The Fort Dodge Messenger: Nov. 1, 1905
Badger Woman is Centenarian
Celebrates Her One Hundredth Birthday Sunday at Her Badger Home.
Her Energies are Un-impaired
Her Hair Has Not Yet Turned Competely Gray, While She is Able to Knit and Also to Read. – Walk to Church on Sunday Mornings.
Mrs. Sarah Hanson of Badger celebrated her one hundredth birthday Sunday by having twenty relatives and many friends to dinner. Her birthday was on Thursday, but the celebration did not take place until Sunday, as more of the relatives could come on that day than on Sunday.
Mrs. Hanson was born in Norway on October 26th, and resided in her native country until about thirty-eight years ago when she came to American (sic) and then to Badger, where she has resided constantly ever since. She has been married twice, her first husband dying before she came to America. This husband was William Williamson. Two years after she came to Badger, she was married to Peter Hanson, twenty years her junior, who still is living.
By her first husband she had two children, Ole Williamson of Badger (and) Knute Williamson of Wisconsin, both living. The oldest son is sixty-eight years of age. Mrs. Hanson has two brothers, both of whom are living at this time.
Both of these brothers reside in Illinois, one being ninety-eight years of age and the other ninety-six. For a family of long lived people, the Williamson family, certainly should be up near the top. Neither of these brothers were able to come to their sister’s anniversary, but both sent congratulations. Her son living in Wisconsin, also sent a letter of congratulations to his mother and this was read at the celebration.
At the Sunday celebration, there were four generations present, the oldest great grandchild being sixteen years of age. There were several other great grandchildren present and a family picture was taken, and also one of the four generations.
Mrs. Hanson generally walks to church every Sunday but at this was her anniversary an dso (sic) many were coming she refrained from doing so.
A big dinner was served during the day to the assembled guests most of whom were relatives but several were friends. The pastor of the church Mrs. Hanson attends, was also at the celebration and made a long address, complimenting her and telling of her interesting life.
Mrs. Hanson is well preserved in every way, and today is able to get around in a manner to make a woman of seventy jealous. Besides her trips to church, seh knits almost constantly. She is also able to read and enjoys this very much.
Her hair is black in places, and although the gray shows, yet it is that of a woman much younger. Her hearing, although somewhat impaired is yet good, and she is able to hear an ordinary conversation. At the Sunday celebration she joined in the merrymaking with all and enjoyed the day greatly. Everyone congratulated her, and in return she told stories of her early life in far away Norway.
She told reminiscences of her childhood days, which greatly surprised, her hearers, who thought that surely her memory must have been impaired by the many years of life. However her stories were told with a vim and were very interesting to all. During the day she related storeis that would fill many a volume and stories that would rival those of fiction.
Her condition is such that her relatives feel that she will live for many years, for her vigor is equal to that of a woman much younger. Among the relatives at the celebration were Mr. and Mrs. O.O. Stageberg and children, who reside on Round Prairie in this city. Mrs. Stageberg is a grandchild of Mrs. Hanson.