Fonds - Larsen, Norris family fonds

Viktor Lovenbak Edwald Larsen was born on February 11, 1870 in Copenhagen, Denmark. At 14, Larsen went to sea. He arrived in Nanaimo in 1888 and became a naturalized citizen in 1894. Larsen married Fanny Louisa Norris in 1901. Fanny, born in Nanaimo on August 26, 1874, was the daughter of George Norris, the founder of the Nanaimo Free Press, and Amanda Gough. Captain and Fanny Larsen had one child, Victor Norris Larson, who was born March 8, 1906 in Seattle, Washington. Victor Larsen Jr. married Margaret Balmer; they had no children. Captain Larsen received his Certificate of Competency for Master of a Passenger Steamer in the Coasting Trade in 1900. On June 12, 1919 Captain Larsen became a Mate in the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve. Larsen was demobilized from his volunteer reserve status on February 28, 1919. Larsen sailed on the steamers "Cutch", the "City of Nanaimo", and the "Joan". For some time, he sailed the Alaskan run on the "Dolphin". Larsen served as first officer on the ship the "Lady Kindersley", a Hudson's Bay vessel. During WWI, Larsen served as a lieutenant aboard the "H.M.S. Restless". Later, he worked on the Hudson's Bay boat "Thomas" on the Peace, Mackenzie and Slave Rivers and on lake runs in the northern district. In Nanaimo, he was a member of the Canadian Legion, Ancient Order of Foresters, Nanaimo Pioneer Society and the Merchant's Guild. Larsen retired in 1937, and passed away December 2nd, 1947 at the age of 77. Fanny Larsen died in Nanaimo, at the age of 82, on November 5, 1957.

The Norris family lived in Canoe, near Salmon Arm. Clara Maud Bayliff had family in Australia who corresponded with her before and after her marriage to Eric Norris. Little else is known about the family. Maud Bayliff Norris had a brother, John George Bayliff of Australia who died in 1918. George corresponded with his sister from 1911 until his death.