Thomas Henry Larson

Information gleaned from his missionary journal, from conversations with Thora May Larson, records of Grant Ward, and Lorinda Perkins' journal. Written by Lois Ann Morrison Everton, June 2000.

Thomas Henry Larson was the son of Thurston Larson and Mary Elizabeth Fox. He was born 24 March 1862 in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake, Utah.

The Larson family moved to Marsh Valley, Idaho sometime before 1984. Thomas worked for the Byington family. This is where Thomas met his future bride. Thomas worked for Hyrum Elliot Byington helping with the cattle and sheep. His sister, Jane Elizabeth Larson met Steven Elliott Byington and Thomas met Hannah Elizabeth Byington. This foursome attended the church socials and other functions together.

Thomas Henry Larson married Hannah Elizabeth Byington of Onieda County, Idaho Territory at Oxford, Idaho, on 30 September 1884. They were married by A. T. Caldwell, Justice of the Peace. Jane Elizabeth Larson was married to Steven Elliott Byington, in a double wedding ceremony.

Jefferson Hunt was the first presiding Bishop and Thomas Henry was the presiding Elder in grant Ward Idaho.

Their first baby was named Esther Elizabeth, born 14 Oct 1885 in Grant Ward, Bannock, Idaho. Next came Minnie Isabell, 23 Mar 1888, Oxford, Calvin Ward, Oneida, Idaho. Then Henry Edwin, 5 May 1890, Grant Ward. David Lorenzo, 19 Apr 1892, Grant Ward. Carrie Lorinda, 4 Feb 1895, Calvin Ward. Archie Winford, 17 Mar 1897, Calvin Ward. Edith Dyintha, 26 Dec 1898, Calvin Ward. Thora May, 24 Feb 1902, Grant Ward. And last, Thomas Horald, 15 Jul 1904, Grant Ward.

Thomas Henry Larson is my grandfather. When I was a little girl I asked my mother, Thora May Larson, what her dad was like. She said that she was not quite two years old when he died and she did not remember him at all. She could only tell me what she had been told by her mother and other people. Thora learned that he was a quiet man and very kind to his children as well as his animals. A patient sort of person.

He was a good looking person. My daughter DeAnn Lester said he was the best looking of all my relatives.
I do know that Thomas was always helping either his family or other persons.

His mother Elizabeth Mary Fox left her husband and her family and married another man by the name of George Samuel Graham, 12 May 1877. His sister Nellie went with her mother but the rest of the family stayed with his father.

Later, His mother Elizabeth Mary Fox Graham and a daughter, Maude Estella Graham, along with Nellie, were abandoned by her 3rd husband so his father, Thurston Larson, asked them to come back with him. Thomas went and picked them up and brought them back to the Larson home in Marsh Valley. After Thomas died, the whole family was sealed to each other in the Logan temple 12 Nov 1904.

When Thurston Larson moved to Parker, Idaho with Edwin Larson and his family, he went by train. LaVerna Larson Armstrong told me she was five years old and remembered this move. Most of the family went by train to Parker. Thomas and Henry, his son, loaded up the wagons with all of their possessions and helped them move to Parker. They obtained a home and built on a special room for Thurston to live in. LaVerna remembered watching him repair and made shoes for the family and friends in this room. When I went to Kemmerer, Wyoming, I saw shoes made the old fashioned way and the tools were also on display.

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From Thomas Henry missionary journal:

Thomas Henry Larson of Downey Idaho was set apart for a mission to the Northwestern States.

Aug 2 1899. Thomas also went to the Salt Lake Temple this date 2 Aug 1899.
On August 5th I left Salt Lake City. I met my wife and children at Downey, Idaho. Wished them good day before leaving. Arrived at Anaconda, Montana on 4th of August.

In the mission field Aug 18 felt somewhat revived after a good nights rest- canvassed the town of Melrose and prepared to hold meeting on the Sunday following. We eat dinner & Supper at the hotel & returned to Bro. Hendricks for the night. The next day being Sunday nothing of importance transpired during the day- the people were all working at this place the same as week days & in the evening we held a meeting. After meeting returned to Brother Hendricks for the night. The next day we went over to Rochester - 12 miles east of Melrose & it rained on us all the way - Stayed one night at Rochester - the next day we traveled 23 miles & stayed with a sister Lemon for the night. The next day we stayed at Sister Lemons and rested had quite an interesting time had some songs and music in the evening of the second day.

On the morning of Aug 24 we started for Dillon a distance of 24 miles & arrived there at that place about 4 O'clock in the afternoon of the same day. We was very tired & hungry - we hired a room for the night & paid one dollar for the night - the next night we found a sister by the name of Nelson & stayed at her place that night & made arrangements to stay at her place while we were staying at Dillon.

On the 25 Aug, we took Breakfast at the hotel & during the day we took a walk around the little town of Dillon & in the evening while walking the street I met an old friend Willias Young & Will Rabidou & an hour or so in pleasant Conversation after with we parted for the night &we returned to our room

Sunday 27, I stayed at Sister Nelsons nearly all day. In the afternoon I went for a walk up town & in the evening I went to a Methodist meeting as we had none of our own to go to - after meeting we returned to our room at Sister Nelsons where we were staying while in Dillon

Nov 12 1899, the day was pleasant & warm we walked 6 ½ miles to the poor house - we went to see a poor unfortunate young man who had accidentally fell off the passenger train a few miles south of here - a place called grailing - he had left Salt Lake in company with his young wife. The husband was working for their passage and he accidentally fell off the train and the train run over one of his legs below the knee mashing it to jelly We had a pleasant conversation with the young couple. Later, my companion and I were called to administer to him - We stayed with him from then until he died - His name was Carl Turner and his wife was only 17 yrs of age, Maragreete Hockstroch of Logan. The seen was pitiful in the extreme.

