Biography - Luther M. Carlson
LUTHER MARTIN CARLSON, proprietor of the Carlson Mattress Works, in Grand
Island, has demonstrated in building up this fine business, the value of
industry and carefully directed effort. Mr. Carlson began life for himself
with but little assistance, but the extent of his present enterprise, built
up within the space of seven years, indicates that that fact was no
handicap.
Luther Martin Carlson was born in Knox County, Illinois, in 1871, the eldest
of four children born to Charles A. and Hannah (Anderson) Carlson. Both were
born in Sweden, emigrating from the old country, they came when young to
Illinois and were married there. In 1886 they removed to Kansas where
Charles A. Carlson homesteaded, taking up a tree claim which he owned until
the time of his death which occurred in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1898, the same
year in which his wife passed away. In early years he was a Republican but
later became identified with the Farmer's Alliance party. Both he and wife
belonged to the Lutheran church. Their surviving children are: Luther M.,
who lives at Grand Island; Alice, the wife of Theodore Jansen, of Salina,
Kansas, and Walter at the head of the mechanical engineering school of the
State Agricultural College in Manhattan, Kansas
Luther M. Carlson obtained only a district school education, following which
he worked on a farm and taught school until 1903 when he became connected
with a mattress manufacturing firm, first as an office man and later as
representative on the road. In 1912 he came to Grand Island and established
himself in the mattress manufacturing business and now has an extensive
plant at No. 1024 West North Front street. He manufactures and remakes all
grades of mattresses, makes pillows, feather beds, renovates feather, makes
automobile tops and does automobile top repairing. While his trade territory
is mainly in Nebraska, he also ships to Colorado and the Dakotas. His
reputation for promptness in the matter of contracts, and the excellence of
his products is wide spread.
In 1910 Mr. Carlson married Miss Lorraine Gurney, who was born and educated
in Iowa. They have one daughter, Mary Louise, a little maid of two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlson attend the Methodist church and Mrs. Carlson is
actively interested in its many benevolent movements. In politics Mr.
Carlson is a Democrat and an advocate of prohibition. He is not only a wide
awake business man but a responsible and public-spirited citizen, and he is
so recognized by his fellow citizens. He belongs to the United Commercial
Travelers Association and also the Knights and Ladies of Security.
Contributed by Todd Walter. extracted from the 1920 History of Hall County,
Nebraska, by Beuchler, Barr & Stough.
