Hansen, Peter C.

HANSEN, AHLENS, PAULSEN, HOLST, BOOKE, PETERSON, BOYSEN, BOLDT, WITTIKER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 20:00:17

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

PETER C. HANSEN.

Peter C. Hansen, who occupies an influential and prominent position among the agricultural population of Washington township, is the owner of a splendid farm of three hundred and seven acres on section 12. He was born in Slavewick, Germany, October 26, 1841, and is a son of H. P. and Marie (Ahlens) Hansen, also natives of that country. On the emigration of the family to America, they came directly west on landing in New York, and located in Center township, Clinton county, Iowa, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. Later he bought the farm where our subject now resides, but continued to make his home in Center township until called to his final rest in January, 1889. His wife died in 1881, and both were buried in the Ingorsen cemetery at Center Grove. They had a family of five children, namely: Sabina was first married in Germany to B. Paulsen, now deceased, and for her second husband she wedded Nicholas Holst, a farmer of Jones county, Iowa; Peter C. is next in order of birth; August is married and lives near Verdi, Minnesota; Henry married Maggie Booke and resides on a farm in Center Grove, Iowa; and Annie is the wife of Cornelius Peterson, of Washington township, this county.

The subject of this sketch attended the schools of his native land until sixteen years of age, and then assisted his father in the labors of the farm. In 1866 he accompanied the family on their removal to the new world, and aided in the work of the home farm until his marriage. Returning to Germany he was married January 20, 1876, to Miss Marie Boysen, who was born in the fatherland July 14, 1847, and was a daughter of Boy and Maggie (Peterson) Boysen, who spent their entire lives in that country. She was one of a family of six children, of whom three are still living in Germany. Mrs. Hansen died on the 3d of January, 1890, and was laid to rest in the Ingorsen cemetery. Besides her husband she left four children to mourn her loss, namely: Matilda, born April 30, 1879; Bony, born March 30, 1881; Henry, born August 17, 1883; and Peter, born June 24, 1886.

Mr. Hansen was again married January 20, 1891, at Charlotte, Iowa, his second union being with Miss Liene Boldt, who was also born in Germany, November 20, 1847, a daughter of Frank and Henrietta (Wittiker) Hansen, natives of the same country. In 1872 she came with her parents to America and settled in Waterford township, Clinton county, Iowa, where the father purchased eighty-eight acres of land, making his home there until his death, which occurred November 11, 1898. He was buried in Goldman cemetery in Waterford township. His wife is still living and now makes her home with her son, Charles Boldt, in St. Louis, Missouri. In her family were four children: August, who married Christina Leckwein and resides in Charlotte, Iowa; Liene, wife of our subject; Charles, who is married and resides in St. Louis; and Bertha is a missionary of the Baptist church and is now in South Africa.

On the death of his father Mr. Hansen took charge of the farm in Washington township, while his brother assumed the management of the home farm in Center township. In connection with the operation of his land our subject gives considerable attention to stock-raising, buying and fattening cattle for market. He feeds all the grain that he raises to his stock and buys more from his neighbors. He is regarded as one of the most enterprising, energetic and successful agriculturists of his township, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. He attends the German Lutheran church at Charlotte. In politics he is independent, and supports all measures which he believes calculated to promote the best interests of the people.