Harley Odin LARSON
- Born: 15 Sep 1901, Preble Township, Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA 2
- Marriage: Emma Bertina MINDRUM on 27 May 1926 in Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA 1
- Died: 28 Oct 1980, Wisconsin, USA at age 79 3
Noted events in his life were:
• Occupation: farmer.
• Notes: Harley Larson and Emma Mindrum. Both Harley and Emma were born in the year 1901. They were forward-looking, optimistic persons, interested in education and in making the best of themselves. Emma lost her father and Harley his mother when each were young teenagers, but both managed to advance themselves with the help and encouragement of other family members. Harley took classes at the School of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota and a course in Automotive Engineering in Chicago. Emma earned a teaching certificate at Luther Academy in Albert Lea, and also was a music student for a time at the McPhael [MacPhail?] School in Minneapolis. Emma was a school teacher in several Fillmore County Schools and also gave piano lessons.
After their marriage, they lived and worked on the Oliver Larson Farm in Choice, Minnesota for a few years. In hopes of gaining some independence the rented a farm near Spring Grove. This place was always referred to as "Skink Hallow" and was their home through the years of the Great Depression. Emma learned how to be a farmer and a homemaker during those years and she and Harley started "squirreling away" whatever they could. In 1934 they moved to the "Banner Farm" near Hesper, Iowa (also a rented farm). For ten years they worked, as tenant farmers, from sun to sun and into the night. The Hesper Farm was large and productive. Beef and dairy cattle, sheep, hogs, chickens and horses were carefully attended. There were bumper crops of corn, oats and hay and sometimes smaller plots of soy beans, sorghum, pop corn, flax and wheat. Beyond the very large garden plot was an excellent apple orchard. A woodlot supplied fuel for cooking and heating and served as a wonderful safe place to play for Helen, Rollis, Mavis and Keith. The Hesper School was just 1/2 mile down the road. But when there was enough saved to buy a place of their own, the move was made to the farm near Mabel, MN. where Harley and Emma lived all the rest of their lives.
Some Memories:
Harley and Emma... Mom and Dad... were more than anything, gentle. Neither were ever harsh or bossy. There was always so much work to do, but to be with them, working side by side, was fun for us. We sang as we churned the cream into butter. Going down cellar to get enough potatoes for supper was made to seem like an adventure. Pumping water to fill the reservoir in the kitchen stove, fetching wood from the wood pile, doing the :chicken chores" or scrubbing clean the outdoor toilet were not tasks that were forced upon us. I remember hoping that my work would be good enough to gain special notice. Praise was never freely given, but punishment and scoldings were rare events.
Whenever Dad needed to make a trip to town, he would check to see if one of us wanted to go along for the ride. He seemed to really like the company of his children and he was always pleasant and respectful. I remember wanting to be as good as I could be so that I wouldn't disappoint him. He was a very neat fastidious farmer, keeping the weeds down, fences mended and tools and equipment in good repair carefully put away after use. If we were rude, giddy or careless children, all he would need to say is "People don't like that" and we would feel reprimanded.
Mom's hands were always busy. She was a small pretty woman with an alert mind and a quick imagination. She took great pride in providing good tasting, nourishing meals and snacks. Mealtimes were happy times to be together and to gain strength for our busy lives. She loved to have us sing and play the piano and often did the super dishes for us if we wanted to practice or study before bedtime.
[as written by daughter Mavis. Transcribed by Laureen Hall, uploaded to Ancestry.com by Jack Hall]
• Alt. Death, 22 Oct 1980.
• Cemetery: Choice Community Cemetery, Choice, 1980, Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA.
Harley married Emma Bertina MINDRUM, daughter of Ole Andreas MINDRUM and Julianna M REIN, on 27 May 1926 in Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA.1 (Emma Bertina MINDRUM was born on 19 Dec 1901 in Fillmore County, Minnesota, USA 4 and died on 27 Aug 1979 in Houston County, Minnesota, USA.)
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