ay C. Larson, who was born in Seattle, Washington in 1977, first entered the Territory of Alaska at the turn of the century in time to participate in the Shushana stampede northwest of Cordova. He was unsuccessful in his mining adventure and soon returned to Seattle. He and Ann Thompson, who was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1877, were married in Seattle in 1910. They were settling into married life and their daughter, Helen, was born there in 1912. Ray, however, had the Alaska adventure in his blood and in 1915 headed north again, this time to the new townsite of Anchorage. He immediately found a residence for his family and awaited their arrival in 1916.

His first venture, a partnership with Anton Wendler, was a grocery store located in Wendler’s building at the corner of 4th Avenue and I Street. Ray soon left this venture and, with another partner, Harold Bliss, founded the Anchorage Lumber and Construction Company. He later left the lumber business and specialized in glasswork, a business which he operated for many years.

Ray took an interest in the growth of the new town, and his first volunteer effort was as chief of the Volunteer Fire Department. He also expressed his athletic ability by helping to organize the first baseball team in Anchorage and was one of its valuable players. Ann also kept her hand in volunteer work with various organizations and was one of the first members of the Anchorage Womans Club.

Daughter Helen was married to Lawlor Seeley in 1933. Ray C. Larson died in Seattle in 1942. Ann Thompson Larson died in 1968 and Helen Larson Seeley 1987.