Lars Peter Hansen (1872 - 1918)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

1872 BIRTH AND BAPTISM
Name: Lars Peter Hansen^[1][2][3]
Calling name: Peter or Pete
Birth: 07 November 1872^[1]
Place: Bredetved, Ågerup, Holbæk, Denmark ^[3]
Baptism: 20 November 1872 at home^[1][3]

Blessing at church: 10 April 1873 ^[3]
Place: Ågerup Church, Holbæk, Denmark ^[3]
Witnesses: the child's father Anders Hansen,
Johan George Jorgensen of Bredetved,
Ole Jacobsen of Arnakke ^[1][3][4]

1873 - Lars Peter Hansen - Baptism

"There is no record as to why he was baptized at home instead of church but as it occurred only a few days after birth, Lars may have been poor and weak and it was possibly feared he would not survive. As he was baptized at home, the church will not baptize him again in order not to diminish the importance of his home baptism. It is the custom to present the child for a blessing in church when the child pulls through... " (Ågerup Church record 359, 31, 21) ^[3]

Father: Anders Hansen ^{[1] [3]}
Mother: Maren Kirstine Johansen^{[1] [3]}

An alternate spelling for Bredetved

Before 1870s School Record
Lars Peter Hansen: Knowledge: very good, Behavior: very good but with minus sign.^[3]

1873 Vaccination
Lars Peter was vaccinated against pox 29 July 1873 by Bøjesen.^[3]

1880 Denmark Census
Ågerup, Merløse, Holbæk, Danmark^[5]

Anders Hansen, 45, father

Maren Kirstine Johansen, 39, wife

Johane Georg Hansen,12, male child

Niels Frederik Hansen, 10, male child

Lars Peter Hansen, 7, male child

Carl Kristina [Christian] Hansen, 4, male child

Andreas Vilhelm Hansen, 1, male child

Johanne Marie Andersen, 2, female child

Bredetved, Ågerup Church, Tølløse Church, Denmark and Sweden

1887 Confirmation^[6][7]
Lars Peter Hansen was confirmed 17 April 1887, the first Sunday after Easter in the Tølløse Church, Holbæk, Denmark.

1887 - Lars Peter Hansen - Confirmation

Tøllose Church (Gammel Tøllose Kirke – Holbæk)

1890 Denmark Census
Eriksholm, Ågerup, Merløse, Holbæk, Denmark^[8]

1890 - Denmark Census at Eriksholm Castle

Lars Peter Hansen, 17, a worker, and Ida Marie Olsen, 20, a dairy girl from Sweden, were among numerous employees at the Eriksholm Castle in 1890. This is the same place where Peter's father and uncle Ola went to work when they emigrated from Sweden to Denmark in 1858.^[9]

Eriksholm Castle near Holbæk, Denmark

Lars Peter Hansen of Bredetved and Ida Marie Olsen of Holbæk had a stillborn daughter (Dødfødt) on 27 April 1891 in Ågerup, Holbæk, Denmark.^[10]

Emigration - Denmark to USA
There was a great exodus from the Scandanavian countries to the US in the last century. A large number of Hansens (from two generations) dreamed of a better life in the USA. "There was plenty of land for people with farming skills in the Midwest, whereas in Denmark you were a hired farm hand or possibly a small crofter with very little land and a meager income. The prospect of being able to own vast amounts of land (in their eyes) was enough for any small holder to sell up and go."^{[3] [11]}

1896 - Postcard of Reinbeck, Grundy, Iowa

Peter appears to have been the first person in his generation to settle in the USA in 1891 ^[12]or 1892. ^[13] Ida's immigration date on censuses is also inconsistent. Because they were not married until 1893, they probably did not emigrate together. ^[14]

Peter's brothers, Carl Christian, Andreas Wilhelm (A.W.), and Alfred Oskar, joined him later on, followed by several nephews and nieces.

Hansen Brothers - Peter, A.W. and Oscar (seated)

Carl's daughter Edith recalled, "Uncle Lars Peter (Uncle Pete as we called him) was the humorous one, always jolly and full of anecdotes. He could always make us laugh."

