The Hansen Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

A veteran of the Civil War, one who took part in many of its most important engagements, a citizen who in local life has proved himself of great value to the community, and who has been a most important part of the development of those things which have done much for the moral and physical betterment of the township and county, and a man who has made a host of admiring friends as the result of his useful and unselfish life, is Stengrim Hansen, who was born in Norway, October 22, 1843, tne son ot Hans S. and Martha (Kupsing) Bergerud.

Hans S. Bergerud, following the death of his wife. Martha, came tk> America and settled in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, in the year 1872, living with his sons, Erik and Christian, for a time, plans S. Bergerud then took up a homestead of eighty acres of land in Aastad township, land which his son, Stengrim, the subject of this sketch, had pre-empted at an earlier time, it being what was known as "double-priced" land. Some time later Hans S. Bergerud was married, secondly, to Mary Olson, who was born in Norway, and who came to this country about the same time as Mr Bergerud. Hans S. Bergerud suffered the loss of his second wife in death after some time and then went to live with his son. Christian, dying at that place. Hans S. and Martha (Kupsing) Bergerud were the parents of the following children: Gunell. Thorston, Stengrim. Erik, Christian and Christopher. To the marriage of Hans and Mary (Olson) Bergerud were born four children, as follow: Martin, Olena, Andrena and Gunell.

Strengrim Hansen, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of Norway. With his sister, Gunell, and her husband, he came to America in the year 1861 and went to the state of Iowa, where tin v located in Winneshiek county, living there for a short time. Stengrim Hansen enlisted.-is a volunteer in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and served with that regiment for the remainder of the Civil War. after which he continued as a cavalryman and took part in many of the engagements while clearing the Indians from the states of North and Smith Dakota. Following his experience as a soldier, Stengrim Hansen returned to the state of Iowa and worked as a farmer on eighty acres of land which he owned until the year 1871. when he sold his land in Towa and came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township, Inter adding, by purchase, one hundred and sixty acres more. On this land Stengrim Hansen placed many improvements and now lives at tinplace, engaging in general farming pursuits. Mr. Hansen has also "free claimed" fifty-five acres adjoining his farm and running along the lake.

1 during the year 1869 Stengrim Hansen was married to Mary Olson, who was born in Norway and came to America with her parents, who located in Winneshiek county, Iowa. To the marriage of Stengrim and Alary Hansen were born the following children: Martha, Ole, Hans, Gunell, Theodore, Gustav,.Martin. Gilbert and Edward, who died at the age nf twenty-seven years.

Few men have been mure loyal to their faith and church than has Stengrim Hansen, who has aided in the construction of three churches of the Norwegian Lutheran denomination in Western township. As a member of his church. Mr. Hansen is esteemed and honored, not only for the part that he has done for the people of his faith, but on account of his good and his unselfish life. Stengrim Hansen is no less honored in the town of Fergus Falls, where the St. Luke's hospital was made possible largely due tn the efforts ami sacrifices of this worthy man.

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

HANS S. BERGERUD.

A well-known and prosperous farmer of Otter Tail county and of Aastad township, one who has been loyal to the community in matters of citizenship, and one who because of his unselfish nature and on account of his sense of duty to the welfare and progress of life and affairs of the locality, has won for himself a place of respect and esteem in the hearts of the local people, is Hans S. Bergerud, who was born on the family homestead in Western township. Otter Tail county, on September 5, 1873, the son of Stengrim and Mary (Olson) Hansen, whose lives are reviewed elsewhere in this volume.

Hans S. Bergerud was educated in the public schools of Otter Tail county, after which he became a farmer, purchasing two hundred and fifteen acres of land in Aastad township, where he now lives and pursues general agricultural life, producing excellent crops on his well-tilled soil, and also keeping some purebred cattle, which are used for breeding purposes. The farm of Hans S. Bergerud is well improved, has first-class equipment and is conducted on modern and approved methods.

During the year [904 Hans S. Bergerud was married to Helen B. Ryden, who was born in Doring, Minnesota, the daughter of Peter O. and Ragnild (Tverson) Ryden. To the marriage of Hans S. and Helen Bergerud have been born six children: Roy, Ernest. Palmer, Linden and T.ila, twins, and Harry.

In the political and public life of Aastad township, Otter Tail county. Minnesota. Hans S. Bergerud is well and favorably known as a man of tad and of special ability in the matters which have come before him as an official in the capacity of clerk of the school district, an office with which this worthy citizen has been honored for more than six years.

Hans S. Bergerud and his wife are earnest and devout members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and are people whose efforts in support of the policies and activities of this congregation are greatly appreciated.

