Hanson, William Christopher, D. D.

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

William Christopher Hanson, D. D. For a quarter of a century steadily engaged in the work of the ministry in Kansas, Doctor Hanson had filled many important posts of responsibility with the Methodist Episcopal Church and is now superintendent of the Kansas City District of the Kansas Conference.

He is a native of Chicago, where he was born October 18, 1866, a son of Louis Christopher and Carolina Christiana (Johnson) Hanson. His father was a Norwegian and his mother a native of Sweden. Both are now deceased and for many years they conducted a successful hotel business at Scandia, Kansas.

W. C. Hanson grew up in Scandia, Kansas, attended the high school there, and in early life learned the printing trade. He worked at that occupation, but after his conversion to religion he prepared for the ministry. He attended Concordia Academy, and in 1909 was given the degree Doctor of Divinity by Baker University. In 1892 he entered the Kansas Conference and successively served the churches at Linn, Wathena, Robinson, Marysville, Manhattan, Washington Avenue Church in Kansas City, Kansas, superintendent of the Clay Center District from 1906 to 1911, and from 1912 to 1917 superintendent of the Kansas City District. The office he now holds was formerly that of presiding elder. Doctor Hanson was a delegate to the general conferences of the church in 1908, 1912 and 1916. He is an active official of the board of Sunday schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a trustee of Baker University.

In Kansas City, Kansas, he had become an important factor in civic affairs. During 1916 he was a director of the Kansas City Mercantile Club. He is a director of the Associated Charities, and is a trustee of Bethany Methodist Hospital of Kansas City, Kansas. He is also an active Mason, both a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite. In matters of politics Doctor Hanson had sought to exercise his suffrage in such a way as to promote the best ideals of good government, and had been guided by this desire rather than by party lines. In national politics, however, he is a republican.

Doctor Hanson married Nellie Harding. She died October 10, 1911. A son, Harry W., is an attorney at La Crosse, Kansas. The only daughter, Grace, died in 1913.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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