Pete Hansen

1893 MARRIAGE
Ida Mary Olsen and Peter Hansen married 02 December 1893 in Morrison, Grundy, Iowa; officiated by J.A. Wallace, Justice of the Peace. ^[15][16]

Children born in Iowa

Sophia Marion Hansen Miner (1894 - 1936)

Andrew William Hansen (1899 - 1985)

Norma Krestine Hansen Fisher (1897-1970)

Oscar Carl Hansen (1901 - 1982)

Edna Marie Hansen Morcum (1902 - 1947)

Nels Peter Hansen (1904 - 1987

George Albert Hansen (1905 - 1992)

Peter Lars Hansen (1906 - 1984)

Esther Gertrude Hansen Bisbey (1909 - 1959)

1895 Iowa Census
Grundy, Iowa^[17]

Peter Hansen, 22, b Denmark, prod (sic) (Protestant),
subject to military duty, eligible to vote

Mary A Hansen, 24, b Sweden, prod (sic) (Protestant)

Sophie Hansen, 0, b Iowa, prod (sic) (Protestant)

1897 Naturalization of Peter Hansen
Peter Hansen, 23 [25], "renounced" the King of Denmark and was naturalized 26 Oct 1897 in Grundy County, Iowa. ^[18] (It took 5 years to become a citizen before 1906). ^[19]

1900 US Census
Geneseo Township, Tama, Iowa^[12]

Peter Hansen, 26, b Denmark Nov 1873, imm 1891, naturalized

Mary Hansen, 29, b Sweden Apr 1871, 3 children, 3 living

Sophy M Hansen, 6, b Iowa Apr 1894, daughter

Norma C Hansen, 3, b Iowa Jan 1897, daughter

Anders Hansen, 9/12, b Iowa Aug 1899, son

1905 Iowa Census
Post Office Reinbeck, Grant Township, Tama, Iowa ^[20]

Peter Hensen, 37, b Denmark, imm 1892, not NA, m 18 yrs, farmer, owns

Mary Hansen, 38, b Sweden, m 18 yrs, 9 children, 9 living, imm 1892

Sophia Hansen, 16, b Iowa, daughter

Norma Hansen, 13, b Iowa, daughter

Anders Hansen, 10, b Iowa, son

Oscar Hansen, 9, b Iowa, son

Edna Hansen, 7, b Iowa, daughter

Nels Hansen, 5, b Iowa, son

George Hansen, 4, b Iowa, son

Peter Hansen, 3, b Iowa, son

Esther Hansen, 0, b Iowa, daughter

Although some sources cite their residence as Reinbeck, the nearest town, they never lived there. Peter actually rented various farms in Tama, Grundy and Black Hawk counties until they had enough saved to buy their own place in Orange Township.

1911 - Reinbeck, Grundy County and Lincoln, Grant, and Geneseo Townships in Tama County, Iowa

Ida Hansen and children in rural Iowa

This is believed to be at their farmhouse in Orange Township.

1910 US Census
Orange Township, Black Hawk, Iowa^[13]

Peter Hensen, 37, b Denmark, imm 1892, not NA, farmer,owns

Mary Hansen, 38, b Sweden, 9 children, 9 living, imm 1892

Sophia Hansen, 16, b Iowa, daughter

Norma Hansen, 13, b Iowa, daughter

Anders Hansen, 10, b Iowa, son

Oscar Hansen, 9, b Iowa, son

Edna Hansen, 7, b Iowa, daughter

Nels Hansen, 5, b Iowa, son

George Hansen, 4, b Iowa, son

Peter Hansen, 3, b Iowa, son

Esther Hansen, 0, b Iowa, daughter [9/12]

1910 Plat Map - Orange Township, Black Hawk, Iowa

"Orange Township farm land ranks today among the most fertile in the world." ^[21]

1913 Move from Orange Township to Cedar Falls
The family moved to Cedar Falls in 1913. On 3 October 1913, the Waterloo Evening Courier reported, "Peter Hansen has purchased the Severin Markussen restaurant on lower Main street and will take possession next Monday morning."^[22]

Peter, Mary, and their nine children lived in a small house at 601 Grant Street, in a then-unincorporated area, now in Cedar Falls.

They lived across the street from Miner School, a three room wooden structure built in 1890 and located on the same site as the brick building that replaced it. The new school building opened in January 1915 after which the lumber from the old schoolhouse was removed and converted into three identical houses at 706, 708, and 710 Lincoln Street, just west of today's Policeman's Park. ^[23]

Ida owned the three Lincoln Street houses until the Depression and their grandchildren, Russell and Richard Hansen, Betty Hansen, Gerald and Duane Bisbey and Mary Fisher, were born there. Peter lived to see only one of his grandchildren before his untimely death in 1918.

