Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

dealer. By this time he had acquired an
easy familiarity with the language and
felt at home in the new country and
anxious to get a start which should open
a better future before him than the work-
ing for wages. He entered into partnership
with his brother, Lawrence, whose
sketch follows this. Under the name of
Larsen Brothers they took contracts in
grading and excavating. They were both
men of good judgment and their work
was done in such an acceptable manner
that they went from one job to another,
building up an enviable reputation for
this class of work. They continued in
this line of business for years with increasing
success. In 1900 the young men
sold out their contracting business and
went into the livery business. In some
ways this was a great change, but they
put into the new venture the same spirit
and ambition as in the work which they
had carried to success, and they were no
less successful in this line. In all their
work they never forgot the courtesy and
consideration for the public which is so
large a factor of success in every line of
business. Their livery business grew and
developed, and when the time came that
the automobile began so definitely to take
the place of the horse they were in a posi-
tion to rise on the wave of progress,
where many were inundated by it. They
replaced their horses by motor vehicles,
beginning the change in 1906, but hold-
ing steadfast the same business policy
of excellence of service and unfailing
courtesy. Success was inevitable, and the
brothers went forward, constantly increasing
their capital and equipment. A
few years ago the business was incorporated
under the name of the Greenwich
Cab Company, Mr. Larsen's brother Law-
rence holding the office of president,
while Mr. Larsen is vice-president. He
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
396
still has charge of this branch of the busi-
ness.
On March I, 1918, the company opened
an office in Stamford, at the railway sta-
tion. This has been only a repetition of
the success in Greenwich. The company
is the most important one in its line in
this section of the State. The Stamford
end of the business is incorporated under
the name of The Stamford Transit Com-
pany, with Lawrence Larsen as president.
They have eighteen automobiles in daily
use in Stamford, and thirty in Greenwich.
Niels Larsen is one of those men who
bring to mind the sturdy pioneers of an
earlier day, who feared nothing, dared
everything, and with their bare hands
worked out the civilization it is now our
privilege to enjoy. Mr. Larsen is a member
of the Benevolent and Protective Or-
der of Elks, of Greenwich. He is too
busy a man to take an active interest in
politics, but is interested and active in
every public movement of the day.
Mr. Larsen married Amanda Johnson,
daughter of Neils Johnson. She was born
in Cullen, Sweden. They are the parents
of two children, Anna Marie, and Lillie
Costine. The family are members of the
Presbyterian church.
LARSEN, Lawrence,
Business Man.
New blood revives all living organisms.
It is the new blood, and the living, vital
power which that new blood gives that
has kept the United States of America
full of youth and life and abounding vi-
tality. It comes to us from every nation
under the sun, but from no nation do we
receive more sturdy, wholesome blood,
more upright, energetic men, than from
the little corner of Europe called Den-
mark. Lawrence Larsen, a member of