Hansenc  
 
 

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     CLAUS E. HANSEN is a pioneer steamboat man, having spent the greater portion of his life since reaching his majority upon the water.  He was born April 17, 1858, in Denmark, the son of Claus and Mary (Husted) Hansen, natives of Denmark.  Both parents died in 1871, the mother's death occurring six months previous to the father's.
     Our subject received his education at the public and private schools of his native place.  In 1874 he bade farewell to his old home, and up to the present time has, with the exception of short intervals, been a sailor.  He sailed out of New York for two years, served in the United States Navy the next three years, and was honorably discharged at Mare Island, California, in May, 1881.  He then came to Walla Walla on a visit, but soon tired of the land, and the old longing for his life upon the water took possession of him, so he accepted a position on the steamboat again, and continued in the same, until the year 1898, having served in almost every capacity on the boat, and has held Masters papers since 1888.  During these years just mentioned, he was captain of the first steamboat plying on the upper Columbia from Pasco to the Okanogan river.  The third season he was master, and the following winter was master of the Great Northern Transfer boat.  He took the Oregon up into Sawyer's Lake in 1896, being the first and only steamboat to make a trip that far.  He was in the employ of the Hudson's Bay Company for one year on the Yukon, and since 1901 has been steadily engaged in the employ of the government on the rivers, harbors, and so forth.  His home is located on the Okanogan river, near Alma, where he owns a ranch.  He has one brother living whose home is in Kansas.
     On January 2, 1895, Mr. Hansen married Alma L., daughter of William R. and Louise (Haney) Kahlon, natives of Germany and Nova Scotia, respectively, and now living at Alma.  Mrs. Hansen has one sister, Ione, wife of S. Griggs, of Wenatchee.
     Mr. Hansen is a Republican and also a member of the K. P.