KSGenWeb Digital Library Biographical Sketch of John Hansz Nemaha County, Kansas

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The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900.  These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

John Hansz

Is the owner of one of the fine farms of Nemaha township, Nemaha county.  His home is situated on section 35, where he has 280 acres of good land, all under a high state of cultivation, improved with the various accessories and conveniences known to the modern farm.

A native of France he was born in the province of Alsace, which now belongs to Germany, August 17, 1840.  His father, George Hansz, was also born in that locality and died when about fifty-five years of age.

As a means of livelihood he followed the occupation of farming.  His wife, who was in her maidenhood Mary Richard, was also born in Alsace, and died in Illinois, at the venerable age of ninety-two years. In their family there were nine children, but only four are now living: Jacob, Michael, John and Mary. The last named is now the wife of Louis Dolder, of Illinois.

Mr. Hansz, of this review, is the eighth child and youngest son and he spent the first fifteen years of his life in the place of his nativity, where he pursued his education in the common schools, working on the farm in the summer months.  He came to America in 1856 and for four years resided in the Empire state, where he worked by the month as a farm hand.

On the expiration of that period he became a resident of DeKalb county, Illinois, where he was employed by the month on a farm for four years, after which he operated a rented farm for two years.

In 1866 he arrived in Nemaha county, Kansas, when the state had been admitted to the Union only five years, and the work of progress was scarcely begun in the northeastern section.  Mr. Hansz rented a tract of land on Nemaha creek and there carried on agricultural pursuits for two years, when, with the capital he had acquired, he purchased 80 acres, upon which he now resides.

There were no improvements on the place at the time, but his labors soon wrought a great change in the appearance of his farm.  He first built a small residence and then went into the fields, where the work of plowing and planting at length brought the reward of good harvests.  As time has passed and his financial resources have increased he has extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises 280 acres, all of which is fenced and under cultivation.  He carries on stock raising in connection with general farming and finds in both branches of the business a profitable source of income. 

In 1866, in Chicago, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hansz and Miss Harriet George, a native of Nassau, Germany, who at the age of four years was brought to America by her parents and reared in DeKalb county, Illinois.  Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hansz, namely: Carrie, the wife of Elwood McIntire a farmer and teacher of Norton county, Kansas; Emma, the wife of William Ifft, a resident of Walkerville, Montana; Sarah, a graduate of the Centralia High School and now a successful teacher; Henry and William, at home; Ella, deceased; and Lester, who completes the family.

All are natives of Nemaha county. Mr. Hansz came to America with a limited capital of but ten dollars, yet he has worked his way steadily upward and is today the possessor of a very fine farm.  In politics he is a stanch Democrat and has held a number of local offices, discharging his duty with promptness and fidelity, and in his religious belief he is a Lutheran.

He has given the closest attention to business and at all times has commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men.

Last update: Thursday, January 15, 2004 00:51:06

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