History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Hanson, Hans foreman of road construction in Vilas County and a prominent farmer of the town of Conover, was born in Denmark, March 6, 1871, son of Hans Matson and Bertha (PREBENSON) MATSON. In the year following his birth he lost his father and grew to manhood in his native land under his mother's care until reaching the age of eighteen. Then in 1889 he came with her to the United States, locating in Ashland, Wis., to which place three of his brothers had preceded him and where they were then living. Thus the family were in large measure reunited. Young HANSON remained in Ashland for three years, working on government breakwaters from Parishville to Washburn. In 1892 he went with his mother to Ironwood, Mich., where soon after she died. Mr. HANSON remained in that place for 17 years; for several years he worked in and around the mines and for eight years operated a steam shovel for the mining company. In May, 1907, he came to Vilas County and settled on 80 acres of cut-over land in Section 26, town of Conover, wich he had purchased in 1905. To reach the place he followed an old Tote road from Eagle River and for the last four miles had to chop his way through the woods. It was a wild and lonely place, but he was there not for comfort or society but to build a home and for awhile he was too busy to think of anything else. He had, however, the help and society of his wife, whose maiden name was Fredericka SWANLUND, and whom he had married in Ashland on Dec. 26, 1893. Together they inhabited a shack until he could cut and hew logs enough to build a more substantial house. The latter, in which they still reside, was made of six-inch hewed logs and measured 24 by 28 feet. He also put up a barn and other out-buildings and began clearing his land. He has now 35 acres cleared and is engaged in general farming and dairying. In 1910 Mr. HANSON was appointed foreman of road construction in Vilas County, which position he still holds. He is one of the leading famers in Vilas County and has made a good reputation as road builder. He also served one term on the state school board. Mr. and Mrs. HANSON have been the parents of four children: Bertha, now Mrs. George SWANLUND of Vilas County; Gustav, who is the active manager of the home farm; Caroline, wife of Robert ANDERSON of the town of Conover; and Carl, who died.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 764-765, History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others 1924, H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co

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