The Hanson Families of Winneshiek County, Iowa

CHARLES M. HANSON.

For forty-three years Charles M. Hanson has owned a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres lying on sections 2 and 3, Lincoln township, and he has operated this since 1890. He has met with that success which always follows earnest and persistent labor and is accounted one of the most progressive and able agriculturists in this locality. He was born in Norway on the 7th of March, 1845, and is a son of Martin and Martha Hanson, both of whom have passed away. The parents came to Winneshiek county in 1865 and after residing for four years in Decorah moved to Lincoln township, where the father died. To their union were born two children: a daughter who died in infancy; and Charles M., of this review.

Charles M. Hanson came to Winneshiek county with his parents in 1865. He was at that time twenty years of age and after working in Decorah for four years moved to Lincoln township, where in 1870 he purchased his present farm of two hundred and forty acres. He operated this only a short time, however, and then rented out the property and moved again into Decorah. where he made his home for twenty years thereafter. At the end of that time he moved back to the farm and he has since been active in its improvement and development, making it a valuable and productive property. He engaged in general farming and is also extensively interested in stock-raising, both branches of his activities proving important sources of income to him.

Mr. Hanson married Miss Jane Bretison and they became the parents of seven children: Clara, who has passed away; Clara, second of the name, who is the wife of Ole Hovey, of Madison township; Minnie, who married Peter Hovey; Benjamin and Oscar, of South Dakota; Nettie, the deceased wife of L. Butterner; and Hannah, who married H. Soule, and they reside in Canada.

Mr. Hanson is a member of the Lutheran church and is a republican in his political beliefs. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the community, the development of which he has witnessed since early times, and he has himself done efficient work in the public service as school director and roadmaster. In the course of years his labors have been rewarded by gratifying success and his contributions to general agricultural development have been many and substantial.

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

From carpenter to the position of one of the foremost contractors and builders of Decorah is a wide step to take, yet Borger Hanson has reached that position without outside help or special advantages, through his own efforts, and is considered today one of the foremost citizens of his community and one of its most substantial men, being also connected with other important enterprises in this locality. Born on March 10, 1856, in the kingdom of Norway, he is a son of Hans Peter and Bertha (Schagery Nygaard, natives of Norway. The father followed the occupation of farming in the old country, where he passed away on January 2, 1871, but his wife subsequently came to the United States and made her home with our subject from 1886 until her demise in 1892.

Borger Hanson in the acquirement of his education attended the excellent common schools of his native country and subsequently went to Christiania, where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. The opportunities and advantages of the new world appealing to him, he came in 1876, when twenty years of age, to the United States and located in Decorah, Iowa, where he engaged in building and contracting. There he remained for two years but in 1878 made removal to Fargo, North Dakota, where he was one of the first settlers to take up a homestead in the Red River valley, in Traill county. He became the owner of two hundred and forty acres and subsequently added to his ranch by acquiring another one hundred and sixty acres of school land. For seventeen years he gave his sole attention to the improvement and cultivation of his farm, remaining in that northern state until the fall of 1895, when he returned to Decorah to engage again in the contracting and building business. In 1910 he disposed of his North Dakota interests and now gives all of his time to contracting and subletting. He has built the gymnasium at the Luther College and superintended the carpenter work on the dormitory and built the hospital on the college grounds. Moreover, he has erected many residences in Decorah and country homes in Winneshiek county, his extensive business connections speaking well for his ability and integrity. As his means have increased he has become connected with other important institutions and is now serving in the third year as a director of the Decorah State Bank, while he is also a stockholder in the Winneshiek Hotel Company and the Farmers Creameries. Lie owns, moreover, five hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in northern Minnesota, which he rents and from which he receives a gratifying income.

In 1880 Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Nicoline Myrann, a daughter of Asle and Astrid (Nelson) Myrann, natives of Norway. The father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life and upon coming to the United States became one of the pioneer settlers of Winneshiek county, where he located in Madison township, buying laud, to the cultivation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. Both the father and mother passed away there. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were the parents of ten children: Borghild Hansine died at the age of thirty-two years. Alma Amanda passed away when but seven months old. Alma Alvilde. the wife of Rev. P. C. Danielson, who is pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Fort Dodge, Iowa, is the mother of three children. Agnes Caroline, Evelyn Caroline and Baby Danielson. Cora Elizabeth died when seventeen years of age. Hans Peter, the eldest son in the family, is at present attending the Agricultural College at Ames, this state. Asle Norvin is pursuing a course in civil engineering at the State University at Iowa City. Sigurd Olaf takes an agricultural course at Ames, Iowa. Dagmar Victoria will graduate from the Decorah high school in 1916. Gisley Waldemar and Philip Yerner both died in 1902, the former at the age of two years and the latter in infancy.

Mr. Hanson gives his allegiance to the republican party, and the family are members of the United Lutheran church. Setting out upon his career without particular advantages or influence, he has attained to a prominent and substantial position in the community life of Decorah— a position which he has attained by his own efforts. He has well earned the proud title of self-made man and enjoys the confidence and good-will of all who come in contact with him in a business or social way.

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

HANS L. HANSON.

The record of many of Winneshiek county's worthy citizens reflected credit not only upon the state but also upon their native land of Norway. Such was the life history of Hans L. Hanson, who was born in the land of the midnight sun December 7, 1867, and passed away on his farm in Canoe township, April 26, 1907. His parents were Hans and Anna (Olson) Hanson, who in the year 1 87 1 came to the United States, making their way direct to Winneshiek county. They settled first in Hesper township and afterward removed to Canoe township. The father was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, passing away in the year in which he arrived in the new world. The mother, however, survived until 191 1. In their family were three children: Andrew and Hans, both of whom are residents of Canoe township; and Christine, the deceased wife of Jacob Budahl.

Hans L. Hanson spent his entire life in Canoe township from the age of four years, having been reared on the old homestead, while soon after his marriage he took up his above on the farm which is still owned by his widow, which comprises one hundred and sixty-three acres of land on section 23 and is known as the Canoe Dairy Farm, being devoted to the live stock and dairy business, making a specialty of Holstein cattle. Mr. Hanson developed the farm according to modern methods and carefully and systematically tilled the soil, bringing the land under a good state of cultivation, while his stock-raising and dairy interests constituted also a most important feature of the place.

On the 2d of June, 1892, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Bertha L. Haugen, who was born December 6, 1858, on the farm which is still her home, her parents being Peter L. and Anna Haugen, who settled upon this place in 1854, being among the pioneer residents of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson became the parents of five children, Anna, Christina, Amanda, Bennie and Peter, all of whom were born upon the farm which the family still occupies.

In his political views Mr. Hanson was a republican, always voting for the men and measures of the party, yet never seeking nor desiring office for himself. He held membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church and his was a well spent life, whereby he gained the respect, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.

His death, which occurred April 26, 1907, when he was in the fortieth year of his age, was deeply regretted by all who knew him. In his passing the community lost a loyal citizen, his associates a faithful friend, and his family a devoted husband and father.

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