Hendrick Arnold Hanson

As printed in 1916

HENDRICK ARNOLD HANSON.

Prominent in the political life of Tordenskjold township and a successful farmer of Otter Tail county for many years, Hendrick Arnold Hanson was born on his father's homestead farm in Tordenskjold township on June 10, 1873.

Mr. Hanson is a son of Nils and Anne (Monsen) Loken, both of whom were born in Norway, and who were married in that country. They came to America in 1868, and for two years lived near Red Wing, Minnesota. About 1870 they emigrated to Otter Tail county, being accompanied to this county by Mr. Hanson's maternal grandmother, Ingebor Monsen. The latter took up a homestead claim of forty acres in Clitherall township, and on this tract the whole family lived for two years, after which Mr. Hanson's father homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold township, which he gradually improved from time to time. Here the family lived until 1908, when the farm was sold to E. J. Hanson, the youngest son. At this time the father retired from active farm life and removed to a home near that of his son, Hendrick Arnold. Both Mr. Hanson's father and mother are living at this time, his father now being seventy-eight years, and the mother is seventy-nine. At one time Mr. Hanson's father was identified with the Populist party, but is now an independent voter. Both he and his good wife are devout members of the Lutheran church, and he was one of the founders of the Trefoldighed church in Clitherall township. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Hendrick Arnold was the fourth in order of birth. The others, in the order of their birth, are as follow: Hans Jacob, a farmer living at Landa, North Dakota; Inga, the wife of Hans Olsen, a farmer of Landa, North Dakota; Dena, the wife of Herman Lillestrand, of Landa, North Dakota; Mollie, the wife of J. B. Highdale, a farmer of Tordenskjold township; Edwin Julius, living on his father's farm, and Sarah, the wife of Jule Morstad, lives at Wall Lake, Minnesota, where her husband is a merchant.

Hendrick Arnold Hanson was educated in the public schools of Otter Tail county, and reared on his father's farm. After reaching maturity he engaged in farming for himself. In 1897 Air! Hanson purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Tordenskjold township from Jacob Frederickson for the sum of one thousand six hundred dollars. Since that time Mr. Hanson has erected a handsome new house and barn, and has cleared forty acres of the land himself. He is a general farmer and stockman.

In 1895 Hendrick A. Hanson was married to Emma Nelson, who died in 1904, leaving five children, Xora, Alfred, Herbert and Hilma and Xorris, twins. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Hanson was married, in 1907, to Fina Haldorson, and to this union have been born seven children, Alida, Emma, Niola, Francis, Eddie, Ruby and Marwin..Mrs. Hanson was born on July 2i, 1875. and is a daughter of Andreas and Agnetta Haldorson, who are still living at Finmark, Norway. Mrs. Hanson's father is sixty-seven, and her mother is sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Hanson came to America in 1 901, and settled in Tordenskjold township.

Mr. Hanson is a Democrat in politics, and has served his fellow citizens as township treasurer for the past fifteen years. He also served eleven years as school treasurer, and has always taken an active interest in all movements which have for their object the betterment and welfare of his community. He and his wife and family are earnest and devout members of the Lutheran church.

As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.