LARS NIELSEN
Father of James Nielsen
(From “Utah Since Statehood: Historical & Biographical Vol III”)
Lars Nielsen, president of the Spanish Fork Cooperative Institute and at one time mayor of Spanish Fork, where he is regarded as a most progressive citizen and an outstanding figure in public affairs, was born in Denmark, June 5, 1857, a son of Peter and Kersten (Larson) Nielsen, who on coming to America in 1865 made their way at once across the country to Utah.
He had been thirty-five days in crossing the Atlantic ocean on the sailing vessel Kimball from Hamburg to New York city and then he made his way across the plains in Captain Atwood's company. He and a man by the name of Huffany bought ox teams at Wyoming Hill, Nebraska, to make the journey, which they completed with only one skirmish with the Indians, who shot one man and took his wife away with them, nothing being heard of her afterward.
On their emigration to America Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen brought with them three children: Lars, the eldest of the family; Mary, the deceased wife of William Vier, of Salt Lake; and Mrs. L. L. Bailey, of Salt Lake.
The father became a pioneer farmer of Utah county and for years he was president of the old cooperative store. He exercised considerable influence over public thought and opinion in his community, and his worth was widely acknowledged by all, so that his death, which occurred in 1913, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. The mother had passed away a few years before.
Lars Nielsen remained with his father upon the home farm until he had attained his majority, when he was married and took up farming and cattle raising on his own account. As the years have passed he has become recognized as one of the big cattlemen of the state and now has two hundred head of cattle upon the range.
His farm comprises one hundred and ten acres of rich and productive land, of which forty acres is planted to beets. The place is thoroughly modern in its equipment and in the methods of farm work carried on. His residence is a modern brick dwelling, which was erected in 1913 and is one of the most attractive homes of Spanish Fork.
Aside from his farming and stock raising interests Mr. Nielsen during the building of the Strawberry irrigation project by the government was a director on the board of the Water Users Association. He is also a stockholder in the Gem Roller Mills at Spanish Fork, and was elected president of the Spanish Fork Cooperative Institute in March, 1919, which position he still holds.
Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Beckstrom, a native of Sweden, who came to Utah with her parents when young, her father being Hogan B. Beckstrom, a carpenter by trade.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen have been born eleven children: Lars, who is principal of the school at Bingham, Utah; James, who is employed by the Consolidated Wagon & Machine Company at Spanish Fork; Peter, who died at the age of eighteen years; Mary, the wife of David H. Jones, of Spanish Fork; Rebecca, now the wife of Arthur McKell, of Spanish Fork; Annie; Eleanor, now Mrs. Rulin J. Creer; and Harvey, Ralph, Clarence and Ardella, all at home.
Mr. Nielsen is a republican in his political views and served for three successive terms as mayor of Spanish Fork. Upon public questions he brought to bear the same keen scrutiny and sound judgment that he displayed in the management of his personal business interests, and his administration was characterized by various needed improvements in the municipality.
He has served as school director for three years and cooperates most heartily in any plan or project which has to do with the upbuilding and advancement of his district or the welfare of the state.
Utah Since Statehood: Historical and Biographical. Volume III
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