Charles Hansen was born on March 25, 1856 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He came to the United States in 1873 at the age of 17. He married Anna Margret Jepsen on September 18, 1882 at Dixon, Illinois. Anna has come to America in 1881. She was born on June 3, 1861 at Assens, Fyen, Denmark.
A few years later they moved to Ida County, Iowa and farmed until 1917 when they moved into Ida Grove, Iowa. Charles had two brothers, James of Clifton, Illinois, and Louis of Kankakee, Illinois. He had one sister, Carrie Kraft of Queensland, Australia, and a half-sister in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Charles and Anna had 10 children: Mary, Louis, Anna, Charles, Louise, Hans, Carrie, Nina, Alfred, and Gladys:
Mary born March 14, 1883, married Hans Peter Grav Feb. 27, 1901, & died Feb. 1920.
Louis born Sept. 14, 1885, married Jessie S. Shand, & died Dec. 24, 1971.
Anna born April 22, 1887, married Jim Grav Feb. 21, 1906, & died July 17, 1950 Charles born April 4, 1889, married Susan Nelson Apr. 4, 1915, & died Jan. 6, 1959.
Louise born April 28, 1891, married Ervin Perkins, & died Jan. 31, 1974.
Hans C born Aug. 10, 1892, married Mabel Carter 1913, & died Dec. 30, 1982.
Carrie born Mar. 29, 1895, married Buren J. Leinbaugh Apr. 2, 1919, died Dec. 1, 1988.
Nina born Mar. 31, 1898, married Ed Schmidt, Dec. 9, 1916, died Sept. 5, 1984.
Alfred born July 21, 1902, married Ann Jones, & died April 20, 1969.
Gladys born Feb. 23, 1904, married Lester Johnson Sept. 11, 1923, & died Nov. 29, 1992.
The father, Charles, passed away on July 22, 1931 and the mother, Anna, passed away on March 3, 1939.