Chester Oliver Larson

Leona Litchke2025-02-17T14:02:37-06:00

Name: Chester Oliver Larson
Location of Birth: North Branch, Minnesota
Date of Birth: April 20, 1895
Date of Death: October 14, 1968 (73 years old)
Parents: Benjamin E. Larson & Anna C. (Johnson) Larson
High School and Class: 1913 - Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College: Gustavus Adolphus College - St. Peter, Minnesota
Highest Rank: CPL (Corporal)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: May 27, 1918 (Enlistment Date)
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: April 29, 1919 (Discharge Date)
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
Chester served with the Armed Forces of the United States in France during World War I where he acted as Honor Guard to President Wilson. He served in Casual Detachment #347, 163rd Depot Brigade, Company G, 158th Infantry.

World War I Registration Card – 1917-1918
Name: Chester O. Larson
Age: 22
Home Address: Bovey, Minnesota
Date of Birth: April 20, 1895
Citizenship: Natural born citizen
Place of Birth: North Branch, Minnesota
Present Occupation: Locomotive fireman
Employer: Oliver Iron Mining Co., Coleraine, Minnesota
Dependents: None
Marital Status: Single
Race: Caucasian
Previous Military Service: None
Claim exemption from draft: No
Tall, medium or short: Medium
Slender, medium or stout: Medium
Color of eyes: Blue
Color of hair: Light brown
Bald? No
Any disability: No
Date of registration: June 5, 1917
Place of registration: Itasca County, Minnesota

Chester Larson left Bordeaux, France on April 4, 1919 aboard the USS Ohioan as part of Camp Dodge Det. No. 2, 158th Infantry and arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey on April 16, 1919.

Wars Involved:
World War I

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
At the age of 13, Chester moved with his parents, sisters, and brother to Bovey, Minnesota.

After working in the mines as a locomotive fireman and engineer, Chester attended Gustavus Adolphus College for two years.

After the signing of the Armistice, Chester returned to Bovey where he helped organize the Bovey American Legion post and was its first adjutant. He married Ada Johnson in Nashwauk, Minnesota in 1927. He was in the retail clothing business in Nashwauk; served as clerk of the Nashwauk Village Council; helped organize the Nashwauk Lutheran Church and served as its first secretary; and was a charter member and first adjutant of the Nashwauk VFW post. He was appointed Itasca County deputy treasurer on January 1, 1935 and served in that position until he was appointed county treasurer in 1946, a position he held until his retirement on January 1, 1967. While treasurer, he instituted many new accounting methods and procedures and served a term as president of the Minnesota State Association of County Treasurers. He was president of the Minnesota State Association of County Treasurers; a director and treasurer of the Itasca County Fair Board; president of the Itasca County Historical Society; and was a charter member and the first quartermaster of Itasca Barracks No. 2504, Veterans of World War I. As the president of the Historical Society, he began the practice of meeting in different parts of the county and emphasized the importance of preserving the history. He served for ten years as director and treasurer of the Itasca County Agricultural Association. Mr. Larson visioned a bigger and better fair for all the people of Itasca County. The high-class grandstand entertainment he helped to promote did not always show a profit, but this was his idea of service to the many fair goers.

Chester died at his home in Bovey, Minnesota and is buried in Nashwauk Cemetery, Nashwauk, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Ada; a son, Donald; two sisters, Ethel Thompson and Eleanor Larson; and a brother Edwin Larson.

Tribal Affiliation(s):