Olof Hanson

Olof Hanson was born in Tännäs, Härjedalen on June 3, 1882.

Shortly before his 20th birthday he emigrated to America.

He first went to Minnesota in the area of Cannon Falls but continued to Hoffman and Kensington where he found work on farms during harvest time. He also did farm work in North Dakota. The pay was poor and sometimes nothing at all. Olof thought if the circumstances in America were so poor it was a bad idea to stay. However after a few adventures he went to Spokane and on to Troy, Idaho where he found work during the winter of 1902-03. At the same time he took private English lessons and became fluent in English.

In the winter 1904-05 Olof enrolled in the Northwestern Business College in Spokane. These studies became very useful when he later became a contractor.

Olof then went on to Bonner, Montana and worked in a planing mill called Blackfoot Milling Co.

Olof was ambitious and he didn’t think he had found the America he had dreamt of. He decided to move to a place less developed and went to Alberta.

In Alberta he got some land 120 miles from the nearest railway with the thought that a railway would be built nearby sooner or later. However he didn’t stay in farming.

In the winter of 1908-09 Olof went to Edmonton and got contract work on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway which was being built from Edmonton to Prince Rupert.

He made his first trip to Prince Rupert in 1909. He had to travel by Canadian Pacific railway to Vancouver and then by ship to Prince Rupert.

His contracting business was now flourishing with contracts on the whole railway between Edmonton and Prince Rupert. He employed 1000 workers and had work camps in many places between Prince George and Prince Rupert. The village of Hanall was called after him and here he had a sawmill, planing mill, store and post office. Olof also had many other business interests in mining and fishing and owned large forest lands which was used for railway sleepers.

In 1916 Olof was appointed Swedish vice Consul in Prince Rupert and in the spring of 1920 he became Swedish Consul for all of B.C.

Olof married Martha Johnson in 1911. Martha was born in Ås, Jämtland. She came to Canada with her parents in 1907. The couple had two children, a girl, Svea and a boy, Gösta.

In 1922 the family made a journey back to Sweden and also traveled to many European countries.

In 1930 Olof Hanson was elected member of Parliament for the Skeena riding. He was reelected in 1935 and 1940. After completing his third term in the Canadian parliament he didn’t seek reelection.

Olof Hanson passed away on June 4, 1952.