Birth: 28 Nov 1848 in Hesselbjerg,Førslev Parish,,Denmark
Christening: 21 Jan 1849
Death: 21 Dec 1927 in Santiago,Sherburne Co,Minnesota
Burial: 29 Dec 1927 Danish Cemetery,Becker,Sherburne Co,Minnesota,USA

Note: The biography is a work in progress. Please contribute or correct any mistakes. If old family stories are off on a date or small detail, that in itself, is part of family history. Thanks, Martha-Lisa Mode Flinsch - Great Grandaughter of Jens Hansen
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Jens Hansen was the patriarch of the Hansens in America.

From Charles J. Mode, Grandson of Jens Hansen, March 15, 1989.
"Jens was baptized January 21, 1849. He was a farmer and a mason in Haslev, Førslev, Denmark. He emmigrated to the USA on May 4, 1892."

(Danish Emigration Archives show 4/4/1892 which either way (m/d/y or d/m/y) would be April 4, 1892. They probably left Denmark in April but didn't arrive in MN, USA until May. The ocean journey took at least two weeks. They were detained on Ellis Island for a few days. Then they had a long train journey from New York to Becker, MN.) -note by Martha-Lisa Mode Flinsch, October 2014

From Charles J. Mode:
"Jens Hansen and his wife Maren lived near Haslev, a prosperous agricultural community situated south of Copenhagen, Denmark. Then as now, thatched roofs were part of the landscape. But such outward appearances of quaintness should not be interpreted as a lack of sophistication. For, being near Copenhagen, which was not only the capital of Denmark, but also among the leading economic, cultured, and scientific centers of Europe. The residents of Haslev were constantly being exposed to a social environment of new possibilities and ideas. No doubt, this environment led to an unusual event in the life of this family. Jens Hansen was 43 years old and his wife was 40. at these ages, most people with families in the 19th century Denmark would have viewed a move to America and the learning of a new language as nearly inconceivable. Yet, when a letter was received from a friend in Minnesota offering to sell his farm because he wanted to dig gold in Alaska. Jens Hansen sold his farm in Denmark and bought the farm in Minnesota."
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Condensed from Verna Harris's story of her mother "Anna" Hansen and the Hansen family:
Ane "Anna" Hansen Christianson Daughter of Jens Hansen
Verna Marian Christianson Harris Grandaughter of Jens Hansen

... She ["Anna" Hansen"] was 16 years old when they came to the new land, so she remembered it well. It must have been a nearly impossible hardship for mother Maren [Maren Sophie Jeppesen Hansen Wife of Jens Hansen] to get ready a family of 11 [nine children, 2 parents] for moving. And she was to leave her homeland and her own family behind. Mama said they lived in a long low house, and Maren's mother, Grandmother Jeppsen lived in a couple rooms at one end. She was blind and all the children loved her. They quarreled with each other about taking a bowl of soup that their mother had made for her. For the chance to go over to sweep her floor or do little chores for her. Mama often got to go because she was older. I have wondered who cared for her after the family left.

If it were a hardship for grandmother Maren. It must have been a most challenging task for grandpa Jens, who had to have a sale, keep and pack the most necessary clothing, tools, and household goods for 12 people, one a small baby. He bought 11 tickets so I assume the baby was carried on. Aunt Fanny [Fanny Emilie Hansen Mode Daughter of Jens Hansen] was the baby. I suppose that they boarded a liner in Copenhagen, and it was large, a 5-deck ship.

Mama talked about the trip over durinq our Cando winters, and I wish now that I had asked more questions. They had a space on the third deck with their trunks and belongings packed around them. Her mother had brought two large kettles along and each day made a large pot of soup or stew. Grandpa could buy supplies at the ship's store, and there was a huge coal range that the passengers could use. I'm sure that they had to carry their own water and dispose of their waste which went overboard in those days. People couldn't keep very clean, and Mama said the smells were almost overwhelming. They were even worse when they went by the 4th deck stairs and bilge area. They were not supposed to go up on deck. But Mama said they did sneak up for a breath of fresh air when they could. Their crossing was not too rough, but most of the passengers got motion sickness anyway. It lasted over two weeks and then they were quarantined at Ellis Inland for three days. That was as bad or worse than the voyage, Mama said.

I remember my Grandpa Hansen. He was a managing type person and orders like a general. I think the whole family jumped and obeyed long after they were grown-up and even gone from home. They respected his authority. But this trait perhaps carried him through the rest of the way; getting to the train in New York, with family and luggage, changing trains when they reached Minneapolis, where they made a final change for St. Cloud and Becker which was only a few miles from the new farm.

The farm and land around were covered with trees and brush and had to be cleared before it could be farmed or pastured. Grandpa was a stone mason in the old country and his trade stood him well in the new. His skill with dynamite allowed him to blow big stumps, both his own and for his neightors. I don't know what kind of house was on the place when they got there, but he must have started building a better and bigger one very soon. All I remember there was a large 2-story yellow brick house that was heated with wood-burning stoves. Everyone in Minnesota had plenty of wood from his own land. We were used to North Dakota lignite, and I always thought the smell of wood smoke was so fragrant and refreshing. It was lots of work, though, cutting the wood, carrying it in, and carrying out ashes daily. I said Grandpa was a manager. As soon as the kids got old enough, they went out to work and the younger ones took up their chores at home.