1915 Iowa Census
601 Grant Street, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk, Iowa^[24]

P.L.Hansen, 43, b Denmark, in US 23 yrs, Lutheran, $480 income 1914, 8 yrs grammar school, $2000 home value, $500 incumbrances on home, can read, write

Ida M Hansen, 43, b Sweden, In US 23 yrs, Lutheran, 8 years school, wife

Sophia Hansen, 21, b Iowa, single, housekeeper, 8 years school, Lutheran

Norma Hansen, 16, b Iowa, single, domestic, 8 years school, Lutheran

Anders Hansen, 15, b Iowa, single, 8 years school, Lutheran

Oscar Hansen, 14, b Iowa, single, 8 years school, Baptist

Edna Hansen, 12, b Iowa, single, 7 years school, Lutheran

Nels Hansen, 10, b Iowa, single, in school, Lutheran

George Hansen, 9, b Iowa, single, 4 years grammar school, Lutheran

Peter Hansen, 8, b Iowa, at school

Esther Hansen, 5, b Iowa, single, Lutheran

Vacation in Denmark
It has been said that Peter went to Denmark alone on a vacation sometime between 1915 and 1918--not the best time in history to be sailing in the Atlantic. The story is that he returned home later than expected because he had been booked on a steamship that sunk. (Was it the Lusitania that was torpedoed 7 May 1917?) A gift Peter brought back for daughter Norma is still in the family (2012). ^[25]

1918 DEATH AND BURIAL
In May 1918, Peter was killed on the job south of Woodbine, Iowa. The "Woodbine Twiner" reported that Peter "was instantly killed when a derrick on an Illinois Central work train tipped over and fell on him at Willett Crossing south of Woodbine. His left leg was nearly severed from the body at the hip and he was badly crushed. William Ivens of Des Moines was slightly injured. A new bridge is being built at the overhead crossing and the derrick was being used to life heavy stone. It seems that the machine was overloaded, causing it to tip over and caught Hansen whose death was instantaneous."^[26]

The Waterloo Times-Tribune reported, "The deceased was well known to a large number of people in this city. At one time a few years ago, he operated a lunch room and cafe at 120 North Main Street.

"A few months ago he accepted employment with the bridge department of the I.C. railroad. A widow and a large family of small children survive him..."^[27]

Pete Hansen and ICRR Bridge Crew

A follow-up article said: "Cedar Falls, May 15.-The funeral services held over the remains of the late Peter Hanson [Hansen]...were largely attended. The services, which were conducted at the Danish Bethlehem church by the pastor, Rev. Christiansen, were of a very impressive nature. Many beautiful floral offerings told mutely of the love and esteem in which the unfortunate man was held in the community thru a residence of many years"^[28]

Peter was the first to be buried in the Hansen plot where four of the six spaces were later taken by his wife, Ida Marie, his daughter Edna Morcum, his daughter, Sophia Miner, and his nephew, John G Hansen.^[29]

Hansen Cemetery Plot -Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls, Iowa

1918 - Peter Hansen Gravestone

Research Notes

Re: Marriage lore
The story goes that Peter said he "swam the channel" (between Sweden and Denmark) to be with Ida and it was always assumed by his grandchildren that they married there. No one had reason to doubt it but, had they checked, their December 1893 marriage record could have been found in Grundy County, Iowa.^[15] Sophie was born there in April 1894.

Re: Emigration
There were multiple Lars Peter Hansens who emigrated in 1891-1892 and passenger lists at that time didn't have enough information to know who was who. Ida arrived at the latest in the summer of 1893.

Re: Not to confused with another Peter Hansen
There was another Peter Hansen living in the unincorporated area across the river from Cedar Falls who worked for the rairoad and also had connections to a grocery store. However, he was there by at least 1894 while our Peter didn't arrive in Cedar Falls until 1913. CF city directory listings for the other Peter Hansen:^[30]

