Sacramento Valley Biographies

PETER HANSEN

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, May 2009.

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

        A practical and successful farmer, and one of the most highly
esteemed members of the community in which he resides, Peter Hansen is the
owner of a comfortable homestead, which is pleasantly located one-half mile
west of Dayton, where for many years he has been successfully engaged in his
useful calling. The country having been new when he first came here, he,
with the other pioneers of this section, labored bravely and cheerfully, and
with them will leave footprints where coming generations shall follow with
far less exertion and with an exceedingly greater number of comforts and
luxuries. He was born September 8, 1831 in Denmark, where his parents, Hans
and Mary (Dalstrom) Hansen, were born and lived and died. His father was a
sea-faring man, and while on his various voyages made several trips to the
United States. 

       The second child in a family of three children, Peter Hansen acquired
a good common-school education in his native land. In 1846 he shipped as a
cabin boy on a vessel bound for Germany, and in 1849, made a voyage to
Calcutta, India. Returning from there to Germany, he shipped on a vessel
bound for America, and arriving in New York harbor disembarked, concluding
to take up residence in the United States. In the spring of 1853 he sailed
around Cape Horn to California, and located on Butte creek, near
Diamondville, where he followed mining for four years. Going then to Trinity
county, he was similarly employed for another four years, being quite
success-ful in his ventures. In 1862 Mr. Hansen began life as a farmer in
Dayton, Butte county, and in 1864 bought his present ranch of one hundred
and sixty-four acres, on which he has since been prosperously engaged in
tilling the soil. He also acquired other property of value, being now the
owner of nineteen hundred and seventy-eight acres of land in Tehama county,
eight miles from, and from the rental of which he receives a good annual
income.

       On Butte creek, Butte county, November 24, 1858, Mr Hansen married
Elizabeth Jane Boydston, who was born in Arkansas, a daughter of James and
Sarah (Avery) Boydston, natives of Tennessee and Alabama respectively. After
their marriage they moved to Arkansas. In 1857 they came to California by
ox-teams, a trip which consumed six months. After living five years on Butte
creek, they settled near Dayton, where they bought one hundred and sixty
acres, the father dying there when in his sixty-sixth year, and the mother
when over three score and ten. Mr. and Mrs. Boydston had eight children.
They were members of the Baptist Church, and in politics Mr. Boydston was a
Democrat. Of the nine children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hansen
seven are living, namely: Joseph William, of Chico; Mrs. Mary Van Zant, of
Mendocino county; Charles, a clerk in Chico; Mrs. Sarah Dockery, of St.
Helena, Napa county; Mrs. Emma Gary, of Chico; Albert F., on the home ranch;
and Henry, a bookkeeper in Chico. Politically Mr. Hansen is a staunch
supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and is an ardent
admirer of President Roosevelt.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Page 490.