John Hansen's Horse Business

Some time prior to 1908 John Hansen traveled to Towanda, Kansas (about 30 miles north east of Wichita, Kansas) to acquire pure bred Percheron Stallions which had been imported from France to take back to Taylor, Idaho for the purposes of breeding.  My research would seem to indicate that John purchased the horses from J. C. Robison who owned the Whitewater Falls Stock Farm (photos) in Towanda, Kansas. According to family stories passed down he also purchased much fabric on this trip and arranged for a train car to transport his purchases back to Idaho.  

Source:  Idaho Register (Idaho Falls, ID)
Tuesday, July 14, 1908 

On Tuesday, February 18, 1913 John posted an advertisement in the Idaho Register offering to sell several head of his horses.

Source: The Idaho Register. Tuesday, February 18, 1913

Raising horses to work in the fields as well as for sell was an important part of daily life for John Hansen and his family.  I recently acquired the following photo of John Hansen's sons, Lawrence Hansen, Sidney Hansen, and Chester Hansen with several of the horses.  This photo was most likely taken between 1905 and 1908.

Lawrence Hansen (far right), Sidney Hansen (center), Chester Hansen
(left on horse back), and most likely John Hansen (left behind horse)

John Hansen received many awards at County Fairs for his horses and was well known for his efforts in providing the finest of horses.