Nels Hanson

HANSON, LARSON, STENERSON, CHEEVER, WATLAND

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/14/2011 at 16:10:07

Nels Hanson has never had occasion to regret his choice of farming as a life work, for he has met with gratifying success in the cultivation of his land on section 9, Iowa Lake township. He was born in Norway, June 12, 1852, a son of Nels and Annie (Larson) Hanson, also natives of that country, where the father engaged in farming and fishing. He died there in 1878 and the demise of his wife occurred nineteen years previously, or in 1859.

Mr. Hanson was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. When eighteen years old he came to America and for some time was in the employ of farmers of Polk county, Iowa. He next rented land in Hamilton county, this state, for six years, and in 1887 came to Emmet county, Iowa, where he has since resided. He operated rented land near Estherville for four years, but in 1891 purchased his present place, which comprises eighty acres on section 9, Iowa Lake township. He has improved the place in various ways and during the twenty-six years that he has engaged in its operation has seldom failed to harvest good crops. He has also derived a satisfying profit from his stock raising interests.

On the 12th of February, 1878, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Christine M. Stenerson and they became the parents of the following children: Annie; Nels, who died in 1881; Martha, now the wife of Fred W. Cheever; Lewis; Jennie; Hannah; Clarence; Hazel; Sanford; and Grace. In August, 1900, the wife and mother passed away and on the 3rd of March, 1905, Mr. Hanson married Mrs. Sarah (Stenerson) Watland, a sister of his first wife and the widow of John Watland. By her marriage to Mr. Watland, who died in June 1903, she had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Joseph, John, Edith M. and Martin, all of whom are also now deceased; Edward, Jennie, Ollie, Eli and Irene, all of whom survive.

The republican party receives the loyal support of Mr. Hanson and his keen interest in affairs concerning the public welfare is indicated by the fact that for ten years he has served as a member of the school board. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He has found in the United States the opportunities for advancement which he sought and has been prompt and energetic in their utilization, thus gaining a place among the substantial men of his locality.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.