California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


NIS HANSEN. It is universally conceded by the majority of people that a man's success 
in life is measured by the rapidity with which he amasses wealth; the greater his wealth and 
the more quickly it is accumulated, the greater his success. As an example of one who has 
some claim to success and whose wealth has been attained in one channel of endeavor, 
appropriate mention may be made of Mr. Hansen, who, although of foreign birth, has been 
a citizen of the Linked States and of California since 1875, and at the present writing is a 
well-known rancher and fruit-grower in the vicinity of Armona, in Kings county. 

United, as he is, by close ties to Schleswig, then a part of Denmark, for it was there that he 
was born March 17, 1859, Mr. Hansen remained in his native land until he was sixteen years 
old, spending his boyhood days on a farm. It was early in the year 1875 that he left home and 
friends and sailed for America to avoid having to serve in the army, having little or no taste 
for military life. Landing in New York city in May of the same year, he remained there only 
a short time, proceeding California. At Vallejo he secured employment in a meat market, 
and for eighteen months he devoted his best energies to this business, subsequently following 
ranching pursuits for a time in Solano county, and for a couple of years in Kings county, then 
a part of Tulare county. A little later, Mr. Hansen purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
railroad land, which he at once began to improve and cultivate. Here for years he raised 
grain and carried on dairy farming to some extent, and in 1888 commenced to put out or- 
chards. The latter yielded such fair returns that mere attention was paid to fruit culture with 
each succeeding year, and at the present writing one hundred acres of his ranch is in fine bearing 
orchards and vineyards. Having prospered greatly Mr. Hansen has owned from time to time 
farms in different sections, his possessions now including thirty acres of choice land adjoining his 
home ranch, fifteen acres of which is in vines. That part of his land not devoted to fruit is utilized 
in raising alfalfa and for pasturage, and this season the entire ranch is leased to men who have 
worked for Mr. Hansen for the past sixteen years. 

The home ties of Mr. Hansen date back to 1887, for at that time he wedded Josie Hutton, 
a native of California. She passed to her final rest in 1891, after a brief wedded life, leaving 
two children ; of these, one is deceased and the other, Jesse, is at the home place. In 1894 Mr. 
Hansen remarried to Jennie Dickinson, a native of Maine. Four children have been born to this 
union, one of whom died in infancy, and in 1900 their mother also died. The children are Cather- 
ine, Jennie and Louis A. By his third marriage, Mr. Hansen was united with Minnie D. Hough, 
his present wife, who was born in Michigan, but was reared in Virginia. In his political views, 
Mr. Hansen is a Republican, but never aspired to office, preferring rather to devote his time and 
energy to his business pursuits, and by his straightforward methods, he has made many 
friends in his locality. His fine ranch is worth many times the purchase money, and could not 
be purchased for less than $250 per acre, being well located, three-quarters of a mile west of 
Armona.