Posted on: Pierce Co. Wi Obituaries Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Wi/PierceObits/10034 Surname: Hanson ------------------------- Charles E. Hanson (1932)-River Falls paper? Charles Edward Hanson, son of Elef Gilstad and Bertha Jahr Hanson, was born February 27, 1854, in the province of Modum, Norway. When eleven years old he came to America with his parents. On coming to America, Mr. Hanson joined the family of his uncle, the Reverend Mr. Nels Christopherson, a minister of the Norwegian Methodist church at Cambridge, Wis. In 1868 he became an apprentcie in a paint shop in Racine, where he learned the painter's trade which he followed both in Racine and River Falls. He was married to Miss Belle Anderson on April 27, 1879. They made their first home in River Falls, and here four of their six children were born. Ten years after the marrriage the family moved on to a farm in the eastern part of River Falls township in the niehgborhood of Gertrude. A few years later Mr. Hanson purchased the farm in the South Fork valley, which has been their home to the present time, except for a few years when they lived in the city of River Falls from 1916 to 1928. Mr. Hanson was not only an able and successful individual farmer, but he was also greatly in interested in the general business of farming. He was one of the early promoters of cooperative enterprises among farmers, and up to the time of his death was active in the management of the Farmers Elevator of River Falls. In an unusally busy life he also found time to serve his community, and his state. From the time he ws elected to the office of Constable of River Falls in 1887, he has been a public servant of one kind or another, serving the people of his township and county on school and town boards, as assessor, and as a represetntative of Pierce county in the Assembly of the state legislature. His most conspicuous public service was probably as a memeber of the Assembly. He served as a memeber of that house during the sessions of 1917, 1919, 1921, and 1923. In 1925 he was elected sergeant-at-arms of the House and in 1928 was re-elected to serve in the 1929 session. During all of this time he served on important legislative committees, and gave himself unselfishly to the tasks of government. At the time of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Hanson, April 27, 1929, the Assembly passed a resolution honoring him for his long and faithful service in that body. His political integrity was such that he was respected and honored by both his friends and his foes in political warfare, and while he always stood firmly for his private and political convictions, he never cherished any bitterness for those who opposed him. His church was not the least of his interests, and it's activities received his consecrated attention. For many years he was a member, regular attendant and active supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church of River Falls, and while he was unostentatious in ihs religion he was reverent and devout in both is public and private life. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanson were born six children, the oldest of these, G. Elmer, died in 1910. The five surviving are Myrtle Stever (Mrs. F.A) of Minneapolis; Leslie J. of River Falls; Stella Nelson (Mrs. Carl) of Crookston, Minn.; Fred B., of River Falls, and Helen Clay (Mrs. C.H.) of Amery. These, with his devoted wife deeply mourn his loss. In addition to the members of his immediate family mentioned above, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Belle Johnson of Racine, Wis., and Miss Katherine Hanson of Minneapolis, Minn, one brother, Edward Hanson of New Centerville, Wis.; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. After a short prayer service at the farm home in South Fork, Rev. Clarence E. Weed conducted the funeral services at the Methodist Episcopal church in River Falls on Sunday afternoon, December 4. The music was rendered by Mrs. C.E. Weed at the pipe organ and Messers. Walter Chapman, Leland Chapman, Gilbert Norseng and Helgeeson, who sang "Lead Kindly Light," "Rock of Ages", and Crossing the Bar". The pallbearers were Messrs. F.M. White, J.W. Allard, Oscar Mallberg, Fred Smith, Alfred Youngren, and T.T. Thomson. Interment was made in the Greenwood cemetery on the family lot.