Grandpa worked out himself building foundations and helping neighbors clear land. It was a busy time for all. They were learning the new language and the younger ones had started school.

When Grandpa got his citizenship papers, the whole family became citizens with him. ...

To finish Jens Hansen's story-- he loved books and read everything but fiction. When he could afford it, he sent for sets of histories, biographies, and science. He was a socialist and a firm believer of Darwin's Theory, "Origin of the Species". He did not believe in the Creation and would argue with anyone about it. He alienated most of the local clergy with his views, and Aunt Fanny once wondered if there would be anyone to serve at his funeral. He always said that Mama was to have his books because he knew we were all great readers, and she brought them home after his death. They filled the bookcase at home and they were well-read there on long winter nights. Mama always said that I was to have Grandpa's books, so after Papa died, and she could not live alone, we took them to Cando in the folks bookcase. They were a great comfort to her when she lived with us there. Since then we have moved them with us wherever we have gone. When we had our flood in the park, the two bottom shelves got wet. After I had dried them out, I packed up all the sets and took them into the school library here in Kenmare. I had enough books of my own to fill up all the shelves again.

Grandpa Hansen was not only a reader, he was a doer. For a while he kept bees. I'll never forget how exited we were when Papa brought home from the Kenaston depot, two shiny square 5-gallon cans of honey. Imagine ten gallons of honey! We had honey on the table as long as Grandpa had bees. He took care of them himself. During the Winter he stored them in the cellar and fed them sugar. When I was drying out one of his books after the flood, I found one of his orders, maybe as a bookmark. It was dated March 30, 1914 and was from the
Minneapolis Bee Supply, Nicollet Inland. It was for 10 sacks of sugar for $30 and marked paid. When I showed it to Harry now, we figured it was 75 years old and older than Doris [Doris Elenore Christianson Harris Grandaughter of Jens Hansen]. How is that for history? I don't believe he kept the bees very long. Aunt Nora [Eleanora Sophie "Nora" Hansen Daughter of Jens Hansen] told us that some of them would wake up on warm winter days and fly around the cellar. No one else dared to go down into the cellar for anything. When Aunt Vangie [Hattie Evangeline Hansen Daughter-In-Law of Jens Hansen] came to keep house and the boys came, she perhaps ordered them out.

In his later years he traveled-back to Denmark, one Winter in San Diego where he liked the climate, and to see his scattered family. He died at home of cancer just before Christmas 1927 at the age of 79. The funeral was at home with family and neighbors there, with burial after in the old Danish Cemetery. One of the local ministers officiated, and Mama and I went down by train.

Note: Retyped by Wendell Hansen, with minor corrections and additions. May 1991.
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From public records:
On October 8, 1892 Jens Hansen personally appeared before the Clerk of the District Court of the Seventh Judicial District, for the State of Minnesota and made an oath that he was born in Denmark on or about the year 1848, that he emigrated to the United States and landed at teh port of New York on or about the month of May iin the year 1892 and that it is bona fide that his intention is to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereighnty whatever, and particularly to the King of Denmark whereof he is a subject.

On October 9, 1897 he was admitted as a CITIZEN of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ___I, Jens Hansen___ do solemnly swear that I well support the
Constitution of the United States and of the State of Minnesota, and that
I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity
I owe to any Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and
particularly to the ___King of Denmark___ of whom I was a subjiect. And
further, that I have never borne any hereditaty title, or been of any of the
degrees of Nobility of the country whereof I have been a subject.
___Jens Hansen___
Note, that Jens Hansen became a citizen five years and one day after his declaration of intention to become a citizen. The law was for a five years wait to become a citizen. He was not a person to wait.
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From THE GROWTH OF SHERBURNE COUNTY 1875-1975, 1894, by The Sherburne County Historical
Society, Becker, MN. (page 109).
"Clear Lake Township farmer Jens Hansen narrowly escaped injury when he was attacked by a large bear while he was out hunting on his farm. The bear was first attacked by his dogs who quickly retreated when the bear rose up on his hind legs. The bear lunged toward Hansen who shot the bear in the throat just in time. It was Hansen's last shell and if he had missed, he probably would have been killed. A number of bears were seen in the county during the fall and were believed to have been driven south following the disastrous Hinckley fire."

The rest of the story told goes that he finished the bear off by beating it in the head with the butt of his shotgun since he was out of shells. His dogs attacked the bear again when he got it down. He then brought the bear to town to have the skin professionally preserved. No one remembers where the bear skin went to.
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From an article appearing in an unknown newspaper.
"Jens Hanson died Dec. 21 at the ??? been sick for a number of years.
The funeral was held at the home Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. E.F. Mattock. He was buried beside his wife in the Danetown cemetery.
He is survived by five daughters and four sons and a number of grandchildren."
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Children's Names in 1900 photo:
Kirsten Marie Hansen 1873-Deceased (age 26 in photo)
Hans Christian Hansen 1884-1958 (age 15 in photo)
Hanne Christine Hansen 1889-1960 (age 11 in photo)
Fanny Emille Hansen Mode 1892-1965 (age 8 in photo)
Harry H. Hansen 1894-1965 (age 6 in photo)
Waldemar Hansen 1898-1970 (age 1 1/2 in photo)
Harry H Petersen 1884-1980 (age 6 in photo)
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