Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

yard and learned the trade. He remained
with his father until 1888, when he became
interested in the accounts he heard
of the wonderful country across the seas.
The idea of a radical change of environment
appealed to him, and fearing noth-
ing he set out for the shores of America.
He located in the Glenville section of the
town of Greenwich, Connecticut. Here he
turned his hand to anything that offered
a livelihood, studying, meanwhile, men
and conditions, manners and customs.
He worked on a farm for about two years,
then for about a year in a stove foundry.
After this he became ill, and as soon as he
was able to travel he took his wife and
two young children and returned to the
old country for a rest. He remained about
a year, then returned to Greenwich. His
business connections were now in the line
of contracting, he being foreman for some
years for one of the principal contractors
of Greenwich at that time. About ten
years ago he branched out for himself in
this line. He made a modest beginning,
laying cement sidewalks and doing a variety
of work in that class. But the young
man possessed in himself the elements of
success. A tireless worker, an aggressive
business man, he let no opportunity es-
cape him, and he allowed no piece of
work to pass inspection until it was done
in a workmanlike manner. He built up a
large business, and three years after start-
ing for himself bought the general con-
tracting business with which he was pre-
viously connected. He now does all kinds
of contracting, including the erection of
residences and business structures.
Throughout the town of Greenwich, and
in many parts of the surrounding country,
his work stands as a worthy example
of the threadbare adage, too often for-
gotten or disregarded in this age of haste
and bustle, "Whatever is worth doing at
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
358
all is worth doing well." He recently
completed a fine residence for Ernest
Thompson-Seton, the famous writer. He
employs fifty to sixty men on the aver-
age, and has all necessary modern equipment
for doing concrete work, as well as
steam rollers for doing road work. Not
long after this change the firm bought the
ice business of Maher Brothers, which includes
the handling of both natural and
artificial ice. Mr. Hansen is head of the
concern, and his broad experience and
splendid executive ability augur well for
the future success of the business.
On June 12, 1886, about two years before
coming to America, Mr. Hansen married
Anna Marie Neilson, who was born
in the same neighborhood as her husband,
daughter of Neils Christian Neilson.
They are the parents of twelve children,
of whom four are married and have es-
tablished homes of their own. The chil-
dren are as follows: 1. Carolina Doro-
thea, born September 12, 1887; married
Harry Holbeck, and has two children,
Howard and Edward. 2. Emma Eliza-
beth, born November 30, 1889; married
James Anderson, and has two daughters,
Emma and Florence. 3. Martin A., born
January 17, 1891, died March 3, 1892. 4.
Martin Harry, born April 25, 1893 > mar "
ried Florence Ritch, and has one daugh-
ter, Florence. 5. John Antoine, born July
21, 1894; now in association with his father
in business ; served in the late World
War as sergeant on Fisher's Island, and
was transferred to the 31st Regiment
about the time the Armistice was signed.
6. Thomas Frederick, born April 28, 1897;
served in the Aviation Corps in France.
7. Hans Frederick, born April 13, 1899;
married Alice Francefort, and has a son,
James Henry Hansen, born April 5, 1920.
8. George, deceased. 9. Lillian Jensine,
born September 26, 1902. 10. Charles