Hanson A True Soldier

Little Incidents Show What a Hero He Was.

Francis Edmond Hanson, who received his death wound at Calumpit last Monday, dying later, was 21 years of age, having been born at Admah, Washington county, Nebr., December 15, 1877. His father, H. V. Hanson, at an advanced age still resides at the old farm home near Admah, where young Hanson spent his boyhood days. The father is one of the pioneers of the state, having located in Washington county over thirty years ago. Young Hanson spent several years at the normal school at Fremont, locating in Omaha two years ago before sailing with the Thurston Rifles to Manila. He had been a member of the Rifles three months before going to war. He was a bookkeeper by profession. Since going to the front young Hanson had in a number of instances distinguished himself for coolness and bravery. In January last he was placed as a guard at the Pasig river bridge, leading to the water works, and upon one instance was instructed by General Hale to permit no one to cross the bridge. That night a Filipino captain with fifty insurgents came to the bridge and wanted to pass.

“You cannot pass over here,” were the words of young Hanson.

“But we will,” said the captain.

“If you make a move,” said Hanson, “I will shoot you down, if I die the next minute,” the remarks being addressed to the captain. The captain and his men returned to the camp, not getting over. He was especially commended for his bravery on that occasion by General Hale.

Hanson has two older brothers who reside in Omaha, E. P. and E. A. Hanson and three sisters, Mrs. R. B. Wilson and Mrs. Samson, both of Omaha, and Mrs. Johnson, of Argo, Nebr.

As an indication of the kind of soldier Hanson was the following extract from Sergeant Herbert Taylor’s letter, printed in last Sunday’s Herald, speaks eloquently:

“Hanson, of our company, had a piece gorged out of his breast, during the battle of February 4th, which bled like a garden hose. Hanson pulled off his shirt with the help of a comrade, who had had his hat shot off in the operation, and was much puzzled to find the spot where the ball had apparently entered, but no hole where it had come out. Then he saw two holes in his shirt, which explained it and he bandaged the wound and went on with his shooting and has been on full rations and duty ever since.”

Note: Parents were Hans Voltmer and Angelina Marie (Annie) (Bjorkman) Hanson. He was born 15 Dec 1877 and died 27 April 1899 at Manila Philippines.

Printed in the Feb. 15, 1900 Pilot, Blair, Nebraska

The funeral of Corporal F. E. Hansen, formerly a Washington county boy, will take place at 2:30 next Sunday at the Thurston Rifles’ hall in Omaha. The body will be buried by the Thurston Rifles at Prospect Hill cemetery. The boys will erect a $2,000 monument in memory of the nine heroes of their company who gave up their lives for their country. F.E. Hansen joined the First Nebraska on April 27, 1898, and on April 27, 1899, he died from the result of a gunshot wound and we ought to add that this was the fourth time he was wounded while in the service. Mr. Hansen was just past 21 years of age and was a model young man. He leaves a father, sister and two brothers as immediate members of the family. His father has lived in Sheridan township for the past thirty-one years and has a fine farm there of 360 acres and a farm in Burt county of 120 acres. The family have been known for their thrift and industry, and a wide circle of friends mourn with the family the loss of the boy-soldier Francis.

Note: The name should be spelled Hanson not Hansen as in the above article.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~