Old Pioneer Dies - Henry Hanson Passes Away at His Residence in This City Came to Centralia Twenty-Five Years Ago - Owned Much Valuable Property in the City
Sunday morning, Henry Hansen, one of Centralia's oldest residents and settlers, died of pneumonia at his home in North Centralia. for the past five years Mr. Hansen has been in very poor health and although his death was expected, owing to his advanced age, it came as a great shock to his friends and family. The funeral services were conducted on Tuesday afternoon from the residence, Rev. H. W. Thompson of the Presbyterian church preaching the funeral sermon. The interment was made in Washington Lawn cemetery.
Mr. Hansen was born in Yorkshire, England, on the 20th day of September, 1823; and was married to Elizabeth Ann Bates in the spring of 1848 at Queen Street chapel, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England. In 1850 he came to the United States, landing in New York. He then removed to Illinois, and in 1852 crossed the plains to California to the gold fields, and took up his residence at a small mining town named Little York, in Nevada county, California. His wife died at this place in 1855. In 1856 he returned to Illinois and was married to Medley in Grundy county, Illinois. In 1878 he again moved to the pacific coast, landing in Seattle, coming by boat around Cape Horn. After residing about a year in Seattle he removed to La Conner, Wash., and resided there 3 years. In 1882, his health being bad, he closed out his interests at La Conner and went to California, and stayed there about one year. From California he removed to this city, and purchased forty acres of what is now the heart of Centralia and has held the greater portion of it up to the present time. He also owns other property in Centralia and is reported to have extensive property holdings in Canada. During his early days in Centralia, Mr. Hansen followed the trade of a harness maker, but during the past ten or fifteen years he has done but little work and since his very serious illness, five years ago, he has been in very poor health. His loss is mourned by all who have known him.
Mr. Hansen was the father of six children, namely: Alice, Ann, John H., Frederick W., Franklin and Chas E. Hansen, of whom two are living, John Hansen and Frederick W. Hansen, both residents of this city. Besides his two sons, he leaves his wife, Nancy Hansen, and four grandchildren, all residents of Lewis county.
Mr. Hansen was a man of strict integrity and a progressive citizen, and was held in high respect by his many friends in this city.
Source: The Centralia News-Examiner, Friday, 21 Apr 1905, page 1.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.