Ward County ND Archives Obituaries.....Andersen, George January 26, 1918
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deidre Badker berniebadker@iowatelecom.net March 6, 2012, 8:45 am

Family research as of March 2012
George Andersen was born March 17, 1891 to Hans Andersen (born October 30, 1953 
Akershus, Norway, died October 11, 1907 Baden, Ward, N. Dakota) and Gena 
Petersdatter (born January 22, 1854 Akershus, Norway, died January 3, 1908 
Spencer, Ward, N.D.) on a farm near Meltonville, Newburg township, Mitchell 
County, Iowa. George was the seventh of ten children. 

Found in the 1895 census at Newburg, Mitchell, IA, age 3.

In 1898, George moved west with his parents to Palermo, North Dakota where they 
planned to homestead. George attended a country school there and worked on the 
farm. 

Found in the 1900 census at township 159, Ward, North Dakota, age 9, living 
with his family. 
Found in the 1910 census at Baden, Ward, North Dakota working in a coal mine.

George enlisted in the army in September of 1917 and trained at Camp Dodge, 
Iowa. (His brother Adolph also served in WW1). George started in field 
artillery and advanced to machine gun training. He was transferred to further 
training at Camp Cody, Deming, Luna, New Mexico. The whole camp in New Mexico 
was quarantined for the measles. George may have had them, too, not sure. He 
did get sick with 102 degree fever on January 21, 1918.

Telegram sent from the camp to the family January 23,1918: "Mrs. Inga Rustad, 
Private George Anderson dangerously ill. Not expected to live, if possible come 
at once." 
Second telegram sent January 27, 1918 to Mrs. Inga Rustad (Inga was George's 
oldest sister): " Your brother, George Anderson, died of pneumonia at the Camp 
Cody base hospital, Deming, Luna, New Mexico. Notify commanding officer of Coc 
126 M.G.B.N. as to what disposition you desire made of remains and effects, the 
body will be shipped to any address you designate. - H. Floyd Stone, 2nd 
Lieut., Coc 126 New Mexico."  

The soldier's name accompanying the body was Maxwell Morrison. He told the 
family that George did not want to go out and train on the 21st. The camp 
manager said he either had to train, chop wood or go down and see the doctor. 
He chose the hospital and the doctor examined him. He died January 26th at 
11:45 p.m. at the base hospital in Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico. His cause of 
death was bronchi-pneumonia. 

He was brought by train to Palermo, ND. He was embalmed before he was shipped. 
He was in uniform, in a black coffin, with a black cloth outside it. All his 
clothes were sent back also. His brother, Adolph Andersen was there when the 
train arrived and helped get him off of the train. The family bought a flower 
pillow for him. The school teacher and children sent to Minot for fresh 
flowers. Mrs. Doarn brought some house plants and his sister, Mary, made some 
flowers. 

The funeral was on the nicest day of the winter and was officiated by Rev. A.C. 
Korsrud. Selma wrote to Clara Andersen: "I'm sure he has it good because he 
sure was a good boy." 
The neighbor children sang at the funeral - "Nearer My God to Thee" and "How 
Blessed Is Thy Little Flock" in English. George was buried February 5, 1918 at 
Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, Ward, North Dakota, which was across the road 
from his parent's home. George was 26 years, 10 months, and 10 days at the time 
of his death. He never married and had no children.

A poem was written in remembrance entitled "George Brave Heart":
Because you died, I will not let the roses that blossomed in the garden fade 
and die; 
I will not heed the blackbird's song is ended. 
Because you passed along and said Good-bye. 

Because out there a little mound lies named. 
Because I loved you once, I love you still. I'll treasure up your smiles, your 
mirth, your laughter, and spread them o'er the future for my fill. 
Because you died, I will not shade the sunlight. And keep a veil about my face 
to hide the world about my feet. You never loved the shadows; I will not weep 
the while, because you died. 
Oh, blessed one! Oh pure, oh, young sweet lover! Oh man that went out as a boy 
and fell. I'll do my bit toward the great endeavor. Because you loved and 
laughed, I'll laugh as well." 

George's service record found: North Dakota Military Men:George Anderson, Army 
#: none; Registrant: yes, Mountrail county; Birth Place: St. Angar, Iowa; Birth 
Date: 17 Mar 1891; Parent's Origin: of (nationality of parents not given)
Occupation: farmer. Comment: inducted at Stanley, ND on Sept. 18, 1917; sent to 
Camp Dodge, Iowa; served in Battery A, 338th Field Artillery, to (date not 
given); Company C, 126th Machine Gun Battalion, to death. Died of pneumonia, on 
Jan. 26, 1918 at Camp Cody, Deming, Luna, New Mexico. 

Additional Comments:
Censuses and poem transcribed as found, spelling errors not corrected.

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