Hansen and Bales (Family : 1860-1975

Hansen, Peter (1846-1925) Peter Hansen was born on November 15, 1846 at Sonderberg, Denmark, the son of George and Ingeborg Hansen. In 1862, at the age of sixteen, he left Denmark to come to America. He later moved west to the Soloman River Valley and settled. This area was later to become Logan, Kansas, of which Peter Hansen was one of the principal founders. In 1878, he married Alpha Ama Gray of Kirwin, Kansas. They had four daughters and two sons. Peter Hansen, as a businessman, owned Hansen's General Merchandise and Millinery, and Hansen's Lumber Company. As a citizen, he served as councilman, commissioner, and finally mayor of Logan, Kansas. Peter Hansen died March 15, 1925.

Hansen, Alpha Ama Gray (1858-1957) Alpha Gray Hansen was born in 1858 at Harlan, Iowa to William and Nancy Gray. In 1873 she graduated from high school and moved with her family to Kansas. She then moved to Logan, Kansas and after one year of teaching she married a member of the schoolboard, Peter Hansen. Alpha Hansen, with her husband, founded the Logan Community Church. She also became a member of the Logan Christian Church and worked with the church for many years. She also worked with her husband in the Hansen store. Alpha Hansen died March 17, 1957.

Hansen, Kate Ingeborg (1879- ) Kate I. Hansen was born July 5, 1879, in Logan, Kansas to Peter and Alpha Hansen. In 1893, Kate Hansen moved to Denmark with her family for one year. After returning to America, she graduated from Beloit High School as valedictorian. In 1901 she received a Music Teacher's Certificate from the University of Kansas. In 1905 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with the honor of Phi Beta Kappa. Kate Hansen went to Japan to teach in the Miyagi Girls' High School, Sendai, Japan in 1907. She was connected with the school for forty-five years and helped it grow to a fully accredited Liberal Arts College and Conservatory of Music. She served as the Dean of Music Conservatory and as the Acting President during the President's furloughs. During her furloughs Kate Hansen continued her education. In 1913 she received her Bachelor of Music degree and in 1927 her Master of Music degree. In 1930, the Chicago Musical College conferred the Doctor of Music degree on her in absentia for outstanding work in composition. In 1951, the Emperor of Japan presented her with a citation and the Fourth Order of the Sacred Treasure for outstanding work in women's education. The University of Kansas honored her with the Citation for Distinguished Service in 1955.

Hansen, George T. (1880-1963) George Hansen was born February 22, 1880 in Phillips County, Kansas to Peter and Alpha Hansen. He attended school at the University of Kansas, receiving a B.S. in Mining Engineering in 1905. He was awarded the honorary degree of Mining Engineer in 1911. In 1911, George Hansen joined the Chalmers Manufacturing Company and became their district manager. In 1917, he married Beatrice Mary Knight. They had two sons and one daughter. eorge Hansen incorporated the Utah Southern Oil Company and was the company's president until 1957. He then became Chairman of the Board of Directors and retired in 1958. He was also a leader in the Republican Party in Utah. He was the Chairman of the Finance Committee for many years. Then, for fourteen years was the National Committeeman for Utah. George Hansen also served as trustee of Westminister College and in 1952 was awarded the LL.D. degree. George Hansen died March 16, 1963.

Hansen, Dane G. (1883-1965) Dane Hansen was born in Logan, Kansas January 6, 1883, to Peter and Alpha Hansen. His business career started in 1905 with the opening of a small mercantile store in Logan, Kansas. In 1920, he first began construction work which developed into Logan's biggest single industry. In 1941, after the discovery of oil south of Logan, he went into oil development. Dane Hansen was very involved in the Republican Party. During 1954 and 1955 he was a member of President Eisenhower's Commission on Intergovernment Relations and vice-president of the Board of Trustees of the Eisenhower Foundation. Dane Hansen was also vice-president and director of the Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association, member of the Kansas Mineral Independent Council of the Kansas Geological Survey, chairman of the Kansas Contractors' Association Pension Trust Plan, and president and director of the First National Bank of Logan. Being concerned with education, Dane Hansen provided a scholarship each year to the University of Kansas for a Logan High School graduate. Dane Hansen died January 6, 1965.

Bales, Alpha Hansen (1886-1926) Alpha Hansen was born September 25, 1886 to Peter and Alpha Hansen in Logan, Kansas. She graduated from Logan High School in 1903. During 1910 and 1911, Alpha Hansen taught third and fourth grades in the Logan School District. She became the first woman of Logan to serve on the schoolboard. In 1913, she married Ellis E. Bales. They had one son, Dane Gray, born May 1918. Alpha Hansen Bales died September 8, 1926.

From the guide to the Papers of the Hansen and Bales Family, 1860-1975, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)