By at least 1885, Bengt adopted the name Benjamin, and later records show the addition of a middle initial “F” which shows up in some records as “Franklin.”

The family may have moved out of Iowa, even before 1905 (not found in 1905 Iowa census).

At some point, the decision was made to move to Alberta, Canada. Records show that Benjamin and Ida, along with two of their children, Earnest and Lester, and settled on land in the Medicine Hat district, and more specifically in Alderson, Cypress County (a place which, today, is a ghost town). But before entering Canada, they spent an unknown time in Minot, North Dakota. It is not certain exactly when they left Iowa, but on 7 Feb 1910, in Alberta, Benjamin applied for a “Pre-emption” to obtain land in the SE Quarter of Section 27, Township 15, Range 10 W, Meridian 4. At more or less the same time, he also applied for a Homestead on the SW Quarter of the same section. At the time of this application he declared himself a USA citizen but intended to become a “British subject under the laws of Canada” which he did in 1913. On this land he built a house of lumber, 16’ x 28’, a barn, dug a well and put up a windmill, all during the first three years of occupation.
[6695] [6701]

A child, Vivian Olandra Hanson, born 17 Jan 1887, Hampton, Franklin Co.?
The father of Vivian is Benj F Hanson but the mother was Ida D. HOWES/HOMES.
There is no child named Vivian in that household in 1895 so either wrong family or she died young.


The 1911 census of Alberta, Medicine Hat district (#4), Subdistrict #35, page 5, covering persons living in Township 15, Range 10, 4th Meridian, includes a HANSON family conisiting of “B. F.?” age 52, “I. M.?” age 52, and sons, Ernest, 19, and Wesley, 13. But no “Lester.” (these names are at the bottom of the page, and the following page was examined but this family was not continued there).
It says the parents immigrated to Canada in 1909 and the sons in 1910, from the USA. “Racial origin” for all 4 of them given as “Swedish.” Dates of birth are similar but not completely consistent with the known family here. The date of the census is 5 June 1911. The enumerator was Charles England.

This is probably the right family but the discrepancies of the details are hard to explain. Also seems unusual that the boys came a year later. Have not found the birth of a Wesley, though it now appears this may have been an alternate name for Lester.