Hans Beroen Henryson (1847-1917)

HENRYSON, BEROEN, KNUTSON, KNUDSON, SHELDAHL, THOMPSON, AMLUND

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 3/16/2024 at 23:56:22

From Story City Herald February 1, 1917 (page 2)

OBITUARY

H. B. Henryson

Hans B. Henryson (Beroen) was born at Beroen, Norway, June 29, 1847, and died at his home in Story City, Jan. 16, 1917, aged 69 years, 6 months and 17 days.

With his parents, Barney Henryson and Margrette Audahl Henryson, he came to America in the year 1857, when he was but ten years old. The family settled first in LaSalle county, Ill., but joined a large company of neighbors and relatives bound for Iowa the next year, 1858. As the trip was made largely by oxen, it took them six weeks to cover the distance from Illinois to Story county.

The Henryson family (or Beroen, as they were mostly called) settled on the farm east of the river, near Story City, or Fairview, as it was then named.

Here the deceased grew to manhood, was confirmed and married, and lived the better part of his life, moving into town about four years ago.

March 18, 1880, he was married to Miss Helen Knutson, daughter of Kittel Knudson. To this union were born seven children, of whom four survive the father, namely: Louis, Henry and Annas, and Mrs. C. L. Johnson. His wife also survives him, as does three sisters namely, Mrs. Alice Sheldahl of Roland, Mrs. Anna Thompson of Elmore, Minn., and Mrs. Kathrina Amlund of this place.

Mr. Henryson shared to the fullest extent the hardship incident to the life of a pioneer. Of late years he like to tell of the early period of Story City history, and few there were whose mind was stored with such lively impressions of that day. His youth was spent here, and the mind of youth is plastic and holds memories that older people are apt to pass by.

Growing up in times when actual money was the scarcest article in the community--when the time for paying the modest taxes of the day were looked forward to with dread--Mr. Henryson came, like so many of our pioneers to exercise frugality in the ordering of his affairs. So it was but natural that he should acquire a substantial portion of this world's goods, and he was counted among our most well-to-do people.

He was kindly disposed, had a strain of humor, and craved the fellowship of folks. He hadn't been in robust health during the later years; yet he managed to get around and visit considerable with his older friends, all of whom will greatly miss him in the days to come.

The funeral services were held in the St. Petri church, Rev. Paulsrud (his pastor) officiating, assisted by Rev. Solum. A tremendous outpouring of people testified to the widespread influence of his life and the number of persons who share in the regret of his passing.