Hans Hanson, is a prominent farmer of Granite Falls township, Chippewa county, just over the line from Renville county. He was born in Norway Jan. 29, 1838, son of Hans Thoroson Hanson and Anna Hanson. He came to America in 1865 and lived on Highland Prairie, Fillmore county, until coming to Renville county with them in 1867. A year later he left home and filed on a quarter section in Granite Falls township, just over the line in Chippewa county. Amid discouraging circumstances he started work to establish for himself a home in the wilderness. Many times in making trips to the nearest markets at Willmar and New Ulm he had to subsist the entire distance on frozen bread and sometimes he narrowly escaped serious injury during severe snow storms and frosts. When the grasshoppers came he found it impossible to obtain a living on the farm and consequently secured employment in the flouring mill of Park Warden at Minnesota Falls. In this business he engaged for some ten years. The farm in the meantime continued to occupy his attention and since then has engaged all his energies. His original log house was replaced with a frame dwelling and substantial outbuildings took the place of the shacks which in the early days sheltered his stock. Mr. Hanson has taken an active part in the development of the community, has been supervisor of the township, and for over thirty years, served as treasurer of his school district. He has likewise taken a deep interest in the affairs of the Hawk Creek Norwegian Lutheran church. His farm consists of 600 acres, forty acres of which are in Renville county, and on this splendid tract he successfully carries on general farming along the latest approved lines.

Mr. Hanson was married in Norway, January 11, 1863, to Christena Olson, who died on the farm April 8, 1907. In the family there were eleven children: Hans, Jr., Albert, Anna Christena, Albert, Mary Lilly, Julius H. Helmer and Julia. Hans, Jr., was born in Norway, Jan. 13, 1963, and now farms in Clear Water county, Minn. Albert was born in Fillmore county, in 1865, and died at the age of two and a half years. Anna Christena was born Jan. 12, 1867, and is now Mrs. O. P. Berg, of Granite Falls, Minn. Albert was born Aug. 24. 1869, and farms in Granite Falls township, Chippewa county. He married Lena Seim and their children are Hubert, Esther, Evelyn, Margaret and Harriett. Mary was born Aug. 17, 1871, and died Oct. 22, 1898. Lilly was born Aug. 6, 1873, and is now Mrs. Fred Bakke, of Granite Falls township. Julius H. was born April 25, 1875, and farms in Hawk Creek township. Helmer was born May 11, 1878, and is associated with his father in conducting the home farm. He married Mathilda Thorstad and his children are Maurice, Philip, Donald, Florence and Richard.