The Hansen Families of Clinton County, Iowa

HANS L. HANSEN.

One of the most thrifty and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of Waterford township is Hans L. Hansen, whose home is on section 16. He was born in the province of Schleswig, Germany, January 19, 1852, and was fourteen years of age when he crossed the ocean with his parents, Lorenz and Anna Margaretta (Caspersen) Hansen, who were also natives of Schleswig. They took passage on the steamship Bavaria and after a voyage of nineteen days landed in New York. They immediately came to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi at Lyons, and in this county the father worked as a laborer for two years. He then rented a farm of two hundred and forty acres at Bryan from Henry Ingerson, and after residing there for three years bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 16, Waterford township. To the improvement and cultivation of that place he devoted his energies until 1877, when he sold out to our subject, but continued to live with him until his death, which occurred March 2, 1895. His wife had previously died, in June, 1882, and both were buried in Mc- Clure cemetery, Waterford township. They were the parents of four children, namely: Augusta, now the widow of Peter Weim and a resident of Boone, Iowa; Carl Thomas, who married Rica Koelso and lives near Early, Sac county, Iowa; Hans L., our subject; and Martin, who lives with our subject.

Hans L. Hansen attended school in his native land until the emigration of the family to America in 1860. During his early residence in Iowa he worked as a farm hand, but after his father bought property he assisted in the operation of the home farm, which was only partially improved when it came into the possession of the father, but with the aid of our subject it was soon placed under a high state of cultivation. The year before his marriage he purchased the farm, and in connection with its operation he also carried on a rented farm of one hundred and twenty acres, three miles from his homestead, for one year. He has 'added to his property from time to time until he now has three hundred and ninety acres in one body, constituting one of the best farms in the county. On the 1 8th of May, 1898, his place lay in the path of the tornado and cyclone which swept over the county and much of his property was destroyed, including twenty-one buildings, five head of cattle and two hundred and sixty-six hogs. The roof was torn from his house and carried seven miles away, together with the contents of all the rooms on the second floor, with the exception of one stand with a lamp on it. Dressers, beds, carpets, pictures and everything were swept away. Mr. Hansen received a slight wound in the right hand, but the other members of the family escaped uninjured. He has since rebuilt his residence, erected good barns, granaries, etc., and now has one of the best improved farms in that locality.

Mr. Hansen was married, January 19, 1877, in the Masonic Temple, at Lyons, to Miss Maria Christina Henrietta Luckstedt, Squire Henningsen performing the ceremony. Mrs. Hansen was born in Jackson county, Iowa, April 9, 1860, and is a daughter of John and Sophia (Stuebie) Luckstedt, both natives of Mecklenburg, Germany. The)' came to America about 1858 on a sailing vessel, and were seven weeks and three days in crossing the Atlantic tk; Xew York. After spending six months in Lyons, Iowa, they moved to the country and Mr. Luckstedt worked as a day laborer one year. The following year he operated a rented farm, and subsequently rented Captain Smith's farm in Jackson county one year, and Henry Swan's farm in Clinton county for about two years. At the end of that time he purchased one hundred and forty acres of land on sections 9 and 16, Waterford township, and made his home thereon until his death, which occurred March 15, 1897. His wife died December 19, 1888, and both were laid to rest in the McClure cemetery. They had a family of six children, three sons and three daughters: Fred, who married Minnie Holtz and lives in Jones county, Iowa; George, who married Katie Fry and resides on the Luckstedt homestead; Maria, wife of our subject; August, who married Minnie Specht and resides on a farm in Jones county; Annie, wife of Fred Storm, of the same county; and Ida, who was married in the spring of 1901 to John Schrader, of Jones county.

Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are the parents of eleven children, all born in Clinton county, namely: Lawrence J., born April 14, 1878, was married June 6, 1900, to Martha Greve and is now secretary and treasurer for Greve. Hansen & Company, at Clinton; Agnes, born October 12, 1880, died at the age of nine months and was buried in McClure's cemetery; Johanna L., born November 7, 1881, was married October 10, 1900, to Fred C. Mangier and resides in Green Island, Jackson county, Iowa; August M., born September 9, 1883, assists his father in the operation of the farm; and Josephine Christina, born January 13, 1886, Laura S., born February 21, 1888, Annie M., born April 3, 1890, Frederick C, born May 7, 1892. George H., born October 3, 1894, and W. Bryan, born April 3, 1897, and Marcella Grace, born November 26, 1900, are all at home.

Socially Mr. Hansen is a member of the Mystic Workers and Camp No.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LORENZ J. HANSEN.

