BIOGRAPHIES:  James HANSEN, Stanfold Township, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  24 February 2004
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James Hansen, agriculturist and prominent man of affairs, prosperous farmer
of Section 22, Stanfold Township, and leading public official, was born in
Denmark, July 15, 1871, the son of Lars and Sophia (Peterson) Hansen, who
came to the United States in 1892, and located at Rice Lake. James was the
first of the family to come to America. He was reared and educated in his
native land, and became thoroughly familiar with the stock raising and
dairying interests there. Upon coming to this country in 1890, at the age
of nineteen years, he located at Depere, in Brown County, this state, where
he was variously employed on farms, in sawmills and on the railroads. In
1892 he came to Barron County, and bought a tract of 240 acres in Stanfold
Township, one-half of which he sold, and one-half of which he still owns.
When he took it, the tract was still wild. He put up a log house and a log
barn, and started clearing up the land. At first he had only a yoke of
cattle, a cow, and a few tools. Gradually he has built up a good place, and
now has as good a farm as is to be found in the neighborhood. He has a
modern, eight-room home, equipped with running water and other
conveniences. The barn is commodious, and the other buildings suitable for
their purpose. His equipment in tools, implements and machinery is
excellent, and his land is well tilled and well fenced. He has a large herd
of Holsteins, headed by a full-blooded sire. Aside from successfully
conducting his farm, Mr. Hansen has served with distinction, in many public
positions. He was first elected assessor, and in this capacity showed
fairness and good judgment. Next he was a member of the town board for some
years. Subsequently, he was town clerk. His work in these responsible
positions so commended itself to his constituents that in 1914 he was
elected to his present position as chairman of the township. He makes a
most admirable officer, and is in favor of progress, especially in regard
to good roads. His interest in highways has been the distinguishing feature
of his excellent service on the county board. As a member of that body he
is serving on the road and bridge committee, and the work the county is
doing in the way of better thoroughfares, is a matter of especial pride
with him. For many years he has shown his interest in education by serving
on the school board. His good judgment and sound sense have been a factor
in the success of the Citizens' State Bank of Rice Lake, of which he is a
director. He has done energetic and aggressive work as a director of the
Barron County Fair Association. All in all, he is as useful a man as can be
found in the community, and he stands high with all who know him as an
estimable official, farmer, friend and neighbor. Mr. Hansen was married at
Rice Lake, Oct. 27, 1896, to Olena Sorenson, who was born at Omaha, Neb.,
Sept. 9, 1876, the daughter of J. C. and Sophia Sorenson. Mr. and Mrs.
Hansen have eleven children: Agnes, Flora, James, Lars, Alice, Irving,
Leonard, Richard, Milas, Roger and Loretta.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 179-180.


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