John D. Hanson Biography, Oceana County, Michigan Transcribed from the 1890 Oceana County Pioneers and Business Men of Today Copyright © 2004 by Jan Cortez. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submittor has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ************************************************************************ John D. Hanson, one of the early settlers of this county, and the very first to select and purchase land, was born in christiana, NOrway, in the year 1818, and sailed to America when but a young man, and first settled in MIlwaukee and afterwards, in the year 1843, he located in Whitehall, Mich., going in the lumber business with Charles Mears, and for several years sailing and owning vessels himself. It is while sailing that he discovered the great Clay Banks country, and where he afterwards located what is now known as the "Hanson farm," the first land located and purchased in Oceana Co., and whereupon he moved in the year 1856. He had improved and cleared up the farm previous to his moving on the same. He moved his family from Whitehall to Claybanks in a yawl boat in the month of May. He sent to Ionia to be ground the first wheat ever grown in the county, and it took nine days to make the trip. His farm house was always headquarters for the lawyers and judges, and many were the jokes and stories told and pleasant evenings spent at his house while the county seat was located at Whisky Creek. He was always prominent in the politics of the county and was a republican with strong convictions. He held the office of Deputy U.S. Marshall for several years, and was Consul to Norway and Sweden for a number of years.