Ephraim Larsson was born on 16 Sep 1787 in Hovmansgården Fölene, Sweden as the first child of Lars Hansson and Elin Carlsdotter. He died on 01 Dec 1862 in Rakåsa Mellomgården Fölene, Sweden. When he was 20, he married Stina Andreasdotter, daughter of Andreas Larsson and Britta Persdotter, on 19 Jun 1808 in Fölene, Sweden.

Ephraim Larsson was buried in Fölene, Sweden at the church of Fölene, Sweden Parish.

Ephraim Larsson and Stina Andreasdotter had the following children:

1. Samuel Ephraimsson was born on 15 Jun 1809 in Hovmansgården Fölene, Sweden. He died on 24 Feb 1890 in Väster-Bitterna, Sweden.
2. Johannes Ephraimsson was born on 21 Oct 1811 in Rakåsa Mellomgården, Fölene, Älvsborgs lån, Västergötland. He died on 12 Aug 1897 in Storegården Fölene, Sweden.
3. Ingeborg Ephraimsdotter was born on 24 Jun 1814 in Hovmansgården, Fölene, Älvsborgs län, Västergötland, She died on 25 Dec 1893 in Carver County, MN. She married Anders Persson on 16 Jun 1833 in Sweden.
4. Maja Stina Ephraimsdotter was born on 17 Dec 1815 in Hovmansgården Fölene, Sweden. She died on 15 May 1883 in Ölltorp Fölene.
5. Johanna Ephraimsdotter was born on 11 Dec 1817 in Hovmansgården Fölene. She died on 17 Nov 1898 in Hovmansgården Fölene.

Ephraim Larsson was born September 16, 1787 at Hovmansgården farm in the Fölene parish.  He is perhaps our most notable ancestor.  His parents were Lars Hansson (born July 10, 1733 in Herrljunga) and Elin Carlsdotter (born September 12, 1759 in Hudene).    His grandparents on his father’s side were Hans Vinberg and Ingeborg Larsdotter.  We do not know where they were born, the date of their birth or the name of their parents.

Per Randy Honebrink and Viktoria Unosson, there is a book, entitled “Herrljunga Boken 1956, Gammalt och Nytt.” Randy saw it at Joan Felt’s and wrote ‘there were many handwritten notes throughout, in Swedish of course, and there was a section on Ephraim Larsson.  In Joan’s copy, someone had put wax and Ephraim’s seal on the first page about him.’  Viktoria wrote ‘My father has got the book and I have the page of Ephraim Larsson rewritten here in my computer. The one Joan has is probably from Carl, cause I think Carl has sealed almost anything that has a connection with Ephraim. 🙂  I will tell you what it says (not a completely translation, cause I don’t how to. There are too many old-fashioned words).

When Ephraim was 27 years old (1814) he was selected into häradsrätten (a härad were a couple of parishes that were brought together. They had a court and police. It hasn’t been used for over 30 years I think. It’s an very old institution that started century’s ago). 1817-1818 he became a member of the parliament (riksdagen) for the first time. He represented Kullings härad and it was the härad that selected its members. The people couldn’t elect (?) at this time. Then another man called Anders Danielsson was selected instead. He died 1839 and Ephraim was in the parliament again and now representing Kullings, Gäsene and Ås härader by riksdagarna 1840-41, 1844-45 och 1847-48. By riksdagarna 1850-51 och 1856-58 he was selected by Kullings, Ale and Vättle härader.

At the riksdag the members can have suggestions (motion) about things they want for Sweden, that is called to motionera (the same word for exercising by the way). For instance, Ephraim and two other men suggested (motionerade) that women and man should inherite their parents equally. Before there were only men who could inherite and the sisters were only provided somehow by the brothers. They couldn’t inherite the property. At this time the riksdag were representatived by four estates – the Nobility, the Clergy, the Burghers and the Peasantry. Ephraim belonged to the Peasantry. The motion about the women and men should inherite equal was taken by every one except the Nobility. It was decided in 1845 that the new law was taken.