Lars Hansen

HANSEN, ESKELUND, CHRISTIANSEN, JOHANSEN

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/14/2011 at 16:08:30

Lars Hansen, who was one of the progressive and successful farmers of Denmark township, was a splendid representative of the excellent citizens whom Denmark has given to Emmet county. He was born in that country October 09, 1849, and was one of a family of seven children whose parents were Hans and Anna Marie Larsen. The father was a small farmer in Denmark and there both he and the mother spent their entire lives.

Lars Hansen received his education in the schools of his native country and remained there until 1872, when at the age of about twenty-three years he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and continued his journey westward to Clinton, Iowa. After working on a railroad there for a time he went to the vicinity of Cedar Falls and purchased a farm, which he operated until 1882. In that year he came to Denmark township, Emmet county, which was just being settled, and purchased the south half of the southwest quarter of section 27. That farm remained his place of residence throughout the rest of his life and as the years passed he brought it to a high state of cultivation. He concentrated his attention upon his farm work and as a result received a gratifying income from his land. On the 13th of August, 1896, he met accidental death and is buried St. John's cemetery.

In 1882 Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Maren Eskelund, whose parents spent their entire lives in Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen had six children: Lena, now Mrs. Hans C. Christiansen, of Denmark township; Anna, the wife of Peter Johansen, of Denmark township; J.E. who is married and is a banker of Crystal Lake, Iowa; Emma and Carl, both at home; and William, who is married and resides in Ringsted.

The democratic party received the support of Mr. Hansen but his political activity was confined to the exercise of his right of franchise. He served, however, as school director for seven years and had much at heart the educational advancement of his community. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in St. John's Danish Lutheran church. His untimely death deprived his family of a loving husband and father and his community of a citizen whose support could always be counted upon for the furtherance of all worthy projects.

Source: History of Emmet County and Dickinson County Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, The Pioneer Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1917.