Henry Hanson & Augusta Ekblom

Excerpts from the book

The Family of Henry Hanson and Augusta Mathilda Ekblom
A Genealogical and Biographical Record

by Henry Lewis Hanson 1991
With permission from the author

HENRY HANSON

Henrik (Henry) Hanson's parents, Hans Jönsson Brandt and his second wife Kerstin Nilsdotter, lived in southwestern Sweden in the parish of Rebbelberga near the town of Ängelholm, in the province of Skåne.  In 1846 Hans moved his family to No. 4 in the parish or village of Höja.  The Sweden that the Hans Brandt family knew was one of great contrast between rich and poor.  The picture of Henry Hanson's birthplace represented the lower end of the housing available to the working class.  It looked like a barn in outward appearance. The family lived in the central section, while the ends would be for livestock, poultry, farm tools and the like.  Henry Hansson's father Hans Brandt died in Höja in 1849 a few months before Henry was born on June 1, 1849.


Henry Hanson birthplace, a U-shaped house and barn building with thatched roof.
  A note on the back in Henry Hanson's hand reads,  "The place or house where I was born - Höja."  
Höja means high place.  (click the picture for enlargement)

The usual pattern for arriving at a Swedish family name during the 18th and 19th centuries was to have the son of the father take for a family name the father's first name and add a "son".  Thus, the sons of Hans Brandt were named Hansson.  Similarly, the daughters followed the same pattern and their family name would be Hansdotter.  The custom was not continued in the 20th century.

Henry's mother, Kerstin, was his primary source of care in his early years and she undoubtedly relied upon her other children, Olaf, Nels, and Nelly, as well as Per and Jöns, children of Hans Brandt's first marriage.  Henry had some formal schooling which he reported was for no more than 2 years.   He remained close to the land while growing up in Sweden, working on local estates, serving as a goat herder and farm hand.  He learned well for after he came to America, particularly to Iowa, he exhibited a green thumb for all growing things.  He had complete and professional farming, gardening and forestry skills which he used throughout his life.

Henry was the first of the family to leave for America when he was a young man of 19 years.  He left in 1868, probably from the nearby port of Malmö.  His steamer trunk carried a Liverpool tag indicating he arrived in England and then crossed to board a ship at Liverpool for America.  For many, this was common practice as the English controlled much of the shipping at that time.  Henry is reported to have landed in the city of New York with 50 cents in his pockets.  There was an active Swedish community in Brooklyn where many immigrants gathered and we know that Henry lived there.  He was ambitious and worked his way into a partnership position in a meat market or butcher shop at 533 Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn. 

Henry married Augusta Ekblom in New York City on March 31, 1872.  Their first child, Rudolph Theodore, was born there on 14 June 1873.  Henry's business relationship in Brooklyn deteriorated when his partner ran off with the cash of the business.  Henry disposed of the remaining assets of the market and he and Augusta, with son Rudolph, headed west for Iowa by rail, arriving in Denison, Iowa in February 1874.  They were accompanied by Andrew Johnson, a cousin of Henry.  

 


Henry Hanson in New York


Augusta Hanson in New York
Photos taken fom tintypes, ca 1872

AUGUSTA EKBLOM

Augusta Ekblom's father Johan Adam Ekblom was born in Hjelstad, Sweden and served as a guard at the city prison in Vänersborg, Sweden during his early years.  He subsequently took on similar duties in 1846 at the poorhouse.  His wife, Greta Hansson, was born in the community of Forshem.  They were married on November 1, 1836. Both died in 1855 while their five daughters were still quite young.  Their daughters were Ulrica Christina (said to be "feebleminded"), Anna Sophia, Augusta Mathilda, born September 15, 1844, Robertina Wilhemina and Aurora Elisabeth.  Augusta was about 11 when she was orphaned.  The poorhouse may have cared for the girls until they were located with relatives or in other homes, or moved on to America.  Augusta was the first to emigrate to America in 1867 at the age of 23.  Three of her sisters, Anna, Robertina and Aurora emigrated later.  Augusta worked in New York as a serving girl or maid in homes of wealthy families.

When Henry Hanson and Augusta met is not known.   As recalled by a granddaughter, "Henry reported that he proposed marriage to Augusta on a park bench in Central Park in New York City.  Her employer is said to have warned her not to marry this young man."  However, they were married and their first child Rudolph Theodore was born before the couple moved on to Iowa.

IOWA

A bachelor cousin of Henry's, Andrew Johnson, had worked for a railroad company in Canada around Niagara Falls and later in Pennsylvania.  He had become acquainted with the procedures for acquiring Railroad Land Grant Property.  Andrew corresponded with Henry, shared his knowledge and then they met in New York City.  Shortly thereafter Henry, Augusta, baby Rudolph and Andrew left on a train for Iowa, arriving in 1874.  (See Pioneer Recollections, Andrew E. Johnson for an account of the trip and arrival in Sac County.)

Andrew Johnson and Henry acquired 320 acres of RR Land Grant property in Wheeler Township for $6.60 per acre and built a very modest home which is understood to have had a sod roof.  Their first crops required slashing the prairie sod with an axe to open slits into which they dropped corn.  They also turned some 100 acres of the land so that it would be suitable for farming.  In 1877 they divided the land between them.  Henry added 80 acres to his tract which he acquired for $5.50 per acre.  

While they were on the farm two additional children were born to Henry and Augusta:  they were Robertina Wilhemina, born September 24, 1874, and Edward Henry, born February 24, 1876.

In 1877 Henry became interested in the grain and livestock buying and selling business in Odebolt.  He and his family moved to Odebolt in 1878 where Henry and Augusta remained for the rest of their lives.  Henry always retained ownership of some farm land even while living in Odebolt.  Henry was chosen as the manager of the Swedish Farmers' Society which operated the Swedish Farmers' Elevator Company.  Henry managed and subsequently purchased the elevator, and operated it under his name.

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Henry Hanson Elevator, a tintype photo which shows a 
mirror image of the lettering on the buildings.

Henry was an astute businessman who kept up on the latest information and technology available.  As an example he employed a non-electric telephone system between the elevator and the RR depot where the latest grain market information would come in by telegraph.  The telephone system was like what we would call today a string telephone with a taut string and a tin can on either end.  His was commercially made by the Buffalo Telephone Company.  It used a sound carrying copper wire connecting two handsomely wood mounted diaphragms, one in the elevator office and the other in the depot. Knowing how the grain market was performing in Chicago on a current basis was very important to the running of a successful grain business.

Henry continued in the grain business until 1883 when he elected to devote his time to his farm properties.  His final land holdings were 880 acres of land in two adjacent farms south of Odebolt.  He was also president of the Kiron State Bank for many years, active in the Masons, served on the town council and the first town school board, and attended the Presbyterian church.

Henry and Augusta's first home in Odebolt was a modest frame house on Main St.  Later in the mid 1880's they built a large Victorian style house on Lincoln Ave.  This was replaced by a lovely modern brick and frame house in 1913.

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Victorian home on Lincoln Ave.

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Later Brick Home on Lincoln Ave.

Augusta was fortunate to be able to afford domestic help in her later homes and her early experience as a serving girl made her an excellent and understanding employer.  One of the people she employed for a time was Augusta Lundberg who later married Andrew Johnson.

By 1880 the Hanson family had grown to include four children, Rudolph, Robertina, Carl and Edwin.  Great tragedy struck the family in April 1880 when a diphtheria epidemic spread through Odebolt.  The three Hanson sons all died within a few days of each other, leaving their only daughter, Robertina.  Later on, three more children were born to the family:  Lillian, George and Grace.  

Henry is most remembered for his efforts to beautify the community by the planting of trees.  Hanson Blvd. was named for him as was the town's park. [This has since been changed to City Park.]  He provided and planted numerous trees, some of which had been grown on his farms.  Some of the trees were hauled by team and wagon from land around Boyer and included a rich variety of stock including maples, birch, ash, hackberry, walnut, pine, spruce and a number of different shrubs.  His own property on Lincoln Ave. was a sight to behold as he always had many beds of flowers as well a productive fruit trees of many types and varieties.


Click photo to enlarge
Echo Valley Farm in Wheeler Township south of Odebolt.

One of his farms, Echo Valley Farm, was developed as a show place.  It incorporated the latest in farm building facilities in the early part of the 20th century.  This was for a time a place where the agriculture students from Iowa State College would come to visit and learn.  A great deal of effort went into using concrete in the farm buildings, livestock feeding platforms, drinking tanks, and even fence posts.  All were made on the farm.  The sand for the concrete was taken from sand pits located on the farm.  A modern day underground water system was installed as was one of the first farm electric light plants, a 32-volt Delco battery/generator system.  The farm also included butchering facilities, a smoke house and an ice house.  The latter was supported by an ice pond from which the ice was cut each winter.  Henry was very proud of that farm and added much to it by planting trees and shrubs for beauty and weather protection.

Henry and Augusta were considered by many to be wealthy people in the community.  In truth, they were well to do but not wealthy.  They were conservative and astute people who bought well the things they needed for the long term.  They raised their own chickens, had an extensive vegetable garden and fruit trees, and canned much food for winter consumption.  They used borrowed money wisely in building up their worldly goods.

Augusta was a constant and supporting companion to Henry throughout her life.  She was an excellent homemaker for the family, but found time to participate in local church and literary society activities.  She had failing health in her later years, diabetes being one of her health problems,  and was nearly an invalid at the time of her death on August 27, 1927.  

While Henry was certainly proud of his Swedish heritage, he felt strongly about being an American citizen.  Swedish was spoken only rarely in the home.  Neither Henry nor Augusta ever returned to Sweden though they frequently sent money to Sweden to help someone to emigrate to America.  Lucile Hanson Harris recalled him telling her the following:  "He used to take a team and wagon to meet the train at Denison where many Swedish emigrants disembarked.  When he found a family he felt worthy, he brought them to Odebolt or Kiron.  He felt betrayed when one such man became a drunkard."

Henry Hanson died April 20, 1937 at the age of 87 years.

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Henry Hanson

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Augusta Hanson

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MORE ABOUT HENRY HANSON FROM THE ODEBOLT HISTORY PAGES

SAC SUN, Vol. VI, No. 6, AUGUST 18, 1876
WHEELER TP.-- Mr. Henry Hanson was in town Monday, and informed us that crops are very good there, and everything is moving along smoothly. He is disappointed at not getting the railroad nearer him, but thinks it a sure thing.

SAC SUN, Vol. VII, No. 1, JULY 13, 1877
THROUGH WESTERN SAC
... From this point we proceeded west to the Ida county line, and south to the settlement of Swedes, who as usual are making good improvements. Mr. Henry Hanson is one of the enterprising and reliable men of that region.

ODEBOLT OBSERVER, DEC. 8, 1880, Vol. 1, No. 24
... Mr. Henry Hanson last week purchased his partner’s interest in the Swede store, and is now its sole proprietor.  Mr. Hanson has just purchased in Chicago large additions to his stock.

ODEBOLT OBSERVER, DEC 15, 1880, VOL. 1, NO. 25
The 1880 Business of Odebolt
...  Last, but by no means least in this enumeration, is the store of Mr. Henry Hanson, the able manager of the Swedish Farmers’ Society. He recently purchased the interest of his late partner, Mr. John Williams, and has admitted to partnership Mr. John Mattes, a brother of Mr. Joseph Mattes, of the firm of J. H. Ketterer & Co. Mr. Hanson has just returned from Chicago, where he purchased large additions to the stock. The assortment is a general or miscellaneous one, dry-goods being a prominent feature. The house does a large trade with farmers of its nationality, who are quite numerous here and number among them some of our most prosperous citizens. The reputation which the Swede Store, as it is generally called, has acquired for fair dealing and low prices, has given it a large custom from people of other nationalities who after all are strikingly akin in their desire to buy goods cheap.

THE OBSERVER, VOL. 1, NO. 44, May 4, 1881
... In compliance with the order of the School Board, director Hanson has had the grounds about the school house seeded to tame grass and is preparing to set out shade trees thereon.

ODEBOLT OBSERVER, Vol. 1, No. 50, JUNE 15, 1881
... The "Modocs" of Cook township met the "Athletics" of Cook's ranch on the 5th and after a prolonged battle retired victors with a score of 52 to 8, having whitewashed their opponents six times during the game. Jake Anderson, umpire, Charlie Hatfield and Henry Hanson, scorers. Last Saturday the "Modocs" were to have played the "Prairie Boys" at Odebolt, but owing to the storm the game was postponed.

ODEBOLT OBSERVER, VOL. 2. NO. 7. AUGUST 17, 1881
...  The new grain office of Henry Hanson is nearly completed. It is much larger and more convenient than the old one.

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Photo of Henry Hanson elevator business from 1938 "Progress Edition" of the Odebolt Chronicle
Shown in the picture: Pete Nelson, engineer, standing at left: Nels Nelson, bookkeeper in center;
Andrew Salstrom, in doorway; and Alfred Krusenstjerna, with boy at right. Identity of others is unknown.

THE CHRONICLE, VOL. 4, NO. 7, JULY 3, 1890
Business Transfer
     Mr. Henry Hanson has sold his elevator and grain business to the St. Paul and Kansas City Grain Co., of Minneapolis, a corporation that owns and operates 25 elevators in Iowa. Negotiations were commenced several weeks ago, but the formal transfer was not made until Monday.
     The people of Odebolt, and the farmers of this vicinity who have dealt with Henry Hanson for 13 years will regret his retirement from the grain business. No man in that line was ever more popular with his customers or had a better reputation for integrity. It is gratifying to know that he still retains the livestock and the brick and tile part of the business, which with the management of his three splendid farms will occupy his time. He will have an office in Odebolt and will still be an active citizen of this community.
    Mr. Hanson was one of the first residents of Odebolt, coming here in 1877 as manager of a co-operative Swedish farmers grain company. In 1880 he succeeded to the business by purchase, built a new elevator and warehouses, and enlarged the business that he has so successfully conducted up to present writing. Active, energetic, honest and public-spirited, he has been an important factor in the growth and prosperity of Odebolt: a man whose removal would be a misfortune to the town.
     It is probable that the present working force of the elevator will be retained by the new management.

ODEBOLT CHRONICLE, Vol. 11, No. 32, DECEMBER 16, 1897
Public Library Assured
... On Monday evening a called meeting of the subscribers was held in the opera hall to perfect an organization. W. A. Helsell was elected chairman and W. E. Hamilton secretary. After some discussion it was decided to incorporate the library association under the laws of the state, and W. A. Helsell, Joseph Mattes and Cloid H. Smith were appointed a committee to prepare articles of incorporation and have the same filed. It was decided to have the officers of the association consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and three directors, and the committee on incorporation was instructed to name in the articles as the first officers: Hon. W. W. Field, president; Henry Hanson vice-president; Mrs. H. J. Matthews, secretary; John R. Mattes, treasurer; Mrs. W. A. Helsell, W. F. Bay and Dr. A. Gromann, directors

FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS, THE ODEBOLT CHRONICLE, August 25, 1938
Odebolt Saw Building Boom as Population Grew in 1891-1892
 - Henry Hanson dwelling, $6,000

FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS, THE ODEBOLT CHRONICLE, August 25, 1938
Carlson Was Employee [ of Odebolt Chronicle] for Eight Years
... J.A. Reynolds was mayor at the time of my arrival [1896]; W.A. Helsell, president of the school board; Henry Hanson, chief, and Joseph Mattes, foreman of the fire department; W.W. Shanks, postmaster, and Otis Stratton, marshal.

THE EPWORTH CHAPEL (Source: the booklet "United Methodist Church, Odebolt, Iowa, 1877-1977)
... The Epworth Chapel stood near the former Albert Prestin farm and was on land given for that purpose by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hanson.

THE BOYER METHODIST CHURCH - (Source: the booklet "United Methodist Church, Odebolt, Iowa, 1877-1977)
... Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hanson gave land for this church as they had done for Epworth Chapel. The church was completed in 1900 costing $1,800.00.

ODEBOLT CEMETERY (Source: “As Time Goes By”, Odebolt, Iowa 1877-1977, printed by The Odebolt Chronicle May, 1977, p. 247)
... Special mention should be made of Henry Hanson who served as President from 1895 until the time of his death, in 1937. He planted many trees and sponsored other ideas to beautify the cemetery.

THE CHRONICLE, Vol. XXIV, No. 12, July 21, 1910
ENTHUSIASTIC VISITORS;      Eighty Members of the Graduate School of Agriculture at Ames View Odebolt and its Trade Territory and Call it the Finest Country in the World
     Saturday forenoon at 11:15 a special train from Ames carrying eighty students of the Graduate School of Agriculture, now in session at the State College of Agriculture, Ames, pulled into Odebolt.  Among the visitors were included distinguished specialists and agricultural journalists representing nearly every state and also Canada and Cuba.  Awaiting them were twenty-six autos, whose owners generously contributed their time and machines, and the visitors were soon seated and started on a trip of thirty-eight miles. The route was north to Brookmont farm; thence west and south to Arthur; thence east to Lookout farm; thence southeast through the Adams farm and south to the Echo Valley farm of Henry Hanson & Son; thence north to Odebolt.  (See photo and full article.)

THE ODEBOLT NEWS, VOLUME XIV, NO. 34, November 17, 1927
THE ORIGIN OF HANSON BOULEVARD
     Travelers coming to Odebolt for the first time invariably remark concerning the beauty of the town. Its stately trees and well kept streets have long been a source of pardonable pride to the inhabitants. To one man the credit for this beauty must be chiefly given and that man is Henry Hanson, a pioneer in every sense of the world [sic]. His contributions to the community development over a long period of years, commencing in 1874, have been many and important. As a pioneer farmer in Wheeler Township, as an early grain dealer, as one connected with various other Odebolt business enterprises, and as Mayor of the town, he has left an indelible impress [sic] upon the pages of the community's history.
     But it has been in the planting of trees that he has made probably his most lasting contribution and, without doubt, the one which has given him the greatest personal satisfaction. Throughout the town and in the cemetery are numerous trees planted by Mr. Hanson--each a monument to his lasting interest in the community where he has spent over a half century.
     In view of this it is of great interest to read the following extract taken from "The New North", May 6, 1887. The ordinance quoted, published in John F. Coy's newspaper, explains the origin of Hanson Boulevard then called Grant Street.

ORDINANCE NO. 53
"An Ordinance vacating a portion of Grant street, of Odebolt, Iowa, for the planting trees thereon.
     Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the Town Council of the Incorporated Town of Odebolt, Iowa, that the franchise be granted to Henry Hanson, to plow up the space of fifteen (15) feet in the center of Grant street, in the Incorporated town of Odebolt, Iowa, commencing at the railroad, and running south to Sixth street, for the purpose of planting two rows of trees. Said rows of trees to be not more than ten (10) feet apart.
     "Sec. 2. The said H. Hanson shall have the privilege of fencing the said trees, and of using such means as he shall deem expedient for their welfare and growth.
     "Sec. 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force on and after its publication in the New North, a newspaper published in Odebolt, Iowa.
Wm. Graham, W. C. Matthews,
Mayor Recorder."

     It was one thing for Mr. Hanson to get this ordinance passed; it was quite another thing to develop the boulevard. Old residents recall the difficulties which confronted him--for instance how it was necessary for him to fence in the trees to keep them from being destroyed through vermin and the thoughtlessness of those who persisted in tying their cows to the trees. But he persisted in spite of all discouragements and today Hanson Boulevard exists as one of his beautiful monuments.

THE CHRONICLE. VOL. XXVII. NO. 47. MARCH 19, 1914.

All of the trees on Hanson boulevard, one of the beautiful streets of the town, have been trimmed by Henry Hanson and his aids during the past fortnight. The dead branches were cut out and the tops rounded up so that the trees will have a symmetrical growth and be very beautiful when they leaf out. Hanson boulevard has a roadway at either side and is parked down the center. Some day it will be curbed and paved--no idle fancy--and then one will travel a long way before a more prepossessing thoroughfare is encountered.

MAYORS OF ODEBOLT:  Hanson, Henry -  1918-1922

(Excerpts compiled by B. Horak, November, 2003)

 

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