1894: 422 Lincoln E, Hansen Peter L laborer

1901-02: 422 Lincoln, Hansen Peter, Mary (wife), sectionman Illinois C RR

1909-10: 422 Lincoln, Hansen Peter

1913: 422 Lincoln, Hansen Peter laborer

1913: 523 Lincoln, Cash Grocery

1913: 523 Lincoln, 2nd listing for a Peter Hansen, employed Cash Grocery

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8B-1SKV : 16 August 2019), Lars Peter Hansen, ; Birth, Ågerup, Holbæk, Danmark, 35, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.
2. ↑ "Denmark Baptisms, 1618-1923", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYDN-VJY : 23 June 2020), Lars Peter, 1872.
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11} Gert Hansen Research 2007
4. ↑ FamilySearch Wiki contributors, "Ågerup Parish, Holbæk, Denmark Genealogy," FamilySearch Wiki, , (accessed November 16, 2020).
5. ↑ "Denmark Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL6H-Z985 : 31 July 2019), Lars Peter Hansen in entry for Anders Hansen, Ågerup, Merløse, Holbæk, Danmark; from "1880 Denmark Census," database and images, MyHeritage ( https://www.myheritage.com : 2017), film 10083; citing Rigsarkivet, København, Danmark (National Archives, Copenhagen, Denmark).
6. ↑ "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG8B-LQHF : 11 June 2020), Lars Peder Hansen, 17 Apr 1887; Confirmation, Ågerup, Holbæk, Denmark, , Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.
7. ↑ Gert Hansen Research, 2008: Lars was confirmed in Tølløse Church first Sunday after Easter 18 April 1887 (record 359, 97, 1)
8. ↑ Age is 20, 2 years older than US records: "Denmark Census, 1890," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL62-7355 : 17 October 2017), Ida Marie Olsen in entry for Johannes Julius Larsen, Ågerup, Merløse, Holbæk, Danmark; from "1890 Denmark Census," database and images, MyHeritage ( https://www.myheritage.com : 2017), film 01017; citing Rigsarkivet, København, Danmark (National Archives, Copenhagen), Denmark.
9. ↑ IMAGE: Wikipedia contributors, "Eriksholm," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed December 6, 2020).
10. ↑ "Danmark Kirkebøger, 1484-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG81-43QQ : 16 August 2019), Dødfødt, ; Birth, Ågerup, Holbæk, Danmark, 35, Rigsarkivet, København (The Danish National Archives), Copenhagen.
11. ↑ Museum of Danish America, Danish Immigration [1]
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9L2-RJ4 : accessed 25 November 2020), Peter Hansen, Buckingham & Genesee Townships, Tama, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 129, sheet 8B, family 147, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,460.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML13-7KS : accessed 25 November 2020), Peter Hansen, Orange, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 31, sheet 8A, family 138, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 392; FHL microfilm 1,374,405.
14. ↑ 1900 census: Peter immigrated 1891, Ida in 1892
    1910 census: Peter and Ida immigrated 1892
    1920 census: Ida immigrated 1892, naturalized in 1897
    1930 census: Ida immigrated 1891
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCW6-Q1Y : 4 November 2017), Peter Hansen and Ida Mary Olsen, 02 Dec 1893, Morrison, Grundy, Iowa, United States; citing reference p 131 n 2457, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,035,252.
16. ↑ "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJLG-XB4 : 13 January 2020), Peter Hansen, 1893.
17. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3S-ZZX : 18 November 2020), Peter L Hanson, Grundy, Iowa, United States; citing p. 87, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,020,355.
18. ↑ Grundy County Courthouse, Grundy Center, Iowa, Recorders Office, Naturalization record book: Name:Peter Hansen Date 26 Oct 1897 Age:23 [misread? 25?], Country: "renounce" the King of Denmark
19. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship
20. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVM5-VV5D : 24 November 2020), Peter Hansen, Tama, Iowa, United States; citing card #110, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,642.
21. ↑ Waterloo Sunday Courier, Waterloo, Iowa. June 20, 1954, "Black Hawk County Townships Beginnings," https://iagenweb.org/blackhawk/history/bhctownships.htm
22. ↑ Waterloo Evening Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, 3 Oct 1913
23. ↑ Following the 2008 Flood, almost all properties in this floodplain area of Cedar Falls were bought out, demolished, and must remain green space forever. American Planning Association; Case Study: Cedar Falls, Iowahttps://www.planning.org/research/postdisaster/casestudies/cedarfalls.htm
24. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK4R-71Y7 : 24 November 2020), P L Hansen, 1915; citing Black Hawk, Iowa, United States, card no. , Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,379,477.
25. ↑ Story as told by daughter Esther; ship record not found
26. ↑ Woodbine Twiner, Woodbine, Iowa, 16 May 1918, front page
27. ↑ Waterloo Times Tribune, Waterloo, Iowa, 14 May 1918
28. ↑ Waterloo Times Tribune, Waterloo, Iowa, 16 May 1918
29. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139914203/lars-peder-hansen: accessed 29 May 2023), memorial page for Lars Peder “Peter Lars” Hansen (4 Nov 1872–12 May 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 139914203, citing Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA; Maintained by sameelee (contributor 48534864).
30. ↑ Cedar Falls City Directory, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls Public Library)

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