Biography of Thomas C. Hansen
Thomas C. Hansen, born November 12, 1842, in Schleswig, Germany, immigrated to the United States at age 25 and settled in Scott County, Iowa, where he farmed for 18 years. In 1883, he moved to Brule County, South Dakota, purchasing and expanding a 160-acre claim into a prosperous 800-acre farm. Hansen specialized in cattle, horses, and hogs, with around 300 acres under cultivation. Known for his progressive methods, he built a substantial home surrounded by a grove he planted himself. A Democrat by political affiliation, Hansen was married to Elizabeth Willrodt, and they had two children: Adolph and Annie.