John M. HANSON, deceased, was one of the pioneers of Henry County and one of its most esteemed citizens. He was born in Deerfield, Franklin Co., Mass., July 25, 1807, and died on his farm in Center Township, adjoining Mt. Pleasant, April 3, 1887, lacking but little of having completed four-score years, a long life, well and worthily' spent. He left a sorrowing widow and children, and a large circle of friends to mourn their loss, but comforted with the knowledge that he went to meet the reward earned by an upright Christian life. He was one of a large family, of whom but three are living at the present: Mrs.P. H. Phisher, of Mt. Pleasant, and two younger brothers, now residents of Mentor, Ohio.
Like the great majority of New England boys of his day, he had his own way to make in the world, and received but the limited education common in those times. Early in life he was apprenticed to the trade of cabinet-making at Shelburne, in his native county, working there until his marriage on Jan. 8, 1832, to Miss Lauretta Smith, a native of Massachusetts. Shortly after this event he removed to New York State, but did not stay long there, being, like many others,, attracted by the more brilliant opportunities in the West, and removing to Ohio. That place did not suit him, and he went still nearer to the frontier, arriving in Chicago, 111., in 1836, whence he started with a team to Joliet. There he traded his team for wild land, and set out for Iowa, arriving in Henry County in September of that year,and soon after settling on the farm where all his subsequent life was passed, with the exception of the time he spent in California. He was truly one of that band of noble pioneers who opened the way to the broad prairies of the State. When he located on his farm, there was not a settler between him and the Mississippi, whence all his supplies had to be procured. Nothing daunted, with unbounded energy and faith, he began the work of making a home, and how well his confidence was founded is shown by the results he achieved. Besides farming, he was for some years engaged in chair-making and turning, and many specimens of his skill are yet to be found in the houses of the earlier settlers. Always industrious and enterprising, and turned his hand to anything he found to do.
August 18, 1839, his wife died, leaving three children, of whom but one is now living, a son, William, in business in Mt. Pleasant. On the 10th of February, 1841, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Laura A. Wood, by whom he had six children, of whom four are now living: Charles A. and John C., residents of Chillicothe, Mo.; Lauretta A., now Mrs. Bayles, living in Nebraska; and Henry W., a resident of this county. Leaving his family pro-vided for, he started in 1852 for the gold fields of California, with a company of friends and neighbors, and accompanied by his eldest son, George. Shortly after he left home, his wife died, on Feb. 24, 1852, but the sad news did not reach him until seven months afterward. He stayed in California for six years, most of the time engaged in mining. In 1858, he returned to his desolate home in Iowa, and gathered his children around him. In his absence, two of them had found a home with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Wood, cared for and attended by an older sister. The others had been reared by other relatives and friends. Aug. 25, 1859, death again invaded the family, the eldest son, George, who had remained in California, dying on that day, at Deer Creek.
June 10, l9??, Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Eliza, daughter of Joel and Eunice (Higgins) Farr, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter born at Cape Cod, Mass. Mrs. Hanson was born in Chittenden County, Vt., June 9, 1817, and proved herself a worthy and loving helpmate to her husband, whose memory she tenderly reveres.
Mr. Hanson was a man of marked intelligence, energy, good judgment, and decision of character, and took an active part in all movements tending to the interest of his adopted home. He was the first President of the Henry County Agricultural Society, and chief promoter of its first fair. He held many town and school offices, and in 1871 was chosen to represent the county in the State Legislature on an independent farmer's ticket, and in every position to which he was called, fully justified the confidence reposed in him. In his death the county lost one of its most valued citizens, who had done much for its advancement; and his many friends, a counselor on whose judgment they had been accustomed; to his wife, a noble and kind husband; and his children, a wise and faithful parent. Though his days were prolonged to a decade beyond the Psalmist's three-score years and ten, yet to the last, he was an active and useful member of society. His life was a model for all. Blessings and sorrows he accepted as coming from Him who "doeth all things well," and his memory is revered by many who honored his sterling integrity of character, his unswerving honesty, industry, unvarying cheerfulness and ready charity. His death, which was preceded by a severe illness, was not unexpected, but was not the less mourned, and his mortal remains were followed to their last resting-place by a large concourse of friends assembled to honor the memory of a just man, and were laid to rest to await the sounding of that trumpet which shall summon both the quick and the dead.
The portrait of Mr. Hanson, inserted by request of his widow, is a fitting tribute to the worth of one who was in every relation of life an upright man, and a true representative of the best class of Henry Country's early settlers.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa; Acme Publishing Company, Chicago, 1888; pp. 334-56.