Lorenz J. Hansen, treasurer and secretary of Greve, Hansen & Company, was born in Charlotte, Clinton County, April 14, 1878, and is a son of Hans L. and Maria ( Lucksted) Hansen. The father was a native of Germany- and was seventeen years of age when he emigrated to America and took up his residence in Charlotte, Iowa, where he married Maria Lucksted, who was born in that place. Her father, John Lucksted, now deceased, was one of the early settlers of that section and a prominent farmer. Our subject's paternal grandparents also came to this county and made their home in Charlotte. The father is still a resident of that place. Throughout his active business life he has followed farming with excellent success, and has added to his landed possessions from time to time until he now has four hundred acres of very valuable and productive land. He is one of the prominent and prosperous farmers of the county, and is a man of influence in his community. His children are Lorenz J., our subject; Johanna, wife of Fred Mengler, of Green Island, Iowa; August; Josephine; Laura; Anna; Fred; George; Bryan; and Marcella.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood upon his father's farm and aided in its operation until 1897, his education being acquired in the district schools near his home and the public schools of Charlotte, where he was graduated in 1896.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

PETER C. HANSEN.

Peter C. Hansen, who occupies an influential and prominent position among the agricultural population of Washington township, is the owner of a splendid farm of three hundred and seven acres on section 12. He was born in Slavewick, Germany, October 26, 1841, and is a son of H. P. and Marie (Alliens) Hansen, also natives of that country. On the emigration of the family to America, they came directly west on landing in New York, and located in Center township, Clinton county, Iowa, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Later he bought the farm where our subject now resides, but continued to make his home in Center township until called to his final rest in January, 1889. His wife died in 1881, and both were buried in the Ingorsen cemetery at Center Grove. They had a family of five children, namely: Sabina was first married in Germany to B. Paulsen, now deceased, and for her second husband she wedded Nicholas Hoist, a farmer of Jones county, Iowa; Peter C. is next in order of birth; August is married and lives near Verdi, Minnesota; Henry married Maggie Booke and resides on a farm in Center Grove, Iowa; and Annie is the wife of Cornelius Peterson, of Washington township, this county.

The subject of this sketch attended the schools of his native land until sixteen years of age, and then assisted his father in the labors of the farm. In 1866 he accompanied the family on their removal to the new world, and aided in the work of the home farm until his marriage. Returning to Germany he was married January 20, 1876, to Miss Marie Boysen, who was born in the fatherland July 14, 1847, and was a daughter of Boy and Maggie (Peterson) Boysen, who spent their entire lives in that country. She was one of a family of six children, of whom three are still living in Germany. Mrs. Hansen died on the 3d of January, 1890, and was laid to rest in the Ingorsen cemetery. Besides her husband she left four children to mourn her loss, namely: Matilda, born April 30, 1879; Bony, born March 30, 1 881; Henry, born August 17, 1883; and Peter, born June 24,

Mr. Hansen was again married January 20, 1 89 1, at Charlotte, Iowa, his second union being with Miss Liene Boldt, who was also born in Germany, November 20, 1847, a daughter of Frank and Henrietta (Wittiker) Hansen, natives of the same country. In 1872 she came with her parents to America and settled in Waterford township, Clinton county Iowa, where the father purchased eighty-eight acres of land, making his home there until his death, which occurred November 11, 1898. He was buried in Goldman cemetery in Waterford township. His wife is still living and now makes her home with her son, Charles Boldt, in St. Louis, Missouri. In her family were four children: August, who married Christina Leckwein and resides in Charlotte, Iowa; Liene. wife of our subject; Charles, who is married and resides in St. Louis; and Bertha is a missionary of the Baptist church and is now in South Africa.

On the death of his father Mr. Hansen took charge of the farm in Washington township, while his brother assumed the management of the home farm in Center township. In connection with the operation of his land our subject gives considerable attention to stock-raising, buying and fattening cattle for market. He feeds all the grain that he raises to his stock and buys more from his neighbors. He is regarded as one of the most enterprising, energetic and successful agriculturists of his township, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. He attends the German Lutheran church at Charlotte. In politics he is independent, and supports all measures which he believes calculated to promote the best interests of the people.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Claus 1 lassen, a representative farmer of Deep Creek township, residing on section 32, was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 4th of December, 1842, a son of Jerry and Anna ( Nitert) Hansen, who were also natives of that country. There the father spent his entire life. In 1866 the mother came to America, and has since made her home with our subject. She was born March 28, 1812, and although nearly ninety years of age she is still quite active. In the family were nine children, five of whom came to this country, but only three are now living, namely: Mary, wife of Dudley Paysen, of Clinton; Peter, who wedded Mary Myers and lives near Lyons; and Clans, our subject.

Mr. Hansen, of this review, spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native land, and in 1864 came alone to America by steamer, it requiring thirteen days to cross the water from Hamburg to New York. From the latter city he proceeded at once to Davenport, Iowa, and from there came by stag'e to Lyons," Clinton county. After working as a farm hand for twelve years he purchased eighty acres of swamp land on section 32, Deep Creek township, in 1876, and at length converted his place into a well cultivated farm. Later he bought another eighty-acre tract, and to-day has one of the best farms of its size in the township, it being improved with good and Substantia] buildings.

