JOHN G. HANSON

BIOGRAPHY

AS RECORDED IN:

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF
TOLLAND AND WINDHAM COUNTIES CONNECTICUT.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS AND OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLED FAMILIES
PUBLISHER: J.H.BEERS & CO., CHICAGO; 1903 P. 1249

JOHN G. HANSON, a thrifty and industrious resident of Willimantic, Windham Co., Conn., was born near Goteborg, Sweden, Dec. 29, 1861, and from the age of eleven years has shifted for himself. His early history varies from hunting bear in Lapland, to being an invited guest in the Royal palace of King Oscar, of Sweden. The parents of John G. Hanson were farming people, and lived and died in the home country. When young Hanson was eleven years old he went to Stockholm, where he engaged to serve on a vessel that sailed around the north coasts of Europe. For three years he was on the water, and then became a clerk in a store in Lapland, spending five eventful years in that country, during which time he was engaged in different duties and pleasures, hunting Lapland bears, driving reindeer, sleeping out in the snow with a sleeping bag for cover, after the fashion of the land, and enduring many hardships and adventures that could only come to one living in so high a latitude.

When Mr. Hanson returned from Lapland, he again went to sea, this time on the four-master, "Northern Star," which sailed from Sweden for South Carolina, with a cargo of lumber, making the round trip in about eleven months, after putting in at an English port with a cargo of oats. On the last stage of the journey the ship was frozen in the ice in the North Sea for three weeks, and the crew were reduced to three ounces of bread a day. On his first experience as a sailor, while the ship was in the harbor at Stockholm, it was inspected by King Oscar, who was attracted by the bright and charming young face of the lad, John G. Hanson, invited him to come to the Royal Palace, and after having him shown over the magnificent building, he offered him a place in the palace; young Hanson declined, grateful as he was for the offer from the king, as he wished a more individual life career. While Mr. Hanson was in Europe he visited thirty-two of the more important cities of the Old World.

In 1884 he determined to come to the United States, and though he had but little money, he was full of pluck and energy. Landing at New York, he at once went to Mansfield, Conn., where he secured employment as a farm hand with August Storrs. After about a year he left Mr. Storrs to enter the employ of Buck, Durkee & Stiles, wholesale grocers at Willimantic, where he was a driver of one of their teams. By this firm and its successors, he was employed some eleven years. J.C. Lincoln employed him for three years in the same capacity and still later, Dennis Shea.

In 1887 Mr. Hanson bought his present property on Jackson street, where he has since lived, and where he has conducted a grocery and confectionery business to the present time. He has also built a house on this property, which he rents.

Mr. Hanson was married Aug. 5, 1884, in Brooklyn, to Miss Annie Langreen, a native of Sweden, and to their union has come one child, Aleda, who is now at home.

Mr. Hanson is a Republican. By his own industry and thrift he has accumulated a very satisfactory competence. In the community he holds a good place, and is well thought of by those who know him best. Since he was eleven years old he has not been home, neither has he seen his parents since that time.

Reproduced by:

Linda D. Pingel

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