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Hiram Hanson

Hiram Hanson, a pioneer settler and successful farmer of Jefferson Township, now residing in Oelwein, was born in Keighley, Yorkshire, England, August 2, 1823, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Terry) Hanson. His parents were also natives of Keighley, and had a family of five children, four sons and a daughter, of whom Hiram, our subject is the eldest; Joseph married Miss Maria Holly and is a resident of Chicago; Jonas married Miss Sarah Ella Skafe and resides in Custer County, Neb.; Charles married Miss Eliza E. Shelton and is a resident of Oelwein; Harriet, the only daughter, is the wife of Christopher Smith, a farmer of Jefferson Township. Thomas Hanson first came to America in 1843 in company with his older sons, Hiram and Joseph, and spent a year or more in Racine County, Wisconsin Territory. He then returned to his home in England, and in 1860, emigrated to the New World with the remainder of his family. He came direct to Fayette County, Iowa, and bought a farm in Jefferson Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred August 27, 1878. His wife had died May 30, 1865. They were most highly esteemed and worthy people.

Hiram Hanson was first married in Rochester, Wis., in 1845, to Miss Eliza Jones, daughter of William A. Jones, and a native of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, born in 1822. She came to America in 1846* and died in May, 1850, leaving an infant daughter Eliza May, who was born on the fourth of that month, and is now the wife of Thomas Hanson, Sr., of Jefferson Township. In 1853 Mr. Hanson married Miss Ellen Jones, a sister of his former wife, the marriage taking place in Rochester, Wis. She was a native of Shropshire, and a daughter of William A. Jones. Three children were born of their union: William H., who was born in Racine County, Wis., April 28, 1854, wedded Miss Mary Locock and resides in Clayton County, Iowa; Charles Fred, born in Racine County August 19, 1855, married Belle Irvine, and is a farmer of Jefferson Township; Francis, who was born in Jefferson Township, August 9, 1857, and is now one of its leading farmers, married Miss Emma Meyers. Mrs. Hanson, the mother, died in the same month that her son Francis was born.

*date as printed in bio

In 1856, Mr. Hanson removed with his family from Racine County, Wis., to Fayette County, Iowa, and purchased a farm in Jefferson Township where he made his home. He was again married in 1858, Mrs. Helen Jipson, widow of Luther Jipson, and a daughter of Aben Eldridge, becoming his wife. She had two children by her former marriage, namely: Luther, who married Miss Mary Beare, and is a resident farmer of Jefferson Township; and Minnie, wife of Preston Fisher of Antelope County, Neb. The father of these children was an early settler of this county and was frozen to death on the prairie in the winter of 1855-6. Mrs. Hanson was born in New York, December 18, 1835, and died in 1862, leaving a son and daughter both born in Jefferson Township: Ira, born December 10, 1859, is unmarried and lives in Clayton County, Iowa; Agnes, born August 10, 1860, lives in Montana. Mr. Hanson was married to his present wife in April, 1865. Her maiden name was Miss Nancy A. Heckard; she was born in Huron County, Ohio, December 15, 1832, and is a daughter of Peter Heckard. Four children, daughters, were born of their union: Mercy M., called Tillie, was born February 5, 1868; Nettie E., April 15, 1870; Nellie, June 7, 1875; and Martha, November 11, 1877.

Mr. Hanson continued to carry on his farm until February, 1888, when he removed to the city of Oelwein, where he has a fine residence. He still retains the ownership of his farm and has three hundred acres of well-improved land. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has held the office of Township Trustee of Jefferson Township two terms, and other official positions. In all the affairs of life he has proved himself reliable. His energy and industry directed by sound business sagacity have won him success and he has been long esteemed one of the prosperous farmers of Fayette County