In 1886, Hans Jacob Hansen came to America as a natural citizen because he was under eighteen years old. He lived on his father's farm north of Ames and worked for builders in the area. To learn English, Hans attended Bloomfield School with students much younger. When he was 25, Hans returned to Denmark and studied at Kjong Hojskole in Glamsberg to develop his carpentry skills. Returning to Ames in 1898, he worked for Thompson and Duntz Construction. The next year he started his own contracting business building barns on Story County farms. In 1907, Hans married Ellen Peterson, a Swedish immigrant. Hans and Ellen had two children, Robert Hansen and Ruth Hansen Boast.
One of his first barns was one Hans built for himself on the back lot of 612 Burnett in 1900. He lived in two rooms of this barn which had plastered walls and heating stoves. The barn had a haymow on the second level and below was stable and wagon and buggy space. Hansen lived in the barn until he married in 1907 and moved into a showhouse he had built on the lot in 1903, complete with birch floors, living room and parlor. In 1940, after a long and noteworthy career, Hans retired from building homes, but continued using his carpentry skills by making furniture. He lived in his house until he died in 1962 at the age of 90.
Buildings by Hans J. Hansen
1899 - J.K. Peterson home, Nevada
1899 - N. Nelson barn, 612 Burnett
1900 - Hans Hansen workshop, 612 Burnett
1900 - John Taylor barn, SE of Ames
1900 - Frank Kinsman barn, Nevada
1903 - A. Bartholomew home, 612 Burnett
1903 - Frank Cupps home, 203 E. 6th
1903 - Sunshine Club, 218 Welch
1903 - Walter Grove barn
1903 - Frank Warren barn
1903 - John Mather barn, Nevada
1904 - Peter Christofferson barn
1906 - George Brown home, Gilbert
1907 - U. Brethren parsonage, 312 S. 2nd
1907 - A. Bartholomew home, 604 Grand Ave.
1908 - C.E. Bartholomew home, 608 Grand Ave.
1908 - Bartholomew home, 503 Grand Ave.
1909 - H.W. Kingsbury home, Nevada
1910 - Arvid Alm home, 219 Sherman
1910 - Frank Cobb home, west Ames
1910 - Jim Dale barn
1910 - Julius T. Jensen home
1911 - J.K. Peterson barn, Nevada
1911 - Sam Allen home, north of campus
1911 - Frank Warren home, Ames
1911 - Peterson home, Maxwell
1912 - Chautauqua Auditorium, Ames
1913 - Frank Cobb barns, west Ames
1913 - Henry Banks home
1914 - L.W. Foreman home
1914 - Jennie Crosby home, 618 7th
1915 - Carrie P. Murphy home, 918 Burnett
1916 - Charles Reynolds home, 704 Burnett
1918 - Frank Kingsbury barns (2)
1918 - Peter Lange barn
1920 - Faber home, 813 9th
1920 - T.J. Maney home, 920 Brookridge
1920 - Calvin Ringgenberg barn, SW of Ames
1920 - A. Kelly barn, N. of Airport Road
1923 - J.S. Dodds home, 213 8th
1924 - Frank Thies home, 320 8th
1924 - L.W. Foreman home, 427 Lynn
1930 - Mrs. J.K. Peterson home, Nevada
1930 - Peter Lang Home, E. 16th
1930 - Hans Rasmussen corn crib, E. of Ames
1931 - H.P. Jensen barn, W. of Oakes Golf Course
1936 - Hans Hansen rental home, 1119 Curtiss
1937 - M. Chipman home, 1119 Marston
1940 - Ruth Hansen Boast home, 1115 Curtiss
???? - Ghrist barn
???? - William Taylor barn