SOURCE: History of Wood County, Wisconsin compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and others : illustrated., (H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co, 1923), "Lars Loken", page 713-714
DATE: 1923
SUBJECT: Lars Loken
Lars Loken, a well-known and respected business man of Arpin, proprietor of a combined establishment embracing hardware, tinshop work and shoe repairing, was born in Strondjem Steft, Norway, March 1, 1850, son of John Haugensen and Gura Loken. The father was born Sept. 8, 1797, and the mother April 8, 1809. They were married in Norway, where the former followed the trade of watchmaker and goldsmith, and came to the United States with their family in 1870, settling in Orfordville, Rock County, Wis., where John H. Loken was engaged in the same occupation. His wife died there Oct. 25, 1884, in her 75th year. All told there were seven children in the family, namely: Hagan, now deceased; Ever, also deceased; Gura, living in Norway; Maret, also in Norway; Lars, subject of this sketch, and two others who died in childhood. Lars Loken attended school in Norway until he was 15 years old, and he was 20 when he came to the United States. During the first few years he worked as a farm hand and was afterwards associated with his father. For 27 years he was employed in hardware stores in Orfordville, during that time working in three different firms, and then, in 1906, he came to Arpin and settled on a farm near the village. Three years later he sold his farm and moved into the village, where he opened his present establishment, consisting of a hardware store and tinshop, combined with a shoe repair shop. Here he has built up a good trade and has made many warm friends and pleasant acquaintances. In April, 1884, Mr. Loken married Martha Hagan, of Orfordville, who was born in Norway in April, 1868, and who came to America in 1884 with two sisters, Juliana and Helena, being followed a year later by their parents, who are now deceased. The father died at Dalton, Minn. in December, 1920, and the mother at Orfordville in 1893. There were nine children in the Hagan family, Maria, Harald, Julia, Martha, Helena, Nicola, Karen, Minnie and one who died in Norway. With the last mentioned exception, all are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Lars Loken have had eight children, who were born as follows: Melvin J., May 17, 1888; Gena, Nov. 18,1889; Helmer, Nov. 18, 1893; Lawrence, June 23, 1898; Clara M., Oct. 23, 1902; Clarence M., Feb. 3, 1904; Alfred I., Feb. 18., 1906; and Norman T., July 26, 1908. The two youngest were born in Arpin, the others in Orfordville. Clara died at the age of two years. The others are all living in or near Arpin. Gena is now Mrs. Victor Vannatta. Helmer is in the hardware business, having become his father's partner in 1919, since which time the firm name has been Loken & Son. He served in the World War, having been drafted at Fort Warden, April 2, 1917. He was a bandsman in the Coast Artillery Corps, and went overseas Oct. 4, 1917, returning to the States March 29, 1918, and being discharged at Camp Grant, Illinois, April 8, 1918. On Dec. 9, 1919 he married Alma L. Laschinski, of Marshfield, who was born there Oct. 30, 1894. Lawrence, who was also drafted in to the U. S. service, trained at Camp Morrison, Newport News, Virginia, being a member of Aero Squad No. 673. He was discharged at Newport News, Dec. 24, 1918, having had no chance to serve in France. Mr. and Mrs. Loken and their family are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Church.