Oscar Hanson (1827-1910) of Little Lepreau, New Brunswick, was a descendant of John Hanson, pre-Loyalist settler on Minister's Island, and also great-grandson of Quaker Loyalist Joshua Knight of Beaver Harbour and Pennfield. Oscar's father, Robert Varden Hanson (1795-1884) first settled at Little Lepreau in 1836, where he built a sawmill, which he later sold to sons Oscar and Gideon.

Oscar was involved in many concurrent careers and activities: landowner; sawmill owner and operator; owner of canning factory; ship's merchant and charterer, shipowner, storekeeper; postmaster of Little Lepreau (until 1898); justice of the peace (as was his father); active organizer for the Liberal Party, member of at least four fraternal organizations; holder of various offices in parish of Lepreau, and Sunday school superintendent (Baptist). He and his brother, Gideon K. Hanson, owned lands leased for New Brunswick Anthracite Coal Company (first shaft sunk in 1876).

Edgar Hanson, Oscar's cousin, was clerk in the Audit Office and then the office of Provincial Secretary . His correspondence with Oscar was often about politics.

Oscar and his wife Helen (Lomax) had seven children who, while not residing at Little Lepreau, maintained summer residence there for many years. Their children were Helen May, Priscilla Knight, Jane Knight , Oscar Jr., Edgar B., Charles Frederick and Ethel (Mrs. R.S. Phillips).