The Lars Helgeson Botnen Family
Lars Helgeson was born on December 15, 1831 in Røldal parish, Hordaland county, Norway. He was probably born and raised on the Botnen farm. According to the Røldal bygdebok, Lars married Ingebjørg Knutsdatter of the Odland farm in 1853. They had three children born to them while at the Botnen farm. They are the following:
- Ranveig Larsdatter
- Born Sept. 19, 1854
- Died May 22, 1933
- Helge Larson
- Born July 4, 1855*
- Died Dec. 25, 1918
- Tore Larson
- Born Oct. 14, 1860
- Died June 10, 1891
In 1869, Lars, Ingebjørg and their three children traveled to America on the ship HEROS. They are found on the ship’s passenger lists.
#10 Lars Helliesen Botten 37yrs
#11 wife Ingeborg 50yrs
#12 daughter Rønvig 13yrs
#13 son Helge 12yrs
#14 son Thore 9yrs
Lars and his wife took Botnen as their last name. The children took the last name of Larson. Ranveig changed her name to Rachel. They settled in Green Castle township in Marshall County, Iowa. Lars Botnen worked as a farmer. Lars and Ingebjørg Botnen became members of the Stavanger Meeting (Quaker).
On April 5, 1880 in Ida County, Iowa, Lars H. Botnen purchased a tract of land from the Iowa Railroad Land Company. The land is described as the east half of the southwest quarter of section #17, township #88, range #41 containing eighty acres excepting a one hundred feet in width right of way where the lines of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad, the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad and the Des Moines Valley Railroad may be located over and upon said land. The land was purchased for $704 and was filed for record on April 25, 1885. Around 1881, Lars Botnen and his wife Ingebjørg moved to Ida County, Iowa.
On June 29, 1885 in Ida County, Iowa, Lars H. and Engeborg Botnen sold a tract of land to their son, Thore Larson. See the notes for Thore Larson for land description and information. [exact spelling on deed]
On July 16, 1886 in Ida County, Iowa, Lars H. and Ingeborg Botnen [exact spelling on deed] sold a tract of land to their son, Thore Larson. See the notes for Thore Larson for land description and information. In 1886, Lars and Ingebjørg Botnen returned to Marshall county living near Dunbar.
On January 31, 1899, Ingebjørg Botnen died in Green Castle township, Marshall Co., Iowa. The cause of death is listed as LaGrippe. She was 80 years old. She was buried in the Stavanger cemetery near Dunbar, Iowa.
In the 1900 Census for Dunbar village, Green Castle township, Marshall Co., Iowa, Lars was living with his sister, Ingerid Paulson.
On February 23, 1908, Lars Botnen died in LeGrand, Iowa. The cause of death is listed as cystitis. F.H. Boucher was the attending physician. Simkins and Estel of Marshalltown were the funeral directors. Lars Botnen was 76 years old. He was buried next to his wife in the Stavanger cemetery.
**See below for Lars H. Botnen's obit**
Other Sites to See
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Before the Immigration
Obit for Lars H. Botnen
Helge Larson Botnen Family
Thore Larson Botnen Family
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