1890 Portrait & Bio Album of Green Lake, Marquette & Waushara Counties Halbert Hanson Contributed by: Andrea Elam
HALBERT HANSON, Recorder of Deeds of Waushara County, and a prominent citizen of Wautoma, has passed his entire life in this county. He was born in the town of Dakota on the 13th of April, 1853, being the son of George and Guneid Hanson, who were natives of Norway and emigrated to America in July 1849. Coming to Wisconsin they settled in the town of Dakota, where they entered land and began the development of a farm, but, subsequently removed to the town of Mt. Morris, locating on section 8. Not a furrow had been turned, a fence built of other improvements made, but Mr. Hanson transformed the wild land into a comfortable home for himself and family. He was very successful in his business enterprises. He was not only in limited circumstances on his arrival in this community but was in debt to the extent of $60, which he borrowed in order to pay his passage to this country. By judicious management and a resolute will which would brook no defeat, he accumulated a comfortable competency and is now the owner of a fine farm of 380 acres of land, which pays a golden tribute to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it. Although his time has been largely occupied with his business, he has ever taken an active interest in the upbuilding and welfare of the county and aided materially in its progress and advancement. He has supported the Republican party since its organization and is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his wife, now deceased, also belonged. Of thier family, four sons are yet living - Ole T., of Mt. Morris; Halbert, Martin G. and George H., who is living on the old homestead.
The subject of this notice began his school life in an upper room of his father's house, where a few children of the neighborhood met and conned thier lessons. He received only the privileges afforded by the common schools, yet he is one of the intelligent and valued citizens of the town, having largely supplemented his early education by reading and observation. When a young man of twenty-one years, he met with a serious accident, the loss of a hand by the discharge of a gun. As it unfitted him for farm labor, the Republican party, of which he is a frim and inflexible advocate, nominated him for the position of Recorder, to which he was elected by an overwhelming majority. His efficiency and the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties led to his re-election in 1886 and in 1888, he was elected to the same office by 1,000 majority. He has also held some town offices, having served as Town Clerk of the town of Mt. Morris for the term of nine years, during which time he was also engaged in teaching school. Faithfully looking after the interests of the office and honorably discharging every trust reposed in him, he has gained for himself an enviable place in the regard and confidence of his fellow-citizens and won the respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
On the 29th of December, 1886, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Peterson, daughter of Peter Peterson, of Walworth County, Wis. They have one son, Harold Bert. Mr. Hanson possesses excellent business qualities and not-withstanding his misfortune in the loss of a hand, which unfits him for many callings in life, he will no doubt gain for himself a comfortable competence.
