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


NIELS HANSEN.� A progressive viticulturist. whose experience leads 
others to seek his counsel and services, is Niels Hansen, who came to Fresno 
soon after the beginning of this century. He was born near Odense, Fyen, 
Denmark, on December 6, 1872, the son of Rasmus Hansen, a farmer, who 
died there in 1914. His wife was Mariana Nielsen before her marriage, and 
she is also dead. Three children bearing this honored name still are living, 
and Niels is the second oldest, and the only one in the United States. 

When a boy Niels attended the local schools, and at eighteen entered the 
Danish army, serving in 1891 with the dragoon regiment. At the end of the 
usual period he received his honorable discharge. He followed farming until 
1902 and while in Denmark was married to Miss Martine Jensen, a woman 
of many accomplishments. When they reached the United States, Mr. Hansen 
was not long in getting to Fresno, for he had heard of this highly-favored 
section of the Golden State. He was soon employed on ranches and in vine- 
yards ; and he rapidly became acquainted with the spirit of the Golden West. 

In 1904, Mr. Hansen bought twenty acres three miles north of Sanger; 
but raisins were then selling low, and he did not realize the profit from his 
venture that he anticipated. In 1913 he sold the ranch, and returned to 
Denmark. During the previous Alay, Airs. Hansen had died, leaving five 
children : Mabel, Arthur, Oscar, Victor, and Ella ; and not long after, in 
New York City, Air. Hansen married Miss Sophia Kyhl, a native of Copen- 
hagen and a member of an old family. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen attend the 
Danish Lutheran Church, and are active in church and other good works. 

Having returned to Denmark at the time that he did, Air. Hansen was 
in Copenhagen when the war broke out and witnessed the great excitement 
there. In 1916 he returned to the United States, glad to get back to what he 
felt was home, as soon as he reached New York. Of course he continued west 
to Fresno and since then has been following viticulture here, first on the L. F. 
Giffen place near Rolinda, until that was sold. Then in the spring of 1918 
he leased the Bates place on Madera Avenue, a line tract of orchard and 
vineyard comprising fifty-one acres. He is a member of the California Asso- 
ciated Raisin Company.