The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-01-11
FRANCIS BAASEN Is DEAD
MINNESOTA,s FIRST SECRETARY
OF STATE AND RECENT ASSIST
ANT ADJUFANT GENERAL
CASE LIKE SENATOR DAVIS
Blood Poisoning Followed an Abra-
sion of the Foot, Which
at Last Resulted
FATALLY.

Col Francis Baa sen, of New Tim, as
sistant adjutant general. died at $3.50 last
evening at the Soldiers home hospital
from gangrene.
Some weeks ago Col. Baasen was
afflicted by hard corn on the bottom
Of the foot. Bloodpoisening set in and it
was found necessary to remove him to
the Soldiers home hospital where, Dec.
II, an operation for the removal of the
middle toe of his right foot, was per-
formed by DR.. A. A. Ames, of Mime
apeIis, and Surgeon c. s. Pine, of the
Soldiers home.
For time there appeared to be an i'm
provement in his condition, but the dis
ease was of a progressive nature and
would not yield to treatment. Another
operation was impossible owing to the
weakened condition of the patient and
he grew steadily worse until death came
last night. All through his serious ILL
ness he was attended by his faithful wife
and daughter.
The remains will be removed to New
Uln for interment
Col. Francis Baasen, late assistant adj
jutant general, was one of the old-line
Democrats OF this state. He settled in
the Minnesota valley during territorial
days, and in the eighth territorial leg
islature, held in 1857, he was enc of the
members Of the house from the then
Tenth district
Col. Baasen's father was a notary and
man of some consequence in a town
of Luxembourg Germany, where Col.
Baasen was born in 1920. He received an
excellent education in the fatherland.
and at the age of nineteen left for Amer
lea, living in Milwaukee until 1856, when
he moved to Brown county and finally
located at New UIm. While in Milwau-
kee he studied law and opened the first
law ONCE in Few Ulm. He took an ac-
tive part in town affairs and became
colonel of a militia regiment.
In 1857 he was elected a delegate to the
convention that framed the state consti-
tuition and was active in debate, partieu-
larry as to military affairs. During the
same year ne commanded an expedition
of New Ulm volunteers against Inkpa
dutah, winning distinction fol personal
bravery.
When the constitutional convention
was held he was a representative from
the same district to the Democratic
wing, and when the state was organized
after It's admission, he became its first
secretary Of state, serving until the in
auguration Of the first regularly elected
officials.
At the outbreak Of the Civil war.
within a few days, in fact after Presf-
dent Lincolns first call for volunteers
he enlisted as a private in Company II
Of the old First Minnesota. He was in
the battles at Bull Run and Balls bluff.
and Feb "a, 1862, was promoted to first
lieutenant. He then went with the regf-
ment up the Potomac to the Shenan-
doah valley through the peninsula.
with Fair Oaks and the seven days bat
les. July 10 of that year he was made
quartermaster of the regiment, and
served with it during the rest of it's glori-
Gus history at Malvern hill, South Maun-
tain, Antietam, in the Shenandoah
country, Fredericksburg, ChanceIlors-
vile, Gettysburg and the rest
May 4, 1864, he was mustered out. the
regiment then being in camp at Fort
Smelling for the drill Of the recruits made
necessary by its terrible losses in the
battles of the twelve months previous.
Col. Baasen has been a close friend of
Gov. Lind for many years, and on his
election was appointed assistant adiu-
tant general. the duties of the office
having almost entirely to do with the
securing of pensions for veterans of the
Civil war or their widows and orphans
Col Baasens enlistment as a private
during the Civil war resulted from a
personal difference with Gov Alexander
Ramsey. In 1861 he was colonel of a
militia regiment which the governor
did not desire to utilize on the first CALL
and became impatient to get to the front
correspondence was 1nef1ectlYe, and
finally the colonel appeared in the execll-
tive office, his commission as colonel in
his pocket. He requested Gov Ramsey
to send him to the front with his reei-
ment at once, and was refused. Taking
his commission from his pocket. he tore
1t to shreds before the astonished gov
ernor's eyes, remarking with emphasis
at the same time, that if he could not
go with his regiment he would go alone
and all - couldn't prevent
The regiment was still delayed. and
Col. Baasen enlisted as private in the
First Minnesota