US Navy. Residence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Born 4 May 1837 in Stavanger, Norway. A family story says he came with an aunt and uncle to Keokuk, Iowa, and ran away to Philadelphia to serve on a ship. Civil War: Seaman. Blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, 5’6½”. Enlisted for three years on 2 Aug 1858 at Philadelphia. Ordinary seaman. Served on “Sabine” from 1 Oct 1858 to 20 Jan 1859. On “North Carolina” from 21 Jan 1859 to 11 Jun 1859. On “Sabine” from 12 Jun 1859 to 12 Jul 1861, when he was discharged from the service. Re-enlisted 19 Jul 1861 Served on “Seminole” from 27 Jul 1861 to 6 Jul 1862. On “North Carolina” from 6 Jul 1862 to 25 Jul 1862. On “Wachusette” from 26 Jul 1862 to 19 Dec 1864. Discharged from the service 19 Dec 1864 at Boston, Massachusetts. Post war: Married 15 Jun 1869 at Magnolia, New Jersey to Susannah I. Harley, who died on 7 Oct 1880. Three children: Edward, Frank and Oliver. Married 12 Jun 1883 at Philadelphia to Catharine L Beecher. Four children: George, Kendall, Carl and Raymond. Larson died in 20 Sep 1923. Buried at Hedding M.E. churchyard in Bell Mawr, New Jersey. Sources: (Copies of pension records provided by his great granddaughter Beatrice K Lawson Phillips, Easton, Maryland) “Lawson, Oliver”
