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HANS P. HANSEN.

Few residents of Exira, Audubon county, Iowa, are so well and favorably known as the enterprising business man and representative citizen whose life story is here briefly told. None stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides and for the material advancement of which he has devoted so much of his time and influence. Hans P. Hansen is the proprietor of a large garage in Exira and enjoys a large business which he has built up himself--a business to which he is justly entitled, because of his correct methods of dealing with the public. He has been honored in a political way by the people of his township and has worthily discharged every trust and responsibility imposed upon him.

Hans P. Hansen was born on August 3, 1871, in Denmark. He is the son of Andrew and Catherine (Peterson) Hansen, both natives of Denmark. Andrew Hansen was a gardener in Denmark and followed that business up to the time of his death in 1912. His wife, the mother of Hans P. Hansen, is still living in Denmark, and was the mother of four children: Hans P., the subject of this sketch; Mary, Rasmus and Jacob. Hans P. Hansen is the only member of the family who came to America.

Hans P. Petersen

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Mr. Hansen attended school in Denmark and after leaving school, took up the blacksmith's trade. He followed that trade in Denmark and also in this county. In 1892 he came to America and located at Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained for a short time. Two years later, in 1894, he came to Audubon county and located at Exira, working in a blacksmith shop for some time, but in 1895, he purchased a shop of his own and operated it until 1907, a period of twelve years. In 1907, Mr. Hansen sold out the blacksmith shop and engaged in the implement business, and had been engaged in this business for five years when he took up the automobile trade and he now devotes all of his time to the garage. At the present time, Mr. Hansen has the agency for the Studebaker car and also the Abbott-Detroit car. He has sold a great many of these motor cars to the people of Exira and the people of the surrounding country and today is well-known as a prosperous business man.

Hans P. Hansen was married on September 21, 1896 to Mary Estella Herrick, the daughter of Oben Herrick. Five children have been born to this marriage: Georgia, Eva, Charles, Helen and Lillian. All of these children are living at home. Mrs. Hansen was born in Exira, her parents being early settlers in Audubon county. Her father was very prominent and was first justice of the peace in Audubon county.

Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Fraternally, Mr. Hansen is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Danish Brotherhood. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party and at present is serving as the efficient and capable township trustee.


Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pg. 576-577.