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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: Bio of Rev. Joseph M Hanson
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2004 08:00:56 -0500


Harlan, Edgar Rubey. A Narrative History of the People of Iowa. Vol IV. Chicago:
American Historical Society, 1931

p. 205
REV. JOSEPH M. HANSON. In the life and work of Rev. Joseph M. Hanson,
pastor of the Church of the Visitation in Des Moines, is exemplified the high
standards in spirituality and scholarship of the Catholic clergy, and probably
no man of hsi sacred calling stands any higher in popular esteem. He was born in
Iowa County, Iowa, August 13, 1866, a son of Joseph and Bridget (Morrin) Hanson,
natives of Ireland. Both came to Iowa, he about 1850, and she about 1852. They
are now deceased, but for many years were farmers of Iowa County. Nine children
were born to them, of whom seven are living, and Father Hanson was the second
child in order of birth. One sister became a nun, and was known as Sister
Presentation, but she is now deceased. The parents were Catholics and the father
was a Democrat. A man of liberal education, Joseph Hanson attended the country
schools in Ireland and the schools of Iowa City, after his arrival in Iowa, and
later taught country schools for a time. He also learned the carpenter trade,
and worked at it as well as farming. His father, Michael Hanson, was also an
early settler of Iowa County, where he died, and his remains were laid to rest
in the Catholic Cemetery at Iowa City. The maternal grandfather, Peter Morrin,
was one of the pioneer farmers of Iowa County, to which locality he came from
Ireland, and where he spent the remainder of his life.
Rev. Joseph M. Hanson attended the country schools of Iowa County, and later
Saint Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1892,
after which he entered Kenrick Seminary, Saint Louis, and completed his studies
at Saint Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, where he was ordained to the
priesthood in June, 1897, by Cardinal Gibbons, after which he taught for one
year in Saint Ambrose College at Davenport, Iowa. His first parish was at Avoca,
Iowa, and he remained there for six years. While at Avoca he built the rectory
and remodeled the church. He was then transferred to Dunlap, Iowa, which
position he held for sixteen years. During the period he was at Dunlap, Father
Hanson erected a beautiful school and Sisters' home. From there he went to
Stuart, Iowa, and during the four years he was there he purchased additional
property for the church and erected the parish school. With this excellent
record behind him as an executive, he came to Des Moines January 10, 1924, and
took charge of the Church of the Visitation at East Ninth and Garfield.
The parish was established in 1882 and was then located at East Ninth and
Walnut streets. This property was purchased by the state in 1914 in order to
establish a park surrounding the capital. At the same time the parish had grown
to such large proportions that the Right Reverend Austin Dowling, then bishop of
Des Moines, divided the parish in 1915, the east half being given to the new
Saint Peter's parish, while the remaining portion constituted the new
Visitation, ground was purchased and the new parish school, rectory and basement
church were erected at the present location. In 1926 the church and Sisters'
home were built. There is an excellent school, with 240 pupils enrolled. The
church has a membership of about 1400 souls. Father Hanson is a fourth degree
Knight of Colombus, and in the smaller towns in which he has lived he has served
his order as chaplain. A man of energy, enthusiasm, devoted to his work, and
determined to advance his people, Father Hanson is never weary in doing well. He
does not confine his work to hose of his own creed, but is ever willing to
assist in promoting all worthy measures for the advancement of his city, and is
one of the leading citizens of Des Moines.

Cathy Joynt Labath
Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm


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