Peter E. Hanson

Peter E. Hanson (June 12, 1845 – February 10, 1914) was an American politician and businessman.

Peter E. Hanson was born in Branstad, Sweden on June 12, 1845.His parents were Hans and Betsy Peterson. They all came to America along with about 150 others from Sweden and landed in New York on the 4th of July in 1857.From there, the group journeyed westward to Minnesota, coming by way of Dunleith, Illinois, which was then the end of the railway lines.Across the river to Dubuque, Iowa, the family got on a boat. They stopped for about one month at Carver, Minnesota, where a full outfit of oxen, wagons, and other supplies were purchased. Moving on, the family stopping briefly in Glencoe, Hutchinson, and Greenleaf, and finally arrived at Larson’s Grove, another former name of the Litchfield Township.They remained in the town for about two weeks at the Immigration House, and the men made exploring trips in search of land. The bulk of the original party that left the old country settled in various other counties in the Northwest, while about fifty found homes in Meeker County, mostly in Swede Grove Township.Among the number who were members of the party who found homes in Meeker County were Bengt Hansen, J. Larson, Nels Larson, Hogan Peterson, Andrew Peterson, Nels Hansen, Ole Nelson, Peter Larson, Andrew Larson, Nils Clemens, Nils Elofson, Nils H. Peterson, Peter H. Peterson, and Hans Peterson, Peter’s father.

Hans Peterson found land that suited him in Swede Grove Township, where he began improvements, and where his family lived until the Indian massacre of 1862.(Peterson Lake, near Swede Grove, was named after Hans.)Hans Peterson’s family moved onto their land on August 3, 1857, and their first move was to put up a shed, which was constructed of poles laid from tree to tree making a framework, then covered with brush.A little later, a stable was built, with the framework arranged like a pyramid, and the Peterson family moved into it. (Does it sound like a teepee?)Most of the trading, both as to lumber and provisions, was done in St. Paul or Minneapolis, as the trading post at Forest City was then a small affair.As one old settler put it, “the whole stock of goods (in Forest City) could be loaded on a wheelbarrow.”As cold weather approached, in the fall of 1857, a cellar was dug about forty feet square, but as no manufactured lumber could be secured, planks were laid over the top, and it was covered with gravel and earth. The family lived in the “cellar” for about three years, or until in 1860, when they got some lumber from a saw-mill which had been started in what is now Acton township, and with this, they completed a house, into which they moved and live for about two years.

During this time, there were many Indians roving through the country, and they had camped near the cabins of the settlers.The pioneers were constantly trading back and forth with the Indians. They were always friendly, but occasionally a little troublesome, on account of their begging, and especially for their stealing of things from the gardens, etc.Hans son, Peter Hanson, was a friend of the Indians and learned a lot of their “ways”.Peter was a hunter and became noted as a dead shot.His relations with the Indians served him well later on as an Indian scout.On the morning of the memorable Sunday (August 17, 1962) when the massacre began, a band of fourteen Indians passed by the Peterson place on their way to the Manannah woods.They went there to murder a man whom they had a grudge against.Failing, however, to find the man, the Indians returned, stopping at Hogan Peterson’s place, where they learned of the Jones and Baker massacre.As they passed near the scene of the slaughter, they were shot at by some of the settlers who had gathered there, and they ran off towards the Minnesota River.

The news of the Jones and Baker murders spread among the settlers like wildfire, even though the country was so sparsely settled.On Monday, the word came to get together and prepare for defense or flight.At Hans’ place, a few things were piled into a wagon, oxen were hitched up, and the family went to a post office in Swede Grove Township, where about one hundred families had gathered.From there, they proceeded to the shores of Lake Ripley, where they camped that night (18th of August).Very few slept that night, as every new arrival of settlers reported horrible murders and savage atrocities committed by the Indians.The next morning the party went to Forest City, where the men left their families.Peter E. Hanson and his father, Hans, accompanied by several others, started to go back to their farms for provisions.When they had gone a short distance, they met the remnant of a fleeing party, who told them that several had been killed and mutilated, and then they realized that the Indian uprising was all over the country.

