Lillian HOPKIRK was a daughter William HOPKIRK and Jane REDPATH
Lillian was born 30 June 1846 in Lockridge, Iowa and on 16 May 1868 she married Benjamin HANSON
Benjamin Hansen was born 3 June 1831 in Yorkshire, England, to Thomas and Mary Hansen.
From the Civil War, Benjamin Hansen's Jefferson County, Iowa,
draft registration in 1863 listed his age as 31, single, born in
England and his occupation as Woolen Carder.
Lillie and Benjamin had one child, Mary J. HANSEN, born in 24 September 1869.
From the July 30, 1870 census for Lockridge, Iowa we find Benjamin Hansen, age 38, a woolen manufacturer, value of home is $1,100 and personal estate is $800, he was born in England. His wife Lilla is age 24, keepinghouse and born in Iowa. Their daughter Mary J is 10/12 years old, making her birth in September of 1869.
From the 1880 we find this family still in Lockridge. Benjamin is
49, a Small Fruit Grower, born in England, as were his parents. His
wife is Lillie, age 33, keepinghouse, born in iowa, and both her
parents were born in Scotland. There daughter is listed as Jennie, age
10 , educated at home.
From the 1885 Iowa census we find Benjamin Hanson, age 53, a
gardener. Lillie is 31, keepinghouse and daughter Mary Jane is 15 and
single. Address is NE, SE, SW, Lockridge.
Benjamin passed away on 12 January 1892.
Mary J. HANSEN and George W. UNKRICH were married around 1894.
From the 1895 census we find George and Jenny Unkrich residing in Lockridge, Iowa.
George was a merchant of Fairfield, Iowa and resided at 401 West Washington Street, Fairfield, Iowa
As of the 1900 census of Lockridge Township taken 6 July 1900(the
census taker was Lillian's brother Alexander Hopkirk), Lillian was
living with her daughter and son-in-law. Her son-in-law George Unkrich
is listed as head of household, born June 1869 in Iowa and his parents
were born in Germany. His occupation is Merchant, Gen'l Merchandise.
His wide is Gennie M. Unkrich, born September 1870. Number of years
married is 5 years.
From the 1910 Fairfield, Iowa, census dated 23 April 1910 we find the family living at 401 West Washington Street, Fairfield, Iowa. George W. Unkrich is 40, born in Iowa, parents born in Germany and he is a Retail Dry Goods Merchant. His wife is now listed as "Mary J" and a "Sales Lady". George and Mary J have been married for 16 years, first marriage for both. Mary J is listed as having no children and no children still living. Her father born in England, and her mother born in Iowa. Also in the residence is Lillian Hansen, mother-in-law, age 63 and widowed. She had one child, one child still living. Born in Iowa and her parents born in Scotland.
From the 1920 census the fasmily is still living at 401 West
Washington Street, Fairfield, Iowa. George is 51, "Mary J" is 50 and
Lillian is 73. george is still a retail merchant of Dry Goods.
She resided with them until she passed away on 19 November 1923. See her obituary and gravestone below.
As of the 1930 census, Mary and George were still living in Fairfield, Iowa. They had no children.
Mary J. Hansen Unkrich passed away on 24 January 1939.
Following is from the History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II, Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 29-31
Posted By: Joey Stark on Date: 9/15/2007 at 20:57:53. Our thanks goes to Joey Stark for making the following available to our family.
Benjamin HANSON. That success which follows close application and an intelligent direction of labor came to Benjamin HANSON, who for a number of years was engaged in fruit-raising near Lockridge, Jefferson county. He made a close study of horticulture and the best methods of cultivating and developing fruit, learning many practical lessons in the school of experience and steadily continuing along the path of progress. England numbered him among her native sons, his birth having there occurred on the 3d of June, 1831. His parents, Thomas and Mary HANSON, were also natives of that country, where the father learned and followed the weaver's trade, always utilizing his knowledge of that business in order to support his family. Both he and his wife spent their entire lives in their native country.
Benjamin HANSON was reared in England and his early experiences impressed upon his mind the value of industry, determination and perseverance. He was twenty-five years of age when he determined to try his fortune in the new world, for he had heard favorable reports concerning business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. He therefore saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to make the venture and after his arrival in the United States he was employed on a carding machine in a woolen factory in this county. He worked in that way for twelve years until his industry and careful expenditure had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. He purchased eleven acres of land near the town of Lockridge and turned his attention to the raising of fruit, devoting the remainder of his life to that business. He closely studied the question of the best methods of caring for the trees and thus enhanced their productiveness. He was an earnest and untiring worker and did everything in his power to attain success that he might provide a comfortable living for his family.
On the 16th of May, 1868, Mr. HANSON was united in marriage to Miss Lilly HOPKIRK, a daughter of William and Jane (REDPATH) HOPKIRK, both of whom were natives of Scotland who about 1834 came to the United States, settling in New York, where for several years the father worked at the dyer's trade, which he had previously learned in his native country. He subsequently went to Ohio but after a short residence in that state came to Jefferson county, Iowa, and in 1842 entered land here when Iowa was still under territorial government. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the land when it came into his possession but he at once took up the arduous task of breaking the sod and improving the fields. His first home was a log house and his barn was also built of logs. The farm is located in what is now Lockridge township and to its further cultivation and improvement he devoted the remainder of his life, becoming recognized as a leading agriculturist of the community, whose methods were at once practical and progressive. He also figured prominently in public affairs and was a recognized leader in the ranks of the republican party, which elected him to represent his district in the fifteenth general assembly. That he proved a worthy member of the state legislature is indicated by the fact that he was returned to the sixteenth general assembly and at different times he filled many township and county offices, discharging his duties with a promptness and fidelity that won him the high commendation of all concerned. In an early day he served as justice of the peace and held court in his own home. He lived to see many notable changes in the county and was an active participant in the work which led to its substantial development and improvement. He died in 1892 at the age of eighty-one years, his birth having occurred in 1811. His wife, who was born in 1813, passed away in 1869, at the age of fifty-six years. In their family were eleven children, of whom four are deceased. Three of the number still reside in Fairfield, one in Sheldon, Iowa, one in Lockridge township, one in California, and another in the state of Washington. Of these, their daughter, Mrs. HANSON is now living in Fairfield. By her marriage she became the mother of one child, Mary J., who is now the wife of George W. UNKRICH, a merchant of Fairfield, with whom Mrs. HANSON now resides, their home being at No. 401 West Washington street.
In his political views Mr. HANSON was a republican, supporting his party from the time that he became a naturalized American citizen. He always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but never sought or held office. He and his wife held membership in the Baptist church at Lockridge and Mrs. HANSON now is a member in the Congregational church at Fairfield. Closing a life ever upright and honorable, always loyal to high and manly principles, Mr. HANSON died January 12, 1893, amid the deep regret of all who knew him, for he had come to be recognized as a worthy citizen, who well merited the respect of his fellowmen.
Our thanks goes to Richard Thompson for supplying the gravestone photos, all from the Lockridge Cemetery..
MEMO, date of daeth was actually 12 January 1892 and the burial was on 14 January 1892 at the Lockridge Cemetery.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation
to the person(s) mentioned.
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