Representative-elect from Muscatine county, is and always has been a farmer. He was born in Belmont, Belmont county, Ohio, December 9, 1840, the eldest son of Dr. W. W. and Teresa D. Watters. The family moved to Iowa in April, 1851, and began farming in Muscatine county. He received a fair common school education, and in 1858 entered the preparatory department at Western College, at Western, Linn county, which institution he left at the end of his freshman year to enter the military service, enlisting as a private in Captain Lundy's company, in August, 1861. He was mustered into the United States service as a sergeant of Company G, 2d Iowa Cavalry, September 14, 1861. He re-enlisted as a veteran in March, 1864, and was finally mustered out of the service with his regiment in October, 1865. The following year he commenced work on his father's farm and in 1867 bought a tract of wild land and began the building of a home. He was married December 24, 1868, to Ruth H. Parker. They have five sons, the two eldest having attained their majority. His farm now consists of 320 acres in Muscatine county, and an additional tract of 100 acres in Cedar county. He has always been a Republican. He received the nomination of his party for Representative in 1893 without effort on his part, and was elected a member of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly. In that body he was a member of the committees on the suppression of intemperance, roads and highways, agricultural college, college for the blind, soldiers' orphans' home, board of public charities, labor and woman suffrage.

Representative-elect from Muscatine county, is and always has been a farmer. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 8, 1840. The family moved to Iowa in April, 1851, and began farming in Muscatine county. Hanson was sent to the country schools and afterwards to Western college, at Western, Linn county, Iowa, from which institution he graduated. At the outbreak of the civil war he was just old enough to be of service to his country, so he enlisted as a private in Captain Lundy's cavalry company in August, 1861. The following month he was mustered into the United States service as sergeant of company G, second Iowa cavalry, and on the expiration of his term of service re-enlisted in March, 1864. He was finally mustered out in October, 1865. In 1867 he resumed life on the farm. Since that time he has remained steadily on his place. He has 415 acres in Muscatine and Cedar counties under cultivation. Heretofore he has not sought political honors and has held no more important position than the township could confer. He has always been a Republican. By being a member of the Grand Army of the Republic he keeps alive the spirit of comradeship which originated in the campaigns of the '60s. He is a member of the Christian Church.