Hans Theodore Walensky

WALENSKY, PEDERSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/14/2015 at 21:48:36

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

In studying the life history of Hans Theodore Walensky, who is actively identified with important business interests in Sioux City, there are found certain qualities which make for definite success, and the prosperity which has come to him is directly traceable to the salient points in his character, for he started in life at the bottom of the ladder, which he has mounted unaided. He was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on the 21st of February, 1872, and is a son of Stefan and Katherina M. Walensky. The mother is still living in Copenhagen, but the father is deceased.

Hans Theodore Walensky secured his education in the public schools of Copenhagen and on leaving school at the age of fifteen years learned the carpenter trade. In 1890, when eighteen years of age, he came to the United States, landing at Baltimore, whence he came on west, landing at Parkersburg, Iowa, with three cents in his pocket and in debt sixty dollars for his passage money. He immediately went to work at the carpenter trade, and later was employed for two years as a bridge carpenter on the Illinois Central railroad. He then turned his attention to the lumber business, gaining thorough knowledge thereof. He went to Buffalo Center, Iowa, where for two years he worked for a lumber company, and then went to Klemme, Iowa, where also he worked in lumber years, followed by two years in the same line of work at Burt, Iowa. At Armour, South Dakota, he spent three years in lumber yards and in February, 1904, came to Sioux City, entering the employ of the J.H. Queal Lumber Company, with which he remained until the plant was sold to the Thompson Lumber Company in 1917. In 1918 Mr. Walensky took charge of the Fullerton Lumber Company’s business, remaining as manager of that business until 1924, when he bought out the business and plant of the McNeil Lumber Company, which he is still conducting on his own account. He has been successful in this, for he thoroughly understands every phase of the lumber business and is a man of sound business judgment, the splendid prosperity which has come to him being well merited.

In 1893 Mr. Walensky was united in marriage to Miss Gretha Pedersen, a native of Denmark, who came to the United States in young womanhood, settling in Parkersburg, Iowa, where she met and was married to Mr. Walensky. They are the parents of two sons, Grant Theodore and Frank Peter, both of whom are in business with their father. Mr. Walensky is a member of Tyrian Lodge No. 508, A.F. & A. M.; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, A. A. S. R.; Abu-Bekr Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.; Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, B.P. O. E.; and the Modern Woodmen of America. He also belongs to the Lions Club and the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Walensky’s record since coming to the United States has been one of which he may justifiably be proud, for by his determination, persistency along well-defined lines of action and the exercise of that sound judgment which is ordinarily called common sense, he has been enabled to forge ahead, until today he is regarded as one of Sioux City’s enterprising and progressive business men.