IowaJones/Biographies/R. B. Hanna

R. B. Hanna–H. Harms

R. B. Hanna
Born December 7, 1825

R. B. HANNA, farmer, Madison Twp., Sec. 19; P.O. Wyoming; born December 7, 1825, in Westmoreland Co., Penn.; in 1832, he came to Ohio; in 1845, he came to Jones Co.; he owns 315 acres of land. Married Margaret A. Mitchell in 1883; she was born in Ohio in 1835; she came to Jones Co. with her parents in 1845; they have three children—Filial S., William D. and Orie. He has held most of the township offices; Republican; Presbyterian Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 616.

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Presley Hanna
Born 1832

PRESLEY HANNA, farmer, Cass Twp., Sec. 4; P.O. Anamosa; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 1832; he went to Illinois in 1857; he came to Jones Co. in 1865. Was married to Miss Melvina Black, daughter of T. J. Black, of Jackson Co., Iowa. His first farm was in Castle Grove Township, where he lived but a short time; he then purchased a farm of 120 acres in Sec. 9, which he still owns; purchased the farm where he now lives in 1876; this farm contains 180 acres; is engaged in stockraising. Has six children—Arthur L., Homer P., Laura, John W., Edgar E. and Jessie A.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 695.

Andrew Hans
Born 1849

ANDREW HANS, farmer, Oxford Twp., Sec. 15; P.O. Oxford Junction; was born in Bavaria in 1831, and came to America in 1849; settled in New York and worked on a farm for five years, then went to New York City and worked at the cabinet-making business; from there to Lee Co., Ill., and remained four months, and, in 1855, came to Hale Township, Jones Co., with nothing but a span of horses and a wagon, and bought forty acres of Walston, then sold and came to Oxford Township and bought the first forty acres of Mr. Wherry, forty from Mr. Ira Carter, then eighty of Mr. Moor, then eighty of Charles Whitler, and sixty-five acres of timber of Bennett, and now owns over three hundred acres, which has been paid for by the hard labor of Mr. Hans, who has made all the improvements, and this is one of the finest stock farms in this county, as there is a stream of water flowing through four of the forty. His wife, Mary Schab, was born in Germany in 1833, and came to America in 1552; she settled in New York, then came to Illinois; she was married in Lee Co. in 1855, at Dixon, and died Dee. 27, 1876; they have buried three children—Nettie, Henry and Ettie; have six living—Mary, Amelia, George, Andrew, Carrie and Elmer. Mr. H. has held the offices of Town Trustee and School Director. Politics, Republican; religion, Evangelical Lutheran.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 593.

Frederick F. Hansen
Born November 3, 1844

The industry and frugality which are strong characteristics of the German race have been the means of Frederick F. Hansen's success as an agriculturist. He came to the United States when a young man, but he was poor and had to prove to himself that America is a land of opportunities. A native of Schleswig Holstein, Germany, he was born November 3, 1844. His parents, Paul and Mary (Patterson) Hansen, were also natives of the same province, which remained their home throughout their lives.

As the father was a teacher, Frederick F. Hansen received a good education, not only in the public schools of a land famous for its educational advantages but also in a home where he had exceptional opportunities for study and advancement. When approaching manhood he engaged in farm work and then in the spring of 1873 came to this country. He landed at New York on the 1st of May and came directly west to Iowa. In Clinton county he found employment as a farm hand and after four years' experience there, came to Jones county in 1877. The following year, however, he went to the western coast, spending one year in California and Oregon, where he sought to find a permanent location, but, as the country was not to his liking, he returned to Jones county in 1879 and in 1880 he embarked in agricultural pursuits for himself. For three years he and his brother Paul farmed in partnership in the vicinity of Olin and then Frederick Hansen married and, having severed his connections with his brother, rented a tract of land south of Olin, on which he worked as a tenant until 1904. During that period, however, in the year 1896, he had taken a lease for eight years on the farm which he now owns and in 1904 purchased it. It embraces two hundred and seventy-seven acres lying on section 2, Madison township. and is one of the finely improved tracts in the locality. Mr. Hansen has erected upon it many modern and substantial buildings, his residence, built in 1907, being furnished with all the conveniences which a householder may enjoy today. He has pursued general farming, which has brought him a pronounced success.