Sep 21 1900, Last Entry
Since writing Last I have come to Glens Ferry - have been laboring here Since have been unable to obtain a house to hold meetings as yet - In Company with Elder Davis I have visited each residence & when the opportunity has afforded it we went in the house & preached the Gospel to them as we understood it. I am staying with a David Chambers at present he is a Brother that embraced the Gospel in the Southern States & has rented a ranch in this place for a period of 6 years from a Mr. Crocker - this place is situated about one mile west of Glenns Ferry Close by the Oregon Short line railroad.

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Lois Everton's Note:
Glens Ferry is where my Grandparents lived, Lewis James Morrison and Bertha Winifred Cook Morrison. Their son Lloyd Jean Morrison married Thomas' daughter Thora May Larson Morrison, September 1 1922

Lorinda's [Perkins] Note:
Lorinda cared for the missionary Journal for years She loaned it to Thora so we were able to see the original form for a little while.

Lorinda said this seems to be he [that] wrote in it. His work in the Mission field was cut short on account of his health and desperate need his family was in at home Mama {Hannah Elizabeth Byington Larson} 7 little ones in need. Esther Elizabeth, Minnie Isabel, Henry Edwin, David Lorenzo, Carrie Lorinda, Archie Winford, Edith Dyintha, Thora May was born next after the mission, Feb 24 1902, and Baby Thomas Horald, 15 July 1904. He died 1 Jan 1905.

Thomas was ill for the rest of his life. His wife, Hanna Elizabeth, tried to Doctor him as best as she could. Thomas Henry Larson died 28 Dec 1903 at Downey, Idaho. He was 41 years 9 months, and 4 days old.

Be sure to read about the Spiritual Experience of the return of Thomas. He is a true missionary of the Lord.

Thomas was true to his family and the mission. In reading over his complete journal He was sick a lot due to excessive wear and tear on the body from walking so much in bad weather. He was treated nice, by those he stayed with, and those he met along the way. You are saying what did he look like? A well kept man about 5 ‘ 9". Myrna Larson has his missionary coat and she wore it once at a reunion. He had fair skin and when he went on his mission he had a nice mustache

He was valiant in his mission call and helped other people all the time. He believed in work and Fairness in all things. He loved to Sing, most of the Larson clan have beautiful Voices and have sung in Choirs. It is my belief that my Mother who sang so beautifully when she was alive, now belongs to a heavenly choir in the spirit world. Thurston Larson played the Violin and Thomas Henry also played the Violin. Thomas Henry was an all around Great Guy

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"My father, Thomas Henry, was the first to be laid to rest in our family. He had Typhoid Pneumonia and had been ill ever since his mission. He died 28 Dec. 1903, at the age of 41. I was a year and a half old. He was born in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City, on 24 Mar 1862." per Thora Morrison

"Jefferson Hunt was the first Bishop and Thomas Henry Larson was the first presiding elder in Grant Ward, Idaho." per Hannah Harr Bio., by Thora Morrison

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CHILDREN of Thomas Henry & Hannah Elizabeth:

Esther Elizabeth [Underwood], born 14 Oct 1885 in Grant Ward, Bannock, Id. [Note 1]

Minnie Isabell [Grover], born 23 Mar 1888, Oxford, Calvin Ward, Oneida, Id. [Note 2]

Henry Edwin, born 5 May 1890, Grant Ward.

David Lorenzo, born 19 Apr 1892, Grant Ward.

Carrie Lorinda [Perkins], born 4 Feb 1895, Calvin Ward.

Archie Winford, born 17 Mar 1897, Calvin Ward.

Edith Dyintha [Call/Emmens], born 26 Dec 1898, Calvin Ward.

Thora May [Morrison], born 24 Feb 1902, Grant Ward.

Thomas Horald, born 15 Jul 1904, Grant Ward.

[Note 1: "Grant Ward, Portneuf Stake, Bannock Co., Idaho, consists of the Latter-day Saints residing in the extreme south end of Marsh Valley, partly on an elevated plateau which separates Marsh Valley from Cache Valley. . . .
On Aug. 27, 1899, the south branch of the Cambridge Ward (also called Calvin) was organized as a separate ward, named Grant." From www.familysearch.org.
This South Cambridge Ward is probably what Thora Larson/Morrison noted as Calvin Ward, in her Bio. R.S.M.]

[Note 2: Calvin Bingham was elected Oneida County Sherif, on Nov. 15, 1898.
This Calvin family name may be the origin of the name Calvin Ward. R.S.M.]

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CEMETERIES near Downey, Idaho:

Byington Family Cemetery
Downey Cemetery (The Larson Family)
Grant Ward Cemetery
Marsh Center Cemetery
Inkom Woodland Cemetery

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Spouse: Hannah Elizabeth Byington of Onieda County, Idaho Territory at Oxford, Idaho, married on 30 September 1884.
(Hannah, Utah State Death Certif. No. 55 29 0495)

Hannah E. Byington, and Thomas H. Larson were married. Jane E. Larson, (a sister to Thomas Henry) and Stephen E. Byington, (Hannah's brother) were married on the same day in a double wedding ceremony.

They were married 30 Sep 1884 in Oxford, Onieda, Idaho.