AH-06 – Svend Christian Hansen (1899-1955)

I would never of thought it, but there are several people named Svend Hansen who were born in 1899 or 1900.  Trying to untangle them is quite a chore, particularly because several of them were sailors. There are many ships that he probably was a member of the crew, but I just can’t confirm the particular cases. Also, because of his shipboard life, he doesn’t appear to be in any of the census records. 

Svend Christian Hansen was born on 07 Feb 1899 in Copenhagen, Denmark to Anton Severin Hansen and Petrine Brangesrop.[i] He may have had a sibling, whose name is unknown.[ii] He died on 12 Nov 1955 at the VA Hospital in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, USA. On 27 Feb 1942, when he was 43, he married Luel Glazier, daughter of John Henry Glazier and Josephine Ophelia Lambert.

I know nothing about Svend’s childhood. I do know he attended grammar school and he knew hot to read and write Danish when he arrived in the US. He knew how to read and write English, but I don’t know if he learned it before he came to America or not.

He emigrated from Copenhagen, Denmark, on 08 Mar 1923 aboard the (Danish) S. S. Hellig Olav. He arrived at Ellis Island, New York, New York, with $10 to his name, on 21 Mar 1923. His intent was to find work as a sailor, stay in the United States permanently, and become a U.S. Citizen.[iii]

Svend described himself as 5′ 5″ tall, 139 lbs. light complexion, brown hair, blue eyes.[iv]

We know that he found work aboard several ships. For certain, he crewed aboard the S. S. Munargo as a water tender. The S. S. Munargo, traversed between New York and Havana, Cuba, Miami, Florida, and Nassau, Bahamas while he was aboard.[v] [vi] It appears he also worked aboard the S. S. Ancon where he was a “wiper” as the ship traversed between Cristobal, Canal Zone, Port Au Prince, Haiti, and New York.[vii] Unfortunately, there are several Svend Hansens born in 1899 or 1900 from Denmark who served on several ships and it is virtually impossible to untangle which Svend served aboard which ship. We do know that he served aboard ship into the 1930s. When in New York, he lived at the Seaman’s Church Institute at 25 South Street.[viii]

Svend was at sea aboard the Munargo during the 1930 Census enumeration.[ix]  Also, I have been unable to find Svend in the 1940 Census, possibly for the same reason.

When Svend enlisted in the Army at Fort McPherson Atlanta, on 24 Nov 1942, he was employed as a waiter living in Fulton County, Georgia. Interestingly, he only served four months; he was discharged on 2 April 1943.[x] I need to do more research regarding his Army service as a PFC with the 409th Infantry.

In 1951, Svend (and presumably Luel) lived in College Park, Fulton County, Georgia. He worked as a carpenter at Ft McPherson.

In May, 1955, Svend moved the family to Tucson, Pima County, Arizona where he continued working as a carpenter and lived at 505 W. Aio Way. Today, the building is an office for “By Low Cost Insurance.”

On 9 November 1955, Svend suffered thrombophlebitis in his left leg and he went to the VA Hospital in Tucson. His thrombophlebitis gave rise to a pulmonary embolism that killed him. He died on 12 November, 1955 at the age of 56. His funeral took place at the Bring’s Funeral Home in Tucson. He was buried in block 4 in the military section (Soldiers’ Plot) at Evergreen Cemetery, Tucson, Arizona.[xi] [xii]

Svend Christian Hansen and Luel Glazier had several children, most of who are living.

Get a copy of his Obituary from Genealogy Bank.