Dates

• Existence: 1860 - 1939

Biographical History

Alof Larson (1860-1939) was a pioneer for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who helped to settle Snowflake, Arizona.

Alof Larson was born on August 3, 1860, in Tooele, Utah, to parents Mons (1823-1890) and Elna Olsson Malmstrom Larson (1826-1914). He spent his early years doing the chores of a pioneer child, including shepherding the family flock through snow storms and Indian visits. When the town decided to combine all the sheep into one flock, Alof was chosen to be the shepherd over them.

Alof was known as a young man for his honesty, dependability, frugality, industry, natural friendliness, and neighborliness. In 1878, when Alof was 18 years old, he moved to Snowflake, Arizona with his family, he and a brother and sister handled a heavy supply wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and a yoke of cows, and all the loose stock, traveling much of the day without others in the company.

Soon after arriving in Snowflake, Alof met May Hunt. Alof worked on the railroad making grade to pay for a wedding trip to Utah, the first of many that traveled from Snowflake, Arizona to the St. George, Utah Temple. Larson married May Louise Hunt (1860-1943) on October 26, 1881, in St. George, Utah, and together they had thirteen children.

Alof built their home out of logs he sawed himself while traveling the area; they never moved away from it, but added to it as needed. Larson worked as a farmer, cowboy, mayor of Snowflake, Chairman of the School Board, and Water Boss over the irrigation system. He served in church callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Sunday School superintendant, a missionary in the Northern States Mission, a member of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) presidency, a stake high counselor, a member of the stake presidency, and as a temple worker in Mesa, Arizona.

Larson died on January 8, 1939, in Snowflake, Arizona.

Citation:

FamilySearch.org, via WWW, Febryary 18, 2015 (Alof Larson was born on August 3, 1860, in Tooele, Utah, to parents Mons (1823-1890) and Elna Olsson Malmstrom Larson (1826-1914); married May Louise Hunt (1860-1943) on October 26, 1881, in St. George, Utah, and together they had thirteen children; died on January 8, 1939, in Snowflake, Arizona)

UPB files, accessed February 18, 2015 (Alof Larson was born on August 3, 1860, in Tooele, Utah, to parents Mons (1823-1890) and Elna Olsson Malmstrom Larson (1826-1914); spent his early years doing the chores of a Pioneer child, including shepherding the family flock through snow storms and Indian visits; when the town decided to combine all the sheep into one flock, Alof was chosen to be the shepherd over them; known as a young man for his honesty, dependability, frugality, industry, natural friendliness, and neighborliness; when Alof was 18 years old, he moved to Snowflake, Arizona with his family, he and a brother and sister handled a heavy supply wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen and a yoke of cows, and all the loose stock, traveling much of the day without others in the company; met May Hunt; worked on the railroad making grade to pay for a wedding trip to Utah, the first of many that traveled from Snowflake, Arizona to the St. George, Utah Temple; married May Louise Hunt (1860-1943) on October 26, 1881, in St. George, Utah, and together they had thirteen children; built their home out of logs he sawed himself while traveling the area; they never moved away from it, but added to it as needed; worked as a farmer, cowboy, mayor of Snowflake, Chairman of the School Board, and Water Boss over the irrigation system; served in church callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Sunday School Superintendant, a missionary in the Northern States Mission, a member of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) presidency, a Stake High Counselor, a member of the Stake Presidency, and as a temple worker in Mesa, Arizona; died on January 8, 1939, in Snowflake, Arizona).

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records: