"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Jens Hanson, of Great Bend township, Cottonwood county, was born in Denmark. January 24, 1864, and is a son of Hans and Anna Christenson, both natives of Denmark, in which country they spent their lives. The father was a soldier in the regular army of his country and served in the war of 1864 against Germany. His family consisted of eight children.

Jens Hanson spent his youthful days in Denmark, where he was educated. He came to America in 1888, when twenty-four years of age and settled in Illinois, where he remained three years, then removed to Minnesota, locating in Redwood county, where he spent one and one-half years. In 1890 he came to Cottonwood county, locating on a farm near Windom on which he has since resided, owning a well-improved and productive place of one hundred and twenty acres, where he has carried on general fanning and stock raising.

Mr. Hanson was married in 1891 to Mary Anderson, who was born in Norway. She is a daughter of Andres Peterson and Helen (Larson) Peterson, both natives of Norway, where they grew up, were married and spent their lives. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, namely: Victor, Walter, Myrtle and Orval.

Politically, Mr. Hanson is independent. He is the present chairman of the township board of Great Bend township, which office he has held for a period of about ten years. He and his family belong to the Lutheran church.