Isabella (Larsdatter) Larson
Larson, Isabella (Larsdatter)
Mrs. Isabella Larson went to sleep last Saturday night some time between nine and eleven and never awoke. She was alone in her apartment of the home and it is not known at what hour she expired, but it was probably shortly after midnight. It was the custom of her son, George Reitzel to call at the house each morning to see what his mother might need. As he approached the house he noticed that there was no smoke coming from the chimney and finding both doors locked, he entered her apartment through the upstairs entrance. Calling to her from an adjoining room and getting no answer, he opened her bedroom door and found the lifeless body in bed. Her death had evidently been a “peaceful sleep” due to old age infirmities.
Mrs. Larson was a part of the history of Whitehall. For a number of years she administered to the sick in the capacity of nurse, and for more than a generation the Whitehall infants first saw the light of day through her efficient nursing. She was also an important factor in the civic life of the village, having built the Scandia House, one of our landmarks and served as landlady for a number of years.
Mrs. Larson was born in Norway on October 11, 1832. She grew to womanhood there and was married to Fredrick Nelson. He died in 1861 in Norway of drowning at work.
In 1862 she was joined in marriage to George Reitzel, and four years later she came with him and her family of four children to America and they took up their residence in Ettrick Township, this county. After residing there about a year they moved to the Town of Preston and homesteaded what was later known as the John Skogstad farm about a mile from where the Fagernes church now stands. Here they resided for two years going thence to Buffalo county and a couple of years later returned to French Creek valley in Ettrick. After a year's life there, they spent about two years in Minnesota. In 1876 they came to Whitehall where Mr. Reitzel died in 1879.
Shortly after her husband's death, Mrs. Reitzel built the Scandia House and operated it for about 15 years.
In 1884 she was married to Ole Larson. Since his death on March 7, 1908, she has lived in Whitehall.
Mrs. Larson was the mother of 10 children, four by her first husband and six by her second. Of these five sons survive: Nels L. Fredrickson, Whitehall; Anton Reitzel, Los Angeles, Calif.; George Reitzel, Whitehall; Emil B. Reitzel, Tacoma, Wash.; Frank Reitzel, Oakland, Calif.
She was preceded in death by: her husbands; children, Elisa Fredrickson, wife of Andrew Bensend; Rosa Reitzel, born in Norway; Rosa Reitzel (second, born in Wisconsin); unknown Fredrickson (born in Norway); unknown Fredrickson (born in Norway).
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Old Whitehall, Rev. A.J. Orke officiating.
(adapted from the Thursday, Feb. 6, 1919, Whitehall [Wis.] Times-Banner)
Mrs. Isabella Larson went to sleep last Saturday night some time between nine and eleven and never awoke. She was alone in her apartment of the home and it is not known at what hour she expired, but it was probably shortly after midnight. It was the custom of her son, George Reitzel to call at the house each morning to see what his mother might need. As he approached the house he noticed that there was no smoke coming from the chimney and finding both doors locked, he entered her apartment through the upstairs entrance. Calling to her from an adjoining room and getting no answer, he opened her bedroom door and found the lifeless body in bed. Her death had evidently been a “peaceful sleep” due to old age infirmities.
Mrs. Larson was a part of the history of Whitehall. For a number of years she administered to the sick in the capacity of nurse, and for more than a generation the Whitehall infants first saw the light of day through her efficient nursing. She was also an important factor in the civic life of the village, having built the Scandia House, one of our landmarks and served as landlady for a number of years.
Mrs. Larson was born in Norway on October 11, 1832. She grew to womanhood there and was married to Fredrick Nelson. He died in 1861 in Norway of drowning at work.
In 1862 she was joined in marriage to George Reitzel, and four years later she came with him and her family of four children to America and they took up their residence in Ettrick Township, this county. After residing there about a year they moved to the Town of Preston and homesteaded what was later known as the John Skogstad farm about a mile from where the Fagernes church now stands. Here they resided for two years going thence to Buffalo county and a couple of years later returned to French Creek valley in Ettrick. After a year's life there, they spent about two years in Minnesota. In 1876 they came to Whitehall where Mr. Reitzel died in 1879.
Shortly after her husband's death, Mrs. Reitzel built the Scandia House and operated it for about 15 years.
In 1884 she was married to Ole Larson. Since his death on March 7, 1908, she has lived in Whitehall.
Mrs. Larson was the mother of 10 children, four by her first husband and six by her second. Of these five sons survive: Nels L. Fredrickson, Whitehall; Anton Reitzel, Los Angeles, Calif.; George Reitzel, Whitehall; Emil B. Reitzel, Tacoma, Wash.; Frank Reitzel, Oakland, Calif.
She was preceded in death by: her husbands; children, Elisa Fredrickson, wife of Andrew Bensend; Rosa Reitzel, born in Norway; Rosa Reitzel (second, born in Wisconsin); unknown Fredrickson (born in Norway); unknown Fredrickson (born in Norway).
The funeral was held yesterday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and the remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Old Whitehall, Rev. A.J. Orke officiating.
(adapted from the Thursday, Feb. 6, 1919, Whitehall [Wis.] Times-Banner)