HANSON, Simon
HANSON, JOHNSON
Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 6/20/2009 at 21:39:26
Simon Hanson, deceased, was a substantial farmer and honored citizen of Mitchell county who was long identified with agricultural interests, and was also a prominent factor in public affairs. He was born on the 7th of November, 1854, and his life record closed on the 14th of February, 1917. His birth occurred in Norway, where he remained until he reached the age of twenty years and then came with a brother to the United States. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native country and on leaving the land of the midnight sun he took up his abode in Adams, Minnesota, where he remained until he removed to Union township, Mitchell county, Iowa.
He was first employed at odd jobs, working in that way for three years and accepting any task that would yield him an honest living. In 1881 he located on a farm, beginning with a four hundred acre tract, which he rented for fifteen years and then bought. To his holdings he added from time to time until his possessions included eleven hundred acres. He erected splendid buildings upon his place, including an attractive residence and very substantial barns and outbuildings, furnishing ample shelter for grain and stock. He was the largest stock feeder the county has yet produced. His interests in that direction were most extensive and his business affairs were carefully, successfully and wisely managed.
His opinions came to be regarded as authority upon matters relating to stock raising and he did much toward winning for Mitchell county its well earned reputation as a live stock producing center. He was also the organizer of the Stacyville Coal & Grain Company and served as its president. In business affairs his judgment was sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering and he carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook.
On January 25, 1881, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Johnson, who is now living with her children upon the home farm. She was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, and removed with her parents to Adams, Minnesota, during her early girlhood. There she formed the acquaintance of Mr. Hanson, who sought her hand in marriage. They became the parents of seven children: H. B., who was graduated from the Iowa State College, at Ames, Iowa, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer and is now with the Ford Motor Company, of Detroit, Michigan; Charles G., who is upon the home farm; B. B., who was graduated from the Iowa State College at Ames with the degree of Civil Engineer and is now upon the farm; Bertha and Bessie, twins, both of whom hold the Bachelor of Arts degree from the Wisconsin University; Mary, who is a student in the State University of Minnesota; and Willard, who is attending the Osage high school.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have ever been deeply interested in the cause of education and have given their children excellent advantages in that direction. The family circle was broken by the hand of death, when on the 14th of February, 1917, Mr. Hanson passed away, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Stacyville. He was a stanch republican in politics and served for some time as trustee of his township. He was also treasurer of the Stacyville independent school district for twenty-five years and at the time of his death he was serving as a member of the county board of supervisors, his son, B. B., being appointed in his stead, while his son, C. B., became treasurer of the independent school district in his father's place. Simon Hanson belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America, the Yeoman and the Masonic fraternity and held various offices in each of these lodges. He was also an earnest worker and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Hanson was the instigator of getting the railroad into Stacyville and devoted his most earnest efforts to that purpose. To him it must be largely ascribed that the Illinois Central installed the so called Clipper train, on a stub which runs as far as Stacyville. In fact, he gave most liberally of his time for public projects and it was inherent in his nature to benefit others. His life was ever guided by high and honorable principles and all who knew him entertained for him the warmest regard. His sterling worth made his death the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for the public recognized in him a loyal and progressive citizen, a reliable and substantial business man, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father.
Source: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1918, Vol. II, page 46.
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