In 1883 Mr. Hansen wedded Miss Wilhelmina Utka, of Madison township. She was, however, of German birth and had come to this country in 1880. Six children have been born of their union: Mary, who was a clerk in Onslow; August, who is living in the state of Washington; and Paul, William, Fritzie and Minnie, who are at home.

After he was admitted to citizenship in this republic Mr. Hansen allied himself with the democratic party and has since been loyal in its support. He has taken little part in public matters, however, although he has been a member of the school board almost continuously since he became a property holder in Madison township for he has the desire to see the educational institutions here attain a high standard. In religious matters he and his wife give their support to the Lutheran church. Gratifying to himself as his success must be, his life and work are an example to others in his vicinity who share in his prosperity and in the reputation for agricultural advancement which the township enjoys.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 472.

Angie Margaret Harms
Born 1823

ANGIE MARGARET HARMES, farming, Wayne Twp., Sec. 21; P.O. Monticello; born in Germany in 1823; came to America and to Jones Co. in 1868; owns 240 acres. Her husband, John Henry Harmes, died in the spring of 1877; they were married in 1847; had seven children; six are now living—Mary, Katie, Angie, Heinrich Heinrich and Annie. Mrs. Harmes and all the children are in the Lutheran Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 625.

Harm Harms
Born December 21, 1828

H. HARMES, farmer, Wayne Twp., Secs. 16 and 17; P.O. Langworthy; born in Germany in 1828; came to America in 1857, to Illinois; lived there nine years; came to Jones Co. in 1866; owns 170 acres-eighty in Sec. 16, eighty in Sec. 17, and ten in Scotch Grove Township. Wife's maiden name was Maria Johnson, a native of the old country also; they were married in 1858; have had eight children; six are living—Annie Maria, Harmann, Gerd, Tena, Maria and Johanna. Mr. and Mrs. Harmes are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics, he is independent.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 625.

HARM HARMS. Among the worthy German-American citizens of Jones County to whose efforts can be traced much of the progress of this thriving portion of the state, is this gentleman, who is President of the Clover Leaf Creamery Company; he has long been an active agriculturist of Wayne Township. Mr. Harms was born in Hanover, Germany, December 21, 1828, being the son of John H. and Anna Maria (Reanker) Harms. The father was a farmer and continued to reside in the Old Country until his death.

In the excellent schools of the Fatherland our subject received a good education and remained a student until he was fourteen years of age. He worked on his father's farm until 1857, when he made up his mind that he would try his fortunes in the United States, believing that the New World afforded better opportunities for a young man of energetic and industrious disposition. Taking passage in the sailing-vessel "Orpheus," he landed in New York City after forty days passed upon the briny deep. From the metropolis he proceeded direct to Madison County, Ill., where he went to work on a farm, and while there met and married Miss Maria Johnston. After this event the young couple settled upon a farm in the same county, which was rented by Mr. Harms until 1866. That year he removed with his family to Jones County and bought eighty acres of land. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising and of late years has been particularly interested in the dairy business, in which he has met with good success. As the years have passed he has extended the boundaries of his farm little by little as he could afford it, until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of the choicest land to be found in the county. Besides carrying on strictly legitimate farming in a very practical method, Mr. Harms has made a goodly sum from buying, selling and shipping live stock. On his place are substantial and well fitted barns and outbuildings, and a deep, never failing well, wind pump and suitable tanks afford a sufficient water supply for his stock.

One of the principal organizers of the Clover Leaf Creamery Company, and having long been an advocate of the system, Mr. Harms was eminently fitted to become President of the enterprise, to which position he was unanimously elected by the stockholders. This creamery, which has only recently been formed, bids fair to be one of the substantial industries of Jones County, and long experience has demonstrated the fact that creameries are of great benefit to agriculturists and the community at large, for they can more easily reach the consumer, and as they handle milk, butter and cheese in large quantities, are better enabled to supply the public with standard articles. Mr. Harms is a member of the Mutual Insurance Company and is now officiating as its secretary. This company insures only farm property and numbers among its patrons the most progressive and careful farmers of this region. In his political faith Mr. Harms is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and in every way endeavors to fulfill the obligations of citizenship. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harms, the eldest of whom, Anna M., is the wife of C. Schatz. Herman is a practical farmer. Tena became the wife of Adam Scheer, and the two younger sons, Gerd and John, are also living under the parental roof and assisting their father in the cultivation of the farm, while Maria is at home assisting her mother.

From Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties History, 1894, pgs. 301-302, and submitted by Becky Teubner.