Velleck Hanson

The Velleck and Anne Marie Hanson family were early settlers in Bartley Township.  They emigrated to the United States from Norway in 1867 to St. Croix County, Wisconsin in Rush River Township with three children.  They lived in Wisconsin a few years, later moving to Minnesota.  In 1883 they came to Dakota territory settling in Bartley Township on the NW quarter of Section 30.  They had a family of six sons and a daughter.  Five sons came with them to Dakota.  They resided on this farm until about 1908 when they sold the farm and moved to Iowa to live with a son.

Mr. Hanson died there in 1910 and she came back to North Dakota to live at the home of another son, Christ Hanson, until her death in 1916.  They were charter members of the Eidfjord Congregation and she of the Ladies Aid.  They are buried at a country church cemetery near Waukon, Iowa.

CHRIST HANSON was the only son to make his home in this territory, Dover Township and live there until his death May 31, 1931.  He married Carrie (Kari) Legried January 6, 1895.  She had come to the United States in 1881 from Hardanger, Norway with her parents Odmund and Martha Legried and three brothers.  They had settled in Deerfield, Wisconsin.  Christ and Carrie were married at a Dover School house used for church services, as there was no church built at that time.  Reverend P. A. Thoreson was the minister.  January 5, 1899 Christ purchased government land in Dover Township, NE quarter of Section 26-144-61.  Here they continued to live until their passing except for 4 ½ years when they operated a hotel at Maddock, North Dakota Carrie died March 22, 1952.

Nine children were born to them: 

  1. Mabel Mathilda died at 5 years and 
  2. Mable Marion at 4 years. 
  3. Almer, 1895-1974, married Mable Renwick and lived at Missoula, Montana.  Their children are: 
    1. Kathryn (Mrs. Clifford Traxler), Ohio
    2. Maynard E. , Butte, Montana
    3. James C. , Pocatello, Idaho
  4. Marvin born in 1902 married Lillian Knapp and they live at Everett, Washington.  Their six children are: 
    1.  Marion (Mrs. Wayne Cross)
    2. Lorrain (Mrs. Ken Otis)
    3. Dorothy (Mrs. Don Watson)
    4. Vernon, deceased
    5. Carolyn (Mrs. Gene Reynolds)
    6. Marline
  5. Melvin, 1904-1968, married Emma Kicker and lived at Sycamore, Illinois.  They owned and operated a Coast-to-Coast Store for 17 years and have two sons:
    1. Richard
    2. David
  6. Harold born in 1911 married Gladys Forster and lives at Kalispell, Montana.  They have three children:
    1. Judy (Mrs. Larry Brooten)
    2. Roger
    3. Harland
  7. Markus, 1916-1961, was married to Mrs. Helen Crites who had three children:
    1. Georgie Ann (Mrs. Jerry Haugen)
    2. Kay (Mrs. Hedges)
    3. Gladys (Mrs. Allen Turnquist).
  8. JOHN HANSON born in 1906 married Josephine Ahart and they reside on the home farm where John was born.  They have two children:
    1. Robert, who farms in Dover Township
    2. Sheryl (Mrs. Robert Treitline), Bloomington, Indiana.
  9. KENNETH HANSON and his family moved to the farm formerly owned by Richard Larson, E 1/2 of Section 17 and NW quarter of Section 8 in Bartley Township in October 1948.  Kenneth was born in 1899 while the family lived at Maddock.  He married Neva Quick of Dazey, North Dakota, the daughter of William and Dora Brox Quick, early settlers in Barnes County, in 1925.  They had four children: 
    1. Lorna (Mrs. Thor Auren)
    2. Marilyn (Mrs. D. D. Clark) both of Cooperstown
    3. Queva (Mrs. Charles Morrow), Springfield, Virginia
    4. Kenneth, at the farm home.  
    The family lived near Dazey and a few years on a farm near Cooperstown before moving to the present farm.  They farmed and had dairy cattle all the years and for a time had a milk processing plant on the farm.  Kenneth died of leukemia in 1963.  Kenneth rented the farm and lived there with his mother.

In 1964 Kenneth married Carolyn Messer, a neighbor girl.  They have three children:

  1. Kristen
  2. Kent
  3. Kenley

They are continuing the dairy operation, but sell Grade A milk to Cass-Clay Creamery.  They have over a hundred registered Guernsey cattle and also registered Shorthorns.  They are assisted on the farm by Jeff Morrow, a nephew, during the summer and when he is home from North Dakota State University.  Neva Hanson moved to Hannaford in the fall of 1974.

Source: Griggs County History 1879 - 1976  Page 221