Excerpt of the book "Writer and Engraver's Picture of Graham County's Progress Since Its Organization" (1906)

Harry G. Hanselman

(pgs. 50-52)

In one if the most picturesque spots in Kansas, sixteen miles northwest of Hill City, is the well improved farm of Harry G. Hanselman, known as Valley View Farm.

Some twenty years ago Mr. Hanselman's father homesteaded in that part of Graham county, and the young man learned early to appreciate the possibilities of the county. When a boy he stood on the rise of ground on which he intends soon to build his new home, and saw the rolling country for twenty-five miles in every direction without a single house or improvement. A few days ago we stood with Mr. Hanselman on that same ground, of which he is justly proud, and marked with pleasure, the many fine houses and green fields of waving wheat and alfalfa that make the country a picture of thrift and prosperity.

Six years ago Mr. Hanselman bought his first quarter of land for $300 and three years later added to it a second quarter for which he paid $800.

Of his 320 acres he has put 280 under cultivation, and his full wheat bins and bursting corn-cribs give evidence of the rich soil and good farming.

Mr.Hanselman is rightly proud of his fine orchard of 700 young bearing fruit trees. A goodly number of his cherry trees are the Early Richmond, which are but three years old, and bearing luxuriantly.

Mr. Hanselman has a nice lot of Early Golden Apricots,...four years old, averaging about twelve feet high.

The Bella George and Sneeds peach trees are worthy of special note, because of the size and big yield of fruit. We saw one five year old Bella George tree whose foliage measured twenty feet in diameter.

Mr. Hanselman does not confine his interests entirely to farming, but gives equal attention to the thoroughbred Poland China hogs which he owns. He can well be called the pioneer hog raiser of Graham county, having begun ten years ago to buy thoroughbred stock. Of the fifty Poland Chinas which he now owns, seven are registered and all are eligible.

Though Mr. Hanselman's farm is a goodly distance from any town he does not feel out of communication with people, for a Lenora rural route passes his door and his telephone is connected with both the Hill City and the Lenora exchange.

He has recently been offered $7,000 for his half section, but will not sell for any price, and intends within a year or two, to build a fine cement home on the spot on his farm which we believe to furnish the most splendid view in all Graham county.

Mr. Hanselman is a man known throughout the county as one of her products which she is proud to claim.

He was married in 1894 to Miss Scott, a reident of Iowa, but at the time of their marriage, a guest of her sister, Mrs. White of Graham county. To them were born two children a boy and a girl.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hanselman were successful school teachers for a number of years and have been even more successful in succeeding undertakings.

For a year and a half they have rented their farm, and lived in Hill City, where Mr.Hanselman's office as stockholder and manager of the Mutual Telephone Company has brought him.

But the charms of Graham county farm life for Mr. and Mrs. Hanselman are greater than any that can be offered elsewhere, and they are contemplating moving to the farm in the early fall.