George Hansel, farmer and
carpenter, was a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Preston)
Hansel, natives of Maryland, who moved to Pennsylvania in
an early day, where the father died. George was born in
Maryland, on April 9, 1817, where he was educated, and
learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed in
connection with farming since. In 1849 he came to Clayton
County, and now owns thirty-seven acres on the botton of
the Turkey River, the west half of the village of
Osterdock is on his land. He also owns 115 acres on
section 11. In 1853 he married Elizabeth, daugher of
Jonas and Jane (Seaton) Hunt, natives of Pennsylvania,
where she was born on April 16, 1819. By this union there
are ten children, of whom Rebecca Jane, born June 9,
1845, wife of Rufus C. White of Mallory Township; William
H., born June 24, 1847, living in Mallory Township; Sarah
Matilda, born Sept. 30, 1850, wife of John Rice, of
Mallory Township; Phillip L., born June 20, 1853, married
and living near his father; Mary Katherine, born Sept.
13, 1855, wife of James Hary, of Mallory Township; John
Franklin, born Jan. 7, 1865, are living. Jonas, Elzy,
Francis Delilah, and Jacob are dead. Mr. Hansel has held
several of the township offices, and has in every
instance honorably discharged his duty. He votes the
Democratic ticket, and is a man of noble and generous
qualities, having adopted two children, which he has
reared--George C. Hansel and Anna Bell Robinson. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 919 |