Howard County IN Archives Biographies.....Hansell, George A. 1857 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 5, 2006, 10:47 pm

Author: Jackson Morrow

GEORGE A. HANSELL.

   The following is the sketch of a plain honest man of affairs, who by correct
methods and a strict regard for the interests of his patrons has made his
influence felt in Kokomo and won for himself distinctive prestige in the
business circles of that city. He would be the last man to sit for romance or
become the subject of fancy sketches, nevertheless his life presents much that
is interesting and valuable and may be studied with profit by the young, whose
careers are yet to be achieved. He is one of those whose integrity and strength
of character must force them into an admirable notoriety which their modesty
never seeks,, who commands the respect of their contemporaries and their
posterity and leave the impress of their individuality deeply stamped upon the
community.

   George A. Hansell, proprietor and manager of the Hansell Coal Company, of
Kokomo, is a native of Howard county, Indiana, and the son of Jonathan and Sarah
(Swaney) Hansell, the father born in Ohio, and the mother in Pennsylvania. These
parents were married in the latter state and moved to Howard county in an early
day. settling in the woods of Center township, from which in due time Mr.
Hansell cleared a fine farm on which he and his good wife spent the remainder of
their days, and which is still in the family name, being now owned by the
subject of this review, who has added much to the original tract. George A.
Hansell was a man of great industry and sterling' worth. He labored diligently
to make a home and provide comfortably for his family, attended strictly to his
own affairs and combined in his nature many of the best elements of manhood and
citizenship. He died in 1869, while still a young man, his widow surviving him
until the year 1884, when she too was called to the unseen world.

   George A. Hansell was born October 10, 1857, on the home farm in Center
township, and there in close touch with nature in the woods and fields he grew
to manhood's estate. Early in life he imbibed those principles of honesty,
integrity and concentration of purpose which make for character and success and
in the district school not far from his home enjoyed the best educational
advantages the township afforded. Reared amid the stirring duties of the farm he
took his place in the fields as soon as old enough to be of service and from
that time on nobly bore his part of the cultivation of the crops, and harvesting
of the same, in the meantime swinging his ax in the woods much of which fell
before his sturdy blows as the place was being developed. His early experience
as a tiller of the soil very naturally led him to make that honorable vocation
his life work, and after the death of his father, while still a mere youth, he
assumed the responsibility of managing the farm, later succeeding to the
ownership, and in due time became one of the most enterprising and successful
agriculturists of his township.

   Mr. Hansell continued on the family homestead from his birth until 1902, a
period of forty-five years and in addition to cultivating the soil devoted about
ten years to the dairy business, in which his success was very satisfactory. In
February of 1902 he turned his land over to other hands, moving to Kokomo,
engaged in the grocery business, which he followed during the ensuing two years
as a member of the firm of Sellers & Hansell, but at the expiration of that
period became interested in the coal business which he still carries on, being
at this time proprietor and manager of the large coal and wood yard on the Lake
Erie & Western Railroad, Xo 179 Buckeye and Main streets, where he commands the
largest and most lucrative patronage of the kind in the city. This business,
which was established in May, 1904, has steadily grown in magnitude and
importance until the yard now occupies two large lots on which have been erected
the buildings, sheds and other improvements necessary to the successful
prosecution of the extensive and rapidly increasing trade., the other equipments
including teams, vehicles, etc., being first-class in every respect and
sufficient to meet the demands of the public. In addition to coal and wood,
which are handled in immense quantities by retail and wholesale, Mr. Hansell
also operates a dray and transfer line which is quite extensively patronized,
the entire business requiring the assistance of from eight to fifteen men, and
representing a larger capital than any other enterprise of the kind in Kokomo.

   Mr. Hansell is a wideawake business man of progressive ideas, keenly alive to
the best interests of his patrons and by honorable and straightforward methods
has won the confidence of the public and forged to the front among the most
enterprising men of a city long noted for the high standard of its business
talents. A Republican in politics with the success of his party at heart, he
finds little time to devote to political affairs having never aspired to office
or leadership nor asked public honors at the hands of his fellow citizens.

   In the year 1878 Mr. Hansell was united in marriage with Rosa Quick, of Alto,
this county, daughter of W. A. Quick, for many years a prominent merchant and
representative citizen of the town. Three children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Hansell, the oldest of whom, a son by the name of William A., holds an
important position with the Hansell Coal Company and is a man of excellent
business and social standing; Ethel, the second in order of birth, is the wife
of W. O. Bassett, bookkeeper for the company, and Ralph, the youngest is
pursuing his studies in the city schools.

   Mr. Hansell was reared a Methodist of which church his parents were pious and
consistent members and to this faith he has always adhered, himself and wife
holding membership with the congregation at Alto. Both are interested in
religious and charitable enterprises to the support of which they make frequent
and liberal contributions, and in all the relations of life their conduct has
been straightforward and in every respect exemplary. Since moving to Kokomo they
have made numerous friends in the city and all with whom they associate speak in
complimentary terms of their many estimable qualities.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)


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