Hanson
Nelson “Nels”
1818 – 1888
Norwegian Naming
The early Norwegian naming system was very strange. Norwegians often took the farm name, or possibly named after the terrain in the area – i.e. Bakken (forest), Rud (clearing in the forest), Fjeld (Field), a hill etc. Nils’s father was Hans thus he took the name Hanson or Hansen). Often if a family lived on two or three farms siblings can have three different last names depending on what farms they were living on when they were born. From the passenger lists, marriage records, census records, and mailing records Nels had many different first and last names. There were many Hanson’s who settled in this area and some changed their name to Bakken because they were getting their mail mixed. Norway changed its naming system around 1900 so now it is more uniform and easier to follow. His tombstone is engraved with Nils Hansen.
Source: October 14, 2014 email from Ed Goplin
Nelson “Nels” Hanson‘s parents are unknown, but according to information from Ed Goplin (a descendant of Nels and Karn’s son Charles) the parent names of Nels’ sister Helene are Hans Larsen Føllingstad/Føllingstadie and Gunild/Gunhild Jonsdatter.
There are many other families where the head of the household was the correct age to be Nelson’s brothers. Their relationship isn’t proven. However, it is clear that Hanson families were drawn to the particular area of Wisconsin and several of them lived in close proximity to each other.
Immigration
According to history written about Richland County, Wisconsin, one of the first Norwegians to move to the area and he appears to be the very first of the Hanson men to move to Richland County, Wisconsin, arriving in 1850. He began his journey to the States the year prior leaving Norway on June 9, 1849 on the ship “Benedicte” and arriving New York on August 8. Nels traveled with his future wife Karn, Karn’s sister Anne, and Anne’s future husband John Torgerson. Nels then moved to Richland County, Wisconsin, which is where he married.
Once in Richland County, he built a log cabin and a blacksmith’s shop on his property and became the first blacksmith in the area. Over time, he added land to his small farm. He donated land for the the Lutheran Church, which is indicated on the map below as being located in 1895 on one of his son’s property.
Marriage
Nels married Karn/Caroline Larson and had the following children:
- Hans Magnus ♥ [m: Inga Mary Anderson]
- Sophia (Nettie/Nellie) or reversed
- Lewis Gustavus or reversed [m. Lydia Paulson]
- Charles H. [m. Helen Maria Collier]
