Hans Holtan
Hans H. Holtan | |
|---|---|
 Ambrotype of Holtan c. 1858 | |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 6th district | |
| In office December 2, 1857 – December 6, 1859 | |
| Governor | Samuel Medary Henry Hastings Sibley |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Isaac C. Stearns, John S. Letford, R.H. Knox, and Lewis Hector Garrard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 14, 1820 |
| Died | September 4, 1904 (aged 83) Wanamingo, Minnesota, U.S. |
Hans Hanson Holtan Jr. (December 14, 1820 – September 4, 1904), sometimes called Hans Hanson or Hans Holton, was a Norwegian-American politician and early citizen of Wanamingo, Minnesota. Holtan served a single term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Holtan is noted as the first Norwegian to hold public office in Goodhue County, Minnesota.:336
Early life and family
Holtan was born on December 14, 1820, in Norway.:891:610 Holtan was the son of Hans Hanson Holtan Senior. The first volume of the book Nordmændene i Amerika (Norwegians in America) written by Martin Ulvestad states that Holtan was born in Lunde Municipality (Lunde prestegjeld) in Telemark.:375 Holtan's brother, Østen Hanson, was also the son of Hans Hanson Holtan Senior.:669 The second volume of the book Nordmændene i Amerika also lists Østen's birthplace as Telemark.:669
Career
Holtan emigrated to the United States in 1845 and originally settled in Chicago.:891 In 1849 Holtan moved northwest to Belvidere, Illinois, before moving further north to Portage, Wisconsin a year later in 1850.:891:610 In 1856 Holtan purchased 160 acres of land in Minnesota Territory near modern-day Wanamingo, Minnesota in Goodhue County.:891:610 Holtan sold his property due to being sick, he later purchased 400 acres in Wanamingo where he farmed and built a home.:891:610 Holtan's brother Østen also moved to Wanamingo in 1856.:414 Østen was a Lutheran minister who served the communities of Aspelund, Kenyon, and Roscoe in Goodhue County.:414 Østen was later the president of the board of regents of the Red Wing Seminary.:414
Holtan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives on October 13, 1857, representing Minnesota's 6th House district. Holtan was sworn into office on December 11, 1857. Holtan served during the 1st Minnesota Legislature, during his term Holtan was a member of the printing committee.
Later life and death
Following his term in the Minnesota House, Holtan served as a city supervisor in Wanamingo, Minnesota in the years 1863, 1864, and from 1870 to 1873.:224:470 Holtan also served as an overseer of the poor for Wanamingo in 1868.:224:471
Holtan died on September 4, 1904.:891
Personal life
Holtan was married three times in his life. Holtan was first married to Aline Svenungsdatter on July 4, 1848, together they had two children.:891 Aline died on August 12, 1855.:891 Holtan's second wife was Anna Maria Pedersdatter Nostebiae, who Holtan married on October 31, 1857 in Faribault, Minnesota, together they had six children.:891 Anna died on January 13, 1876.:891 Holtan's third wife was married to Sophia Mosleth on July 11, 1877, together they had six children.:891
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Hans "Hans Hanson Holton Jr." Hanson, Jr". Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. Retrieved November 12, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Curitss-Wedge, Franklyn (1909). History of Goodhue County, Minnesota. Chicago: H.C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 History of Goodhue County, Including a Sketch of the State of Minnesota; Together with an Account of the Early French Discoveries, Indian Massacres. The Part Borne by Minnesota's Patriots in the War of the Great Rebellion, and a Full and Complete History of the County From the Time of its Occupancy by Swiss Missionaries in 1838. Pioneer Incidents. Biographical Sketches of Early and Prominent Settlers and Representative Men, and of its Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, etc. Red Wing; Minn.: Wood, Alley, & Co. 1878.
- ↑ Ulvestad, Martin (1907). Nordmændene i Amerika: deres historie og rekord. Bidrag til og bindeled mellem Norges historie og Nord-Amerikas--de Forenede Staters i särdeleshed [The Norwegians in America: their history and record. Contribution to and link between Norway's history and that of North America--the United States in particular.] (in Norwegian). Vol. 1.
- 1 2 Ulvestad, Martin (1913). Nordmændene i Amerika: deres historie og rekord. Bidrag til og bindeled mellem Norges historie og Nord-Amerikas--de Forenede Staters i särdeleshed [The Norwegians in America: their history and record. Contribution to and link between Norway's history and that of North America--the United States in particular.] (in Norwegian). Vol. 2. Minneapolis; Minn.: History Book Company.