The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-01-02
HENRY HALE, FORMER
STATE LEGISLATOR,
dies AT Age OF 81
Funeral Services for N. D. Pho.
neer Will Be Held at Devils
Lake Thursday

Devils Lake. N. D., Jan. 2.-(Pe
Henry Hale, 80. former state repre-
sentative and senator from Ramsey
county and one Of the outstanding
figures In the development of the
Lake Region, died here early Tuesday
following . short illness.
Funeral services win be held In
Devils Lake Thursday afternoon with
burial also there.
Mr.. Hale was born In London, Eng
land, on March Z, 1852, and received
lis elementary education In the COM
mon schools there. At q very early
age he developed the "wanderlust''
and after wandering over parts Of
England, Scotland and ireland he
found himself In New York. Having
just been in shipwreck he conclud-
ed that dry land was good enough for
him 80 he Joined the United States
Army and was assigned to duty In the
sixteenth infantry, then stationed In
mississippi.
At Fort Totem in rs
He served In the southern states
during the reconstruction period and
after having attained all the non
commissioned ranks was appointed by
the secretary Of war to be hospital
steward at the Little Rock barracks,
Arkansas, serving in that capacity
for two years. Then he was ordered
to report to General Terry at st. Paul,
Minnesota, for assignment to duty in
the department Of North Dakota,
then covering the state OF Minnesota
and the territories Of Dakota and
Montana.
He and his wife and baby arrived
at Fort Totten, North Dakota, April
~, 1873, where he became hospital
steward.
Among the various duties Of . hos
pltal steward was that Of caring for
the teeth Of the soldiers. The only
equipment furnished by the govern
ment was an elegant pair Of forceps
and 1t was expected that the only
remedy for toothache was extraction.
MI. Hale had an idea that . good
many teeth could be saved II they
were properly treated and filled, SO
at his own expense he procured q
dental engine and some soft filling
and whenever possible saved the
teeth until the persons could be
treated by . qualified dentist. This
was probably the first dental service
given In the United States army. ex-
cept extraction.
Mr. Hale served in the army IS
years, four years Of which he spent at
Eoet Totten. He was recommended
for promotion to the commissioned
rank but the recommendation was
disapproved by General Sherman be-
cause he was near the age limit for
such . promotion. He asked for dis
charge and threw his lot with the
pioneer settlers Of Ramsey county,
aquatting on q homestead in Grove
township May 20. 1882.
Served As County Auditor
He was elected county auditor and
assumed the duties Of that office in
January, 1889, serving until 1899. He
was then elected representative and
afterwards senator from the twenty
first district.
Mr.. Hale organized the Ramsey
county agricultural society and serv-
ed as its president for many years.
He also organized the Lake Region
mid-winter fair and promoted farm
ers clubs.
For 10 years he was affiliated with
John w. Maher Of Devils Lake in the
farm real estate and loan business,
managing Mr.. Makers Devils Lake
office.
At the outbreak Of the World War
he was selected chairman OF the Red
Cross and organized the Ramsey
county chapter.
He was q colonel on the staff Of
Governor L. B. Hanna.
He was twice married, his first wife
died In 1893.
Surviving are his widow and three
children by his first marriage. They
are Mrs, Edward F. Flynn Of st. Paul;
keSilNsm H., Of Cleveland, and Mrs. A.
". Haig of Devils Lake.