The party at once returned to Forest City, and a stockade was started.Provisions were scarce, and it was some time before anyone ventured out in search of any.Peter Hanson, however, with his gun, managed to keep his father’s and several other families, supplied with wild game.About a week later, a party of eight or ten, with Peter as a scout, started out for the purpose of burying dead and picking up wounded.They got as far as Peter Loen’s place by Swede Grove Township, fifteen miles from Forest City, where they exchanged several shots with Indians.No one was injured.The next day, a “company of forty-one” was organized, with Peter Hanson, being among the number. After the group returned to Forest City, they went to work and completed the stockade, but no family moved into it on that night.They all slept in the huts they had been staying in.During the night, the Indians made their attack, and every one of the settlers scrambled for the stockade immediately after the first volley, some in their nightgowns, while others were covered with blankets and bed quilts.

The Indians withdrew the following morning. After this, for a week or two, everyone stayed pretty close to the stockade.Provisions again were very scarce.Flour was meted out to the various families in equal portions. Hans Peterson decided to go to his farm for provisions.He yoked his oxen, took along an old double-barreled shotgun and started out.He found the cattle roaming freely around the house and he rounded them up.He lit a lamp in the house and went to work loading his wagon nearly full when suddenly he heard the cattle running and bellowing.He dashed out and found the cattle starting to stampede, and a few moments later he heard the Indians yelling about the cabin.He ran away and laid all the next day in the Manannah woods, and at night made his way back to Forest City without his oxen or supplies

At the end of the two weeks, Peter Hanson, as the head scout, accompanied several others and again visited their farms by night.Peter found his family’s house burned to the ground, and while they were there, they were startled by hearing the Indians yelling in the distance.They at once took the backtrack and arrived back in Forest City before daybreak, having tramped over thirty miles during the night.No further trips were made until in November when matters had quieted down somewhat. They then found the cattle all right, but the Indians had smashed everything in the wagon and feasted on the sheep, evidently having camped nearby for some time.The family remained at Forest City for about three years, and then, in 1865, the “Indian war” being over, they returned to the Swede Grove Township and Peter started up his own homestead.

Peter remained at home until June 19, 1867, when he married Rachel M. Halverson, who had been born in Wisconsin.The ceremony was performed in Forest City by Justice of the Peace James Benjamin Atkinson.Peter and Rachel had four children:Nellie O., born on February 3, 1871, who would marry Litchfield lawyer Nelson March, Harry A., born on February 8, 1873, Jennie Florence, born on August 16, 1875 and died on February 28, 1966, who married Ripley B. Brower, and Lillie May, born on February 5, 1886.Peter started buying up land and became one of the largest landowners in the state. He owned 78,000 acres of land, situated in Meeker, Renville, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Douglas, Pope, Grant, Otter Tail, and Wright counties.He also had some land in Minneapolis.He was one of the directors and also vice president of the Meeker County Bank, and he held stock in a number of Litchfield businesses.In 1880, he was appointed as an agent of the Manitoba Railway Company to handle their lands and was put in charge of the railroad lands in Meeker, Carver, Wright, and Renville counties, and part of Stearns County.He had a real estate office somewhere in the block of Depot Street West in late 1881.I believe it was in the building just west of the implement dealership at 22-28 Depot Street West.

When Brightwood Beach resort in Litchfield held a shooting tourney in 1883, it was won by Peter E. Hanson.When the resort shut down in 1894, a part of one of the buildings became a barn on the Hanson farm.At some time in the mid-1880s, realtor Peter E. Hanson bought the building at 24 Second Street West. In March of 1891, the new Meeker County Bank purchased the lot at 201 North Sibley, under Peter’s name, to build their bank on. It took years to finally be built.It opened on October 17, 1898.Peter E. Hanson was the Minnesota Secretary of State (1901 to 1907), and a State Senator for three years (1895 to 1898).He was former Minnesota State Senator Steve Dille’s great-uncle.In May of 1905, Peter E. Hanson’s real estate office upstairs at 125 North Sibley was converted into another one of Litchfield’s telephone exchange offices.Hanson built a house at 405 Armstrong Avenue North in 1904.People called the house the “Red Castle” for years.Hanson built another house next door at 413 Armstrong Avenue North in 1905 for his daughter Nellie when she married lawyer Nelson D. March.That house was known as the “March House”.Both houses are still there.

In March of 1912, Peter E. Hanson put up a new building at 208 North Sibley to lease out as a pool hall.Peter died on February 10, 1914, from a stroke while at the Warner's Hot Springs Hotel near San Diego, California.His body was brought back to Litchfield to be buried in the Litchfield Cemetery.