Niels Hansen

Niels Hansen, son of Hans Michael Hansen and Kirstine LNU, born 16 Jan 1871, Haarsley, Denmark, died 20 Mar 1959 Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 30 Aug 1899 Bronderslev, Denmark, Mary Thomsen, dau of Thomas Christensen and Magdalene LNU, born 20 Feb 1870, Lokken, Denmark, died 13 Aug 1970, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL.

Mary Thomsen first came to America in 1887 at the age of 17. She borrowed about fifty dollars from a married sister in Iowa, USA and traveled steerage class to America. The passengers had to furnish their own mattresses (made of some thing that could be thrown away at the end of the journey), plate, knife, fork and spoon. Meals would be brought to their deck in huge pots and dished out, often soup or boiled potatoes. Everyone washed their utensils in a community tub of water. If you could afford first class it was much better. She had no trouble at Ellis Island, for in those days, if you were able to walk, you passed. She boarded a train going west and though she could not speak English, she just "followed the crowd," changed trains in Chicago, bought a meal for 25 cents, studied a train schedule for the towns they passed through and arrived in Iowa at the correct town and was met by her brother-in-law.

On a trip back to Denmark in 1889, she married Niels Hansen and they came to America. They resided in Texas, then Chicago before coming to St. Johns Park in 1909. The family is found on page 66 of the 1910 census of St. Johns Co, residing in St. Johns Park area, with his occupation given as "Farmer." They are listed on page 45 of the 1920 census of Flagler Co with his occupation given as "Truck Farmer," residing in the Hammock.

They purchased property across the road from Joe Harding and where there about three years when Mr. Hansen filed for a homestead about seven miles north of Ocean City and the family lived there until they moved to Jacksonville in 1958.

The daughter later wrote, "life was hard in St. Johns Park but it was rough on the homestead, their temporary home was a tent until they could do better, real pioneering, no school because there were only six children in the area, transportation was by boat.

Finally changes came, Flagler County was created, a school was established when there were nine children of school age, mail came from Espanola three times a week, and an unpaved road from Ocean City to the Hammock was constructed. Then came 'busing' to the consolidated school in Bunnell, and they were able to attend high school and Homer graduated with the first class, 1924, after the high school was increased to the 12th grade and Magdalene graduated with the first class to graduate from the new brick building in 1925.

Then the land 'boom' of the 20's brought people buying land sight unseen again, some in swamps, some on sandhills and some nice land, but all too soon came the bust. Other changes came to the Hammock area, Marineland arose from the site known as the Rocks in 1938, the big house with about twenty rooms at the Washington Place on the canal burned, now Washington Oaks State Park, and the large brick chimneys at the St. Joe Sugar Plantation on the Old Kings Road are now replaced with Palm Coast homes."

Mr and Mrs Hansen were the parents of three children;

1. Magdalene Marie Hansen, born 15 Mar 1903, Chicago, Cook CO, Il, died 29 Oct 1997, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 18 Aug 1949 Keith Morrison.

Magdalene in her sketch on the Hansen family in “Unto This Land,” recalls staying at the St Johns Park Hotel a few days on arriving in the settlement (1909) - - the Park having two grocery stores - - Bean’s and Jones’ - - her mother utterly disgusted with Florida - - her father taking her to the Gilbert School and Miss Toby, her teacher, sharing her lunch with her for she had not brought lunch - - her brother Homer going with her the second year - - the school being across the road from the Salyerds - - the school only having one room and her class moving to the front bench when it was time for them to recite - - her father telling them, if they got a licking in school, they would get another one at home - - discipline was no problem.

2. Homer Michael Hansen, born 01 Nov 1904, Chicago, Cook CO, IL, died 01 Aug 2002, Houston, Harris CO, TX, married 30 July 1937, Ruby Kutcher, dau of Herman Kutscher and Valeske LNU, born 01 Feb 1911, Zorn, TX, died 04 Sep 2005, Houston, Harris CO, TX.

He served in the Seabees in the Pacific during WW II. Issue;

(1) Michael Hansen married Priscilla LNU. Issue;

A. Michelle Hansen

B. Davis Hansen married Carolyn LNU

(2) Mary Ann Hansen married Louis Macey. Issue;

A. Cynthia Macey married Glen Fitzmartin. Issue;

a. Jack Hansen Firzmartin

B. Stephanie Macey

C. Louis A Macey married Emily LNU

3. Oswald Franklin Hansen, born 16 Aug 1907, Chicago, Cook CO, IL, died 12 Jun 2000, Flagler CO, FL, married 06 Apr 1942, Mazie Agatha Ducote, born 09 Jul 1916, died 28 June 1976 Shands Hospital, Gainesville., Alachua CO, FL.

Oswald Franklin Hansen married 2nd, 19 Nov 1978, Donnie Essie Colley, born 19 Apr 1916, died 31 Mar 2007, Flagler CO, FL. She was 1st married to FNU Hall

Oswald was a career merchant marine, serving the most time as Chief Engineer aboard the S/S Raphael Semmes. He resided in Eight Mill, Mobile CO, AL, before moving to Flagler Beach when he retired.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Census and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1910 United States Federal Census, Precinct 7, St Johns, Florida; Social Security Death Index Record ,Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; The Cleveland Advocate, Cleveland, Texas, 15 Sep 2005; Unto This Land, A History of the St Johns Park Area of Flagler County, Florida, edited by Mary Ketus Deen Holland (sketch by Magdalene Hansen Morrison) and New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com