Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 53. J. A. A. HANSEN, who together with F. N. Weis is engaged in the furniture business at the corner of Second and Center streets, has bee indentified with the commercial interest of Baker City for the past nine years. He was born in Buford, Wyoming, on the 5th of December, 1873, and is a son of Carsten and Elizabeth (Olberg) Hansen. The parents were both natives of the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the father’s birth having occurred at Husum and that of the mother at Itzehoe. They were likewise reared and married in the land of their birth, whence they emigrated to the United States in 1870. The father always devoted his energies to farming, with the exception of the first ten years of his residence in this country when he was in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. Later he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits in the Willamette valley, but he subsequently withdrew from this and at the time of death was residing in Portland, where the mother still makes her home. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen were the parents of three children, our subject being the only son. In order of birth the daughters are as follows: Mary, the wife of Rudolph Hallberg, of Salem, Oregon, and Annie, the wife of H. Valentine, of Portland. The father served for some years in the German army and participated in the war with Denmark and later faught against Austria. Although a native of the state of Wyoming, in the acquirement of his education J. A. A. Hansen attended the common schools of Iowa, having been a resident of Crawford county, that state, for thirteen years. In 1892, he joined his parents, who were living on a ranch in the Willamette valley, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, by assisting his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock. He continued to follow ranching until 1903, and during the intervening years by reason of his practical ideas and industrious habits met with good financial success. He did not find the career of an agriculturist altogether to his liking, however, and subsequently decided to identify himself with business activities, so in 1903 he removed to Baker City, and has ever since made this his home. Here he subsequently became associated with Gus Shute in the furniture business. Their store was first located at the corner of Bridge and Resort streets, but at the expiration of a year they removed to Second and Center streets, Mr. Hansen’s present place of business. Shortly after they located here, Mr. Hansen bought out the interest of Mr. Shute and conducted the business alone for a year. At the end of that time he took his brother-in-law, R. Hallberg, in with him. This connection lasted only for about six months, however, the latter then disposing of his interest to Mr. Weis, who has ever since been a partner in the business. They have a very nice location and carry a full and well assorted stock of general house furnishings of varied quality and prices to meet the tastes and circumstances of their many patrons. Both proprietors are practical business men of enterprising methods, and in the conduct of their establishment they closely adhere to the highest standard of modern commercial principles. They are meeting with success as the quality of their goods and their prices are such as to commend them to the patronage of the general community, and they take infinite pains to satisfy and please all. They have enlarged their business to meet the demands of their increasing trade and the development of the city and now have a very attractive store. In addition to his interest in this business, Mr. Hansen is the owner of a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Malheur county, and a nice residence in Baker City. On the 16th of November, 1900, Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Katie Johnston, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Thomas and Katherine (O’Shaunessy) Johnston, and to them have been born two children: Carsten Alexander, who is attending school and Albert Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are both communicants of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally Mr. Hansen is a member of the Knights of Columbus, being the grand knight of the local order; and he also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 338, of Baker City. He is one of the active members of the Baker Commercial club and takes a deep interest in the various movements of this organization, while his political support is given to the republican party, and for three years he has represented his ward in the local council. Mr. Hansen is one of the capable business men and highly estimable citizens of the town, whose private interest are never permitted to absorb his attention to the exclusion of his fulfillment of his public responsibilities and duties and he can at all times be depended upon to do his share toward advancing the welfare of the community. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2015 by Dale Givens, odg -at- hiwaay.net. More information can be found at: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bakerco&id=I52921