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

Fred Hansen, a prosperous farmer of Everts township. Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, is a native of Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he was born on July 20, 1865.

Mr. Hansen moved to Grant county, Minnesota, when a mere child, and soon afterward accompanied his parents to Otter Tail county. He is a son of Andrew and Martha (Erickson) Hansen, both of whom were born in Norway, the former in 1834. and the latter on July 4, 1839. They were married in Norway and settled in Grant county. Minnesota, in pioneer times. They were also pioneers of ( )tter Tail county, Minnesota, and after removing to this county took a homestead in St. Olaf township in 1880. The next year they purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in sections 8 and 9, of Everts township. Subsequently, however, Andrew Hansen sold the three hundred and twenty acres to his two sons. Fred and Lewis, so that each now has one hundred and sixty acres.

Andrew Hansen and his wife now reside on their old homestead in St. Olaf township, where they have a comfortable and well improved farm and home. Both he and his wife are earnest and faithful members of the Lutheran church. ( )f their eight children. Lewis and Anton are dead. 'I he living children are J. E. TL, Tilda. Fred, Anne. John and Carl.

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

KNUD C. HANSEN.

Amoiig the prosperous financial institutions of Otter Tail county mention must be made of the First National Bank, of Battle Lake, which is a reorganization of the old Otter Tail County State Bank, and of which Knud C. Hansen is the cashier.

Knud C. Hansen was born near Christiana. Norway, June 16. 1868, a son of Christopher Hansen Bye and Boel Skatvedt. After his marriage, Mr. Hansen's father dropped the "Bye," and used "Stovern" in its place. Both Mr Hansen's parents were born in Norway and spent their entire lives in that country. The elder Hansen was a farmer and reared a family of seven children, two of whom came to America, Helga, who is unmarried and lives in San Francisco, California, and Knud C, the immediate subject of this sketch.

Knud C. Hansen received his education in the public schools of his native land, and at the age of nineteen years came to America. For seven years he was employed as clerk in a store in Sargent county. North Dakota, hut in [895 removed to Battle Lake, this county, and engaged in business with T. A. Ranstad, under the firm name of Ranstad & Hansen, and was thus engaged in the hardware and implement business until IQ07, a period of twelve years. In 107 Mr. Hansen reorganized the old Otter Tail County State Bank into the first National Bank of Battle Lake, and was elected cashier of the institution, a position which he now holds.

The First National Bank of Battle Lake has as its president. Charles Keith: vice-president, Henry Olson; cashier, K. ( '. Hansen and assistant cashier, F. J. Rudh. A condensed statement from the report made to the comptroller of the currency on.May 1. 11)15. shows the hank to have total resources of $283,078.17, divided as follows: Loans. $213,613.61; overdraft-. $138.02; United States bonds, $25,000: banking house, $8,000; stock federal reserve hank. SX50.00: cash on hand and due from hanks. $34,226.54; redemption fund with United States treasurer. $1,250.00. The liabilities of the hank, which amount to $228,078. 17. are divided as follows; 1 capital stock, $25,000.00; surplus, $3,500.00; undivided profits. $1,263.03; circulation, $25,000.00; deposits, $228,315.14.

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

Born in Sweden on February 24. 1855, Peter Hansen, a successful farmer of Nidaros township, this county, is the son of Hans and Mary Anderson, who spent their entire lives in their native land. Hans Anderson died in 1870 and his wife in 10,01. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two, Andrew and Johanna, the eldest and youngest, are deceased. The living children are Peter, the subject of this sketch, Ole, Magnus, Nels and Anna.

Peter Hansen was educated in Sweden and in 1892 came to America and, for five years, or until 1897. worked on a farm in Otter Tail county. In [897 Mr. Hansen purchased one hundred and fifty-five acres of land in section 25, of Clitherall township. There he erected a house and barn and erected all of the buildings which are now standing on the farm. These buildings include a good house and barn. Mr. Hansen is a progressive farmer in every respect. He has made a splendid success of general farming and stock raising.

In 1882, several years before coming to America, Peter Hansen was married in Sweden to Anna Hansen, who was born in Sweden in 1862, the daughter of Matthias and Anna Swensen. who never came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hansen have seven children, Albin. Hilda, Selma, Ellen, Fred, Esther and Ruth. Air. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Swedish Lutheran church at Eagle Lake. Mr. Hansen has never taken any special part in politics, but is interested in local affairs and has given his time and energy to the promotion of public improvements and to matters affecting the general welfare. He is a well-known and popular citizen and well liked by all who know him.

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