Synik Johan Hansen

HANSEN HERMANSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/22/2010 at 21:44:53

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Synik Johan Hansen
By Katherine Eline Stansbury

Synik Johan ‘John’ Hansen was born June 21st, 1863, in Arhus, Denmark. He was married in Sioux City, Iowa, to Maren Hermansen, 10 December 1887 by Pastor N P Gravengard. The Woodbury County Courthouse Register lists Lars Hansen as his father and Ellen Hansen his mother. Mr Hansen seldom talked of his life in Denmark, therefore little is known of his family or his life in his homeland.

It is thought that he immigrated to America at the age of twenty-one years. Application for his Intent of Naturalization was 10 December 1887 which is the same date of Affidavit of Marriage to Maren. He obtained his final Naturalization paper, February 19th, 1894. These Affidavits are on record at the Woodbury County Courthouse.

Mr Hansen’s granddaughter, Shirley Francis (Flint) Sells has a studion photo taken of him as a young man while in the service of his country. The back of the photo gives the name of the photographer and the county of Fredicia, Denmark. The uniform appears to be that of the Infantry of Artillary. He is holding a Saber and the numberal ten on his cap denotes that he was in the 10th Division.

Synik’s occupation was of a Cement Finisher and Contractor. He started contracting from the year of 1908 until his retirement. He did talk of his first years in Sioux City of working on a paving gang who paved the first streets of Sioux City. He related that it was a twelve man gang, six on each side of a board (we presume it to be a board platform) who hand mixed the concrete by throwing it form one side to the other. Prior to that he worked nights at the Oat-Meal factory which was located on Dace Street. He said people stealing coal was a big problem at that time.

In the 1920’s Mr Hansen began buying property in the Morningside Addition for rental purposes and also started the building and selling of homes. In the depression of the 30’s he became what is referred to as being property poor. Consequently, he disposed of most of his holdings in the late 30’s and early 40’s.

Synik never learned to read or write the English language and relied on his daughter, Amanda Katherine, known as Kate, Flint, to write out his rent receipts, etc. He retained much of his Danish brogue throughout his life, nor was he seldom seen without his pipe in his mouth. Always a sober, hard-working man he died September 20, 1958, at the age of ninety-five years and three months.

From this marriage seven childrn were born, all in Sioux City, Iowa. All were baptized in the Danish Lutheran Church. The children were Mary Ellen, born April 4, 1888. She married Walter Peterson. They were childless. Amanda Katherine, born February 2, 1890 and died May 8, 1974 at Seattle, Washington. She married Hans Martin Flint and they were the parents of Katherine Elaine and Shirley Francis. Herman Lars was born September 14, 1892. He was married, divorced, and had three children. They are Vivian, Jeanne and Lorraine. Herman had a twin brother who died at the age of one year from pneumonia complications. Dorthea Christina, born May 29, 1895, married and divorced to John Lauritzen. They were the parents of two daughters, Yvonne and Betty. Dorothea died at Whittier, California, April 8, 1981. Frederick Wilhelm was born November 2, 1897. He married Winifred Conroy. They had two sons, Vernon and Richard. Fred died February 18, 1980 at Long Beach, California. Winifred is still living. Clara Violeta was born May 14, 1900. She is married toDeloss Isaacson. They are the parents of one daughter, Beverly and one son, Jack. All reside in Salem, Oregon.

Maren died August 24, 1922, and on November 26, 1924, Mr Hansen married a family friend and widow, Catherine Lorenzen, in Sioux City. She preceded him in death, April 22, 1955. Catherine had three daughters from her first marriage who were Violet, Rose and Lily. All are deceased.

S J (as Mr Hansen was known to those who knew him well) built his and Catherine’s home at 1009 South Cecelia Street, where they both lived until their deaths. His large garden and their bounty of beautiful flowers and shrubs were their pride and joy and was the showplace of their neighborhood.