Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


J. P. HANSEN. � A successful vineyardist who has not only tilled his 
own acres but has helped to improve this section for the benefit of everybody 
who lives hereabouts, is J. P. Hansen, who came to Fresno County at the 
beginning of the epoch-making eighties. He was born at Fyen, Denmark, 
on May 24, 1868, the son of Iver Hansen, who was a prosperous farmer 
known for miles around on account of his trim homestead. The mother, 
Marie Hansen, raised a large family and saw that they were also well 
schooled. J. P. Hansen was the second eldest of the nine children, and was 
one of the earliest of the Hansens to come to America and to California. 
Reared on his father's farm, and having attended the public school, he swung 
loose from home and fatherland and, at the tender age of twelve, made the 
long journey by sea and land until he reached Fresno County, in November, 
1880. His first work was in vineyards, and a couple of years later he went to 
school for two winters. From the first he made his own way ; and as he 
was of a somewhat studious turn of mind, he learned much by private study 
and reading. 

In 1884 his father and the family arrived from abroad, but J. P. Hansen 
continued to work out on farms and vineyards. He early bought ten acres 
of land in the West Park, but this he sold. In 1895, in partnership with his 
brother, H. J. Hansen, he bought a farm outfit and then leased land near 
Academy, making the deal with the Sacramento Bank Land Company, but 
the third year was a total failure, and it required courage and hard, persistent 
effort to make the five years contracted for even an average success. The 
brothers cleared some profit, however, and having disposed of the outfit, 
they again leased for a while and then dissolved partnership. 

J. P. Hansen then entered the employ of the county and ran the road 
grader under Supervisor Bullard and Overseer Hotaling. He next bought 
twenty acres in Wolter's Colony and started in to make a success of viti- 
culture, his acreage being next to that of his brother. Two years later he 
sold out and leased a place for a year from George E. Taft; and while there 
he bought his present place of forty acres. 

This very desirable property is located one-half mile west of Melvin. 
In the beginning it was all weeds and sunflowers. In every way possible he 
improved it, setting out twenty acres the first year, and the same amount the 
second year. Having first planted wine grapes, he later grafted onto them 
choice malagas. In his vineyard he now has malaga, wine, and Thompson 
seedless grapes. He has sunk a well, and installed a pumping plant with a 
ten-horsepower gasoline engine and a five-inch pump. He is a member of 
the California Associated Raisin Company, and energetically supports the 
Association's programs. Mr. Hansen was married at Fresno, on January 
14, 1904, to Miss Anna Kirsten Anderson, who was born in Fyen, Denmark, 
the daughter of Anderson H. and Elsie M. Anderson, farmer folk. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hansen have two children living: Iver C. and Marie C. Hansen. Mr. 
Hansen belongs to the Clovis Lodge of the Odd Fellows, where he is a Past 
Grand, and to the Fresno Dania. He and his wife enjoy an enviable popu- 
larity.