HANS A. HANSON 1828-1910

HANSON, OGAAM, HORLAND, SIMONSEN, LOMMEN, ELLINGSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/13/2005 at 19:48:27

Hans A. Hanson, well known by many as "Little Hans," was born on the farm known as
Rundalshagen* in Haadeland Prestegjeld, Norway on September 28, 1828. His parents were Hans Hanson (Ogaam) and Sigrud** Hanson, (Horland).

He came to America in the spring of 1851 in a sailing vessel, being six weeks in crossing the ocean, landing in Quebec. From there the passengers came west by canal boat and the lakes to Milwaukee. He then came by team to Decorah, at which place and at what was then known as Troutrun, now Freeport, he spent the first three years of his life on this side of the water.

Soon after arriving there he was married to Maren Simonsen***, who with her parents, three brothers and one sister, came over in the same ship.

In the spring of 1854, he entered and moved onto the land since known as the William Fitzgerald farm in Hanover township. He sold his right to this land after building a log cabin, breaking a few acres and residing on it for about a year. He then walked to Dubuque and back, entering on the land on the Upper Iowa River now occupied by his daughter, Etta, and her husband, where he made his home until he retired from active life and moved to Waukon in the spring of 1895, spending the greater part of the later years of his life here.

He died Monday, October 10, 1910, being twelve days over eighty-two years of age.

Four sons, Albert of Ada, Henry of Waukon, Oliver of Grand Forks and Oscar of Buxton and two daughters Addie Lommen of Buxton and Etta Ellingson of Hanover township, twenty grandchildren and two great grandchildren survive him.

- notes: *Runddeleje, **aka Siri, ***aka Mary Olson and Mary Olsdatter
- source: clipping, likely from the Waukon newspaper
- submitted by Sue Grady, great-granddaughter