Andrew Hanson

HANSON, RAPP, NYHUS, LOVIK

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/26/2010 at 04:27:54

ANDREW HANSON

Andrew Hanson, who follows farming on section 136, Mount Valley township, Winnebago county, is a representative of the Scandinavian contribution to Iowa's citizenship and he displays many of the sterling traits of the race from which he comes. He was born in Sweden, August 12, 1867, and is a son of Hans Rapp, who came to the United States in 1879. After two years, however, he 'returned to Sweden, where he spent the succeeding six years and then again in 1887 came to the new world, establishing his home in Winnebago county. Five years afterward he removed to Hancock county, where he has since resided.

Andrew Hanson continued a resident of his native country through the period of his minority and acquired his education in the schools of Sweden, but in 1888 be resolved to try his fortune in the new world and bade adieu to friends and native land, after which he sailed for America. For two years he was employed in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1890 he came to Winnebago county, Iowa, where he took up farming on his own account as a renter. He carefully saved his earnings, however, and each year added a little more to his capital. At the end of five years he was able to purchase eighty acres of his present home farm, but he did not discontinue his habit of industry and of economy. In five years more he was able to purchase an adjoining eighty-acre tract and is today the owner of an excellent farm property of one hundred and sixty acres. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and has achieved a gratifying measure of success as the result of unabating energy and industry that never flags.

In 1891 Mr. Hanson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Nyhus, her father being Halvor Nyhus, who emigrated from Norway to the United States in 1869 and took up his abode in Winnebago county. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have five children, as follows: Ida, who is the wife of Henry Lovik, of Winnebago county; and Halvor, Ella, Dora and Irving, all yet at home.

Mr. Hanson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for several years he has served as a member of the school board but has never sought nor desired political office. He and his family are members of the United Lutheran church. His entire life has been actuated by high and honorable principles and by worthy purposes and his record shows what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 479-480.