Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 600.
 
GEORGE HANSEN

     A residence of twenty-six years in Gilliam county entitles the subject of
this article to representation as one of its pioneers. At present he is living a
retired life, having accumulated a nice fortune through his enterprising efforts
here. His residence is some eight miles west from Condon and in that locality he
owns a half section of choice wheatland. He rents the same and gives his
attention to the general oversight of this and his other properties.
     George Hansen was born in Denmark, August 4, 1839, being the day. His
parents, Jacob and Annie C. Hansen, were also natives of Denmark. The mother
died when this son was nine years of age. The father was a miller, owning a nice
plant. After receiving a good education in his own country, our subject
determined to try the sea and accordingly when seventeen years of age shipped as
a sailor before the mast, and for twenty-two years thereafter he led a seafaring
life. He has visited every port of any size in the world, has circumnavigated
the globe three times, is well acquainted with the ways and customs of every
continent and has been a most extensive traveler. Mr. Hansen is a man of energy
and ability and during his travels stored his mind with a great fund of
information. During these years of life as a sailor he learned to speak five
different languages. Finally, Mr. Hansen began to develop a longing for the land
once more and at Puget Sound, in 1878, he ended his seafaring career. One season
after that he spent in fishing on the Columbia in the vicinity of Astoria, and
in 1878 he had made his way into the territory now embraced by Gilliam county.
He at once engaged in herding sheep and followed that occupation for some little
time. In 1880, Mr. Hansen took a homestead and a timber culture, where he now
resides, the land being then unsurveyed, and from that time until the present,
he has given his attention steadily to farming. His estate is well improved and
skillfully cultivated and is a generous producer of harvests. During the years
of his residence he has seen the country grow from a wild prairie to its present
well developed to bring about this gratifying end. He has the esteem of all who
know him and is considered one of the substantial and enterprising men of the
county.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.