OLIVER S. HANSON 1862-1939

HANSON, CROON, SORLEY, ELLINGSON, SANAKER, LOMMEN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/13/2005 at 20:03:41

O. S. Hanson, pioneer banker of North Dakota, city commissioner of Grand Forks and prominent in its business and civic life for a third of a century died Friday in a hospital here after an illness of several days. He was 77 years old June 3. He had been in rather poor health for several years, after a serious illness in 1931 but had been active in his work on the city commission until this week when he suffered a stroke that ended a career allied with development of North Dakota for 58 years.

Born in Hanover township, Allamakee County, Iowa on June 3, 1862 Oliver Hanson received his early education in the rural schools and was employed on farms in Iowa much of the time until he came to N. D. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Hans A. Hanson. With his brother, Albert L. Hanson, he engaged in banking in Hillsboro from 1881 to 1884, moving in the latter year to Buxton where he established the first bank in that town. His brother Albert later moved to Ada, Minn in July 1938. It was in 1907 that Mr. Hanson came to Grand Forks, affiliating with the old
Scandinavian-American Bank, serving as president. He continued as president until that bank, now named Northwestern National Bank, merged with the First National Bank of Grand Forks in June 1929. In 1932 Mr. Hanson was elected a member of the Grand Forks city commission for a four year term.

Besides his widow, Edla* Hanson, he is survived by four sons, three daughters, two sisters and 12 grandchildren. A son and daughter preceded him in death. The surviving sons are Albert L. and Merwyn H. Hanson, Mahnomen, Minn; Walter Hanson of Philadelphia and Odin Hanson of Wagner, South Dakota. Daughters are Charlotte Hanson of Minneapolis; Mrs.** John Croon, Bemidji and
Adelaide Hanson who lives at the family home and attends the University of N. D. His two sisters are Mrs.**** John Sorley of Crookston and Mrs.*** Tom Ellingson of Waukon Iowa.

- notes: *Edla Unger, 3rd wife; **Caroline Josephine, ***Addie, I think. She is the only other surviving sister but in other obits her name is Sanaker (her mother's) and Lommen (her father's) She must have married three times; ****Etta

- source: June 30, 1939, Grand Forks (ND) Herald
- submitted by Sue Grady