Hansen-Nielsen-Plume

The Peter Hansen Family circa 1906. Front row left to right: Maren Christine Hansen, Alfred Hansen, Peter Hansen. Back row left to right: Erna Hansen Stroud, Raymond Hansen, Joseph Hansen, Arthur Hansen, and Blanche Hansen Nelsen.

The Peter Hansen Family circa 1906. Front row left to right: Maren Christine Hansen, Alfred Hansen, Peter Hansen. Back row left to right: Erna Hansen Stroud, Raymond Hansen, Joseph Hansen, Arthur Hansen, and Blanche Hansen Nelsen.

Peter Hansen (1863 – 1948) and Maren Christine (Tena) Nielsen (1864 – 1935) emigrated from Sandby and Dannemare, Denmark and first met on the Atlantic aboard the SS Harold in October,1881. They were married on March 6,1885 in Bureau County, Illinois. They had four sons and two daughters. This collection chronicles the family’s experiences as farmers and land owners in Illinois and Iowa from 1882 – 1958. The collection paints a vivid picture of farm life during this time with documents depicting all aspects of farm operation. Of particular interest are letters and diaries from four prolific writers:  Nielsine Hansen, Erna Hansen Stroud, Blanche Hansen Nelsen and Alfred Hansen.

Maren Christine Nielsen Hansen, age 17, 1881.
A family relative, Alfred Madsen of Sheffield, Illinois, was in the U.S. Army during the WWI Battle of Meuse-Argonne. He was wounded on October 9, 1918. His future Brother-in-law, Alfred C. Larsen, also of Sheffield was nearby and attempted to rescue him. As Alfred Larsen was carrying Alfred Madsen to safety, a bullet struck Alfred Madsen in the head, and he was killed instantly. He was 27 or 28 years old at the time. Alfred Larsen survived the war and returned to Sheffield to marry Alfred Madsen’s sister, Eva.