On the 13th of October, 1877, Mr. Hansen wedded Miss Mary Ploag, also a native of Holstein, Germany, and a daughter of Frederick and Julia (Litchers) Ploag. The father died in that country at the age of sixty-six years, and in 1881 the mother came to the new world, where she died, her remains being interred in the Hansen cemetery. Deep Creek township. It was in May, 1877, that Mrs. Hansen crossed the Atlantic from Hamburg to Xew York City and came to Iowa. Unto our subject and his wife were born five children: Annie. now a resident of Clinton; a son who died in infancy, and his twin brother, John, at home; Emma, who has taken up the study of German in a private school in Charlotte; and William, at home.

Mr. Hansen uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never cared for political preferment. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church at Charlotte, and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Among the foreign-born citizens of Clinton county who have achieved well-merited success in life is Hans Hansen, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Orange township, his home being on section 15. He was born in Schleswig, Germany, June 1, 1840. and during his boyhood he received a fair education in the German language, while his knowledge of English has been self-acquired since coming to this country. He served one year in the Danish army. Before leaving his native land he was united in marriage, in 1863, with Miss Mary Jensen, and he there worked on a farm for some years.

In 1868, accompanied by his wife and three children, Mr. Hansen came to the United States, sailing from Hamburg to New York. On landing in this country he proceeded at once to Davenport, Iowa, and located near that city, where he worked at am thing which he could find to do for the first two or three years. In 1870 he rented a small farm and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In March, 1874, he came to Clinton county, and after operating a rented farm for a year he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Orange township, on which a small shanty had already been built. This he improved, making it his home for several years, while he devoted his time and energies to the further improvement and cultivation of his farm. He fenced and tiled the place, set out fruit trees and erected a barn and outbuildings. He resided there until 1885, when he bought one hundred and fifty-six acres of land, where he now resides and has since added to it an adjoining tract of twenty-seven acres, making a good farm of one hundred and eighty-three acres, a total of three hundred and eight-three acres. He gives considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, and usually fatten two car loads for market annually. On coming to this country he was without means, but he has always made the most of his opportunities, and is to-day one of the well-to-do men of his community, owning two large and valuable farms under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Hansen's first wife died in 1892, leaving eleven children, four sons and seven daughters, as follows: Anna, wife of Henri Atsen; Hans Hansen; Peter Hansen: Mary, wife of Fredrick Kelding; Lena, wife of C. C. Sackett: Johanna, wife of Theodore Trulsen; Katie, wife of James McNall; Emma, wife of Jens Geronsen; Vina, now Mrs. Daniel Shippy; Johanis Hansen; Jacob Hansen. Mr. Hansen was again married in this county, in 1893, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Carson, who was also born and reared in Germany. There is one son by this marriage, Harry.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRED G. HANSEN.

Though yet a young man, Fred G. Hansen, the present able and popular deputy clerk of the district court at Clinton, Iowa, has won a high standing among the progressive and public spirited men of this locality. He belongs to that class of individuals who win in life's battles by sheer force of personality and determination, and in whatever he has undertaken he has shown himself to be a man of ability and honor.

Mr. Hansen was born May 7, 1883, in Lyons. Iowa, and he is the son of Godber and W'iebke (Tolck) Hansen. His father was born on September 20, 1844, in Germany, where he grew to maturity and was educated and from which country he came to America in 1866 and settled in Lyons, Iowa. He worked at the carpenter's trade for a number of years, assisting in building many of the early houses of this community. Then he entered the grocery business, handling also boots and shoes, and continued successfully as a merchant until 1892, building up a large and growing trade as a result of his excellent management and honorable treatment of his fellow men when he sold out and launched in the implement business. Later he abandoned the field as a merchant and has since been engaged as sidewalk, sewer, road and general contractor and is one of the best known men in this line of endeavor in the count\

Politically, ]\Mr. Hansen is a Democrat, and he served for a period of six years as county supervisor in a very able manner. He was a member of the city council for a number of years here. In religious matters he is a Lutheran.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Fred G. Hansen received a good education in the public schools of his home city, and was graduated in 1901. He soon afterwards accepted a position with the Iowa Telephone Company, with which he remained until 1904, in which year he was appointed deputy clerk of the district court, which position he has filled to the present time with a fidelity that is very creditable to himself and which has resulted in entire satisfaction to all concerned. He is prominent in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree. In religious matters he is a Lutheran.

Mr. Hansen was married on April 27, 1905, to Nina M. Barker, of Clinton, who was born August 29, 1883. She, too, received a good common school education and she has borne her husband one child, George Barker. Personally, Mr. Hansen is a very pleasant gentleman and, judging from his past record, the future awaits him with larger success.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.