Karen 'Carnie' Larsen
Image: Tallygaroopna Times & Tales 1990
FatherLaust Larsen b. 13 Jan 1843, d. 23 Jan 1917
MotherAnna Margaretha Naugardt b. 26 Jun 1848, d. 24 Sep 1904
Pedigree

Birth, Death, Marriage

Karen 'Carnie' Larsen was born on 11 March 1877 in Congupna, Victoria.1,2,3 
She died on 16 May 1959 in Tallygaroopna, Victoria, at age 82.4,5 
ChartsLarsen, Laust, descendant chart

Story

All the Larsen children attended the Congupna township school.6
 
In October 1896, a 19 year old Carnie was bridesmaid and witness for the marriage of her sister Anna Caroline to Richard Williams at the family home in Congupna.7
 
Death of Anna Margaretha 
Anna Margaretha suffered for several years from tuberculosis, known at the time as consumption or phthisis.

Anna Margaretha Larsen died of tuberculosis in Congupna on the morning of Saturday 24th November 1904, aged 56. She was buried at the Shepparton cemetery on 26 November.8,9,10
 
Most of the family was still in the family homestead; only the married Anna Carolina had moved out. Meta was the youngest at 13 years old. Eldest remaining daughter, Carnie became house-keeper and carer for her father and the younger family members.11
 
Laust, Denmark Visit 1906
In 1906, two years after mother Anna Margaretha died, father Laust returned to visit family in Denmark.12,8
 
Two family photos were taken beforehand to take to Denmark. One was a family portrait of Laust with his nine children. The other was taken in front of his 'Fairfield' homestead and included spouses and grandchildren.8,12
Bill (William Magnus), Mary, Deas (Andreas), Carnie (Karen), Bert (Albert), Mag (Margaret Elizabeth), Annie (Anna Caroline), The Pater (Laust), Dora, Meta (in front) Larsen, 'Fairfield', Congupna, 1906
Image: Margaret Pell, Laurie & Lorraine Phillips
Margaret Elizabeth Larsen, Dora Larsen, Annie Thelma Williams, Laust Larsen, Dora May Williams, Anna Caroline Williams (Larsen), Albert Frederick Larsen, Meta Alvina Larsen, Richard Cornelius Williams, Karen Larsen on horse, Andreas Laust Larsen, Mary Larsen, Cecil Roy Williams on Kit, 'Fairfield' homestead, Congupna, 1906
Image: Margaret Pell
Laust, Karen & Margaret, Denmark Visit 1912
Laust returned to Denmark again in 1912, this time with daughters Karen and Margaret.

They left Melbourne in April aboard the Gneisenau, and returned in October on the Seydlitz.13,14
Carnie (Karen) Larsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1912
Image: Geoff Larsen
Maggie (Margareta Elizabeth) Larsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1912
Image: Geoff Larsen
Maggie (Margareta Elizabeth) Larsen, Laura Thorsell (from Denmark), Karen 'Carnie' Larsen, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1912
Image: Geoff Larsen
Back: Annie (Anna Caroline) Williams (Larsen), Margaret Berry (Larsen), Leura Larsen (Kerr), Meta Hannan (Larsen), Allan Larsen (child), Matthew Hannan, Jack (John) Larsen (child), William Larsen; front: George Berry, Karen 'Carnie' Larsen, Richard Williams, Congupna, c. 1919
Image: Sue Mountney
Back: Annie (Anna Caroline) Williams (Larsen), Margaret Berry (Larsen), Leura Larsen (Kerr), Meta Hannan (Larsen), Allan Larsen (child), Matthew Hannan, Jack (John) Larsen (child), William Larsen; front: George Berry, Karen 'Carnie' Larsen, Richard Williams, Congupna, c. 1919
Image: Sue Mountney
Four years after their father died, Carnie's brother Bert bought a butcher shop in Tallygaroopna and they both lived there.

When Bert married in 1926, Carnie bought a house next to the hall but did not actually live there for some years. She moved around her family lending a helping hand, especially when the mother was ill or a new baby arrived. She enjoyed looking after children.11
 
Auntie Annie (Anna) Williams (Larsen), Freda Williams, Auntie Carnie (Karen) Larsen, 1929
Image: Margaret Pell
Names uncertain, possibly Roy Williams (standing right), Carnie (Karen) Larsen (seated left), Annie Williams (seated second right), others may be Larsens
Image: Margaret Pell
Unknown child (front left), Lorraine Williams with Anna Caroline Williams (Larsen), Karen 'Carnie' Larsen, c. 1929
Image: Val Williams
At the inaugural meeting of the Tallygaroopna Progress Association in July 1939, elected office bearers included Bert, Doris and Carnie Larsen. Early projects included the children's playground (in cooperation with the CWA), and street improvements. It lapsed during the Second World War and when it reformed, Bert was Vice President.15
 
From 'Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales':
Carnie Larsen, well remembered. She always made the coffee for supper at Hall functions. She was 'Auntie Carnie' to many.16

Karen 'Carnie' Larsen
Image: Tallygaroopna Times & Tales 1990
Carnie Larsen died in Tallygaroopna in 1951, aged 82. She is buried with her sister Dora, between brother Deas and parents Laust and Anna.17,4
 

Citations

  1. [S270] Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, registry and index, Karen Larsen entry, birth registration no. 11662, 1877.
  2. [S455] Full genealogical table for Laust Larsen, computer file, ancestor table, unpublished, 2010.
  3. [S516] Karen Larsen, birth registration no. 11662, 11 March 1877.
  4. [S78] Shepparton Public Cemetery, cemetery and register.
  5. [S290] Outline Descendant Report for Laust Larsen, descendent report, unpublished, 15 March 2010.
  6. [S79] 'The early days of the Larsen family: Congupna', The Centenary of Congupna Schools and District 1884-1984, Congupna Centenary Committee, 1984, p. 19, story by Ursula Reynolds.
  7. [S240] Richard Cornelius Williams and Anna Caroline Larsen, marriage registration no. 6123, 1 October 1896.
  8. [S284] Laust Larsen detailed ancestor table, computer file, ancestor table, unpublished, 2010.
  9. [S116] Anna Margaretha Larsen, death registration no. 10704, 24 September 1904.
  10. [S18] '[Death Notice: Mrs Laust Larsen]', Shepparton News, 1877-, newspaper, Roy McPherson, 27 September 1904.
  11. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, pp. 118-119.
  12. [S213] Geoff Larsen, personal communication, 12 March 2010.
  13. [S243] Outward Passenger Lists 1852-1923, online, PROV, 'Mr L, Miss M and Miss A (index transcript entry) Larsen' entries, Gneisenau, 1912.
  14. [S40] Unassisted Passenger Lists 1852-1923, online index, PROV, 'Mr L, Miss Karin and Miss Margaret Larsen' entries, Seydlitz, 1912.
  15. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 95.
  16. [S17] Tallygaroopna and District Times and Tales: Published to mark the occasion of the centenary of Tallygaroopna primary school 3067, 1890-1990, Tallygaroopna school council, 1991, p. 119.
  17. [S79] The Centenary of Congupna Schools and District 1884-1984, Congupna Centenary Committee, 1984, p. 19-20.