (age 29) born in Sweden to Sweden-born parents, is a married Laborer, and is living in South Putah Precinct, Putah Twp., Yolo Co., CA. Living with him are: Catrina O. Larsson (age 31) born in Sweden to Sweden-born parents, a married House Keeper; his daughter, Emily S. Larsson (age 4) born in California to Sweden-born parents; and his son, Oscar A. Larsson (age 1) born in California to Sweden-born parents. Three laborers are also living in the household.

Other troubles beset the home. Emil was stricken ill early in the summer of 1893. The first death in the family came in July when Emil – age 15 – was laid to rest in a little cemetery adjoining Salem Lutheran Church. The loss of this son, who had been the delight of the family, was devastating. He had aspirations of going into the ministry, as he was deeply religious and felt that was his calling.

Oscar Emil "Carl" Larson died July 21, 1893, in the Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., Waupaca, WI, at age 15. Buried in Salem (Old Swede) Cemetery, Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., WI.

Salem Cemetery (Swedish Cemetery)
Part of the SE1/4 of SE 1/4 of Section 10 and
part of NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 15, Twp 22N, Range 11E
Town of Farmington, Waupaca County, Wisconsin
Located of Larson Road and Oakland Drive

www.wigenweb.org/waupaca/SalemCem/SalemCem.htm

This 2010 alphabetical update was submitted by Sandra Grenlie CMC, WCMC (Sexton)