Oscar Hanson (1873 - 1953)

Born 23 Apr 1873 in Warren, Jo Daviess Co, Illinois

Husband of Anna Marie (Johnson) Hanson — married 14 Mar 1906 in Latimer, Franklin Co, Iowa

Descendants

Died 11 Feb 1953 at age 79 in Portland, Multnomah Co, Oregon

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Biography

In the early spring of 1902, Oscar and his brother, Fred, decided to leave Franklin Co, Iowa to go West and start in the cattle business. Having saved a large sum of money, the brothers went to Canada and bought a herd of old cows and calves. They brought them across the border at Portal and grazed them the summer of 1902 at Willow Lake, just north of where Wildrose is now located. They had made no preparations for hay or headquarters with the usual sheds and water facilities, so they had to move their winter graze to the Mouse River flats and the timber just west of Towner. Luckily, the winter was not severe and they made it through in good shape. The cattle were purchased in Canada for $22 per head, but the beef prices were very low. The Hanson brothers kept most of the herd and wintered the next year where Ryder, Ward County is now located. The next year the beef prices were still down and when the cattle were sold, the price received didn't pay for the feed they had eaten. The cattle venture had wound up as a loss, and the Hanson brothers were broke. In 1906, Oscar moved to Williston, NDak and started a newspaper called he the WILLISTON WORLD. This venture was not a paying one and, after publishing a few issues, Oscar sold out to the WILLISTON HERALD and went to work for Hank Delaney, President of the First National Bank, on a conract toe build the irrigation ditches on the Williston project and on the Lower Yellowstone project. On these contracts, Delaney sustained great losses which weakened the bank, and it became necessary to sell the bank. In 1909 and 1910 Oscar was county treasurer of Williams Co but, after the close of his term, he took the job of installing the sewer system in the City of Williston. In 1913, Oscar built a small grain elevator where the Gamble-Robinson wholesale house is now located. He ran this elevator until 1918, when it was dismantled and moved to Scobey, Montana. That same year, Oscar and his brother built a lumber yard and an elevator at Flaxville, Montana. When the depression of 1920 hit the West, grain prices dropped so rapidly that the Hanson brothers lost $50,000. in two days, and were once again worse than broke. They sold the lumber yard in Flaxville for the benefit of their creditors, and Fred Hanson took over direct management of the elevator in Scobey. In the next year Fred managed to recover the $50,000. They retained the Flaxville elevator and bought some land and farmed. In 1922, they made $15,000 from the elevator and $8.00 from the farm. By they had accumulated $50,000. For eight years during the 1930s, the Dust Bowl controlled Montana farms. It did't rain and crops failed. No longer able to farm, Oscar went to Portland, Oregon, bought a hair tonic concern, and lost the few remaining dollars he had left. He had not sold his land, however, although he offered to give the Federal Land Bank the deed to the farm. He had paid a little - all he could - and that seemed to satisfy the Land Bank and they refused to accept the deed. In 1938, Oscar obtained a feed and seed loan and tried farming again. From 1938 to 1941 he made a profit and was able to pay the Federal Land Bank all back payments. In 1944, Oscar bought another section of land and his success continued.

Sources

• Robert Grow Family History