Theodore Larson

LARSON, RISDALL

Posted By: Marlene K. Skalberg (email)
Date: 2/15/2019 at 13:08:56

HAS DIED IN MANILA
THEODORE LARSON, BORN IN ADAMS COUNTY LOSES HIS LIFE THERE
STORY OF HIS DEATH
WAAS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST NEBRASKA
BORN IN LINCOLN TOWNSHIP
HE WAS KNOWN TO MANY OF ADAMS COUNTY’S PEOPLE
The only Adams County soldier who has been at Manila so far, died there October 3. His name was Theodore Larson, and he was born in Lincoln township, near Strand, where his parents still live.
Theodore Larson was born in 1874 and raised in this county. He was very widely known in the north part of the county and was an excellent young man, bright, clean, and capable. He was in Nebraska when the war broke out, visiting an uncle John Rudisil, who formerly lived in this county. He enlisted in the First Nebraska, and with it was sent to Manila on one of the early expeditions. He was in two skirmishes before Manila, and acidity himself most creditably. The story of his death is given in the following extract from a letter written by his army comrade, Philip Nelson, a Nebraska boy, to Larson’s relatives.
Manila, Ph. Isi. October 5, 1898, Mr. Ed Iislsing, Dear Friend; I suppose you are surprised to get a letter from me, but you know I have so many others to write to, so I hope you will overlook my neglect of writing you before. I know Theodore Larson has kept you posted on all the news since we were in Lincoln, and the other day I saw a letter from you to him, but as he cannot write any more, I think I ought to let you know all about a very sad affair. Larson had been feeling very good all the time, till about the 2nd of September, when he took sick with malaria fever. He stayed here in his quarters until the 26th of September, when he was taken to the Brigade Hospital. Every day somebody from Co. K was up to the hospital (2 miles from out quarters) to see him. I was up the 2nd day of October and he was then very weak and I believe then he would de. Henry Fingade saw him in the afternoon of the 3rd and he was the last Wahoo boy who saw him alive, as he died at 8:10 o’clock p.m. the same day. It was very sad news to the whole Company as everybody liked him. He was buried at 4:00 October 4th. He was honored with the usual military funerals. The procession assembled at the hospital and consisted of first the Nebraska Band, then came eight soldiers with arms on horses, then the Chaplin and officers in a carriage and last the entire Co. “K” all of us dressed in white uniforms and side arms. Also other friends attended amongst them John McKanley.
The sermon was short, but to the point and very good. When the grave was filled up the firing squad (thise eight armed men) fired there volleys over his grave and a bugler sounded Tatoo.
It was the most touching funeral any of us have ever attended and when reminded of the sermon that we stood at the grave of a brave soldier, who died for his country, not on the battlefield, but in the hospital by disease, which is our worst enemy since we came into the city of Manila, it was not a man in the audience who did not take it to his heart.
Adams County Free Press, November 24, 1898, page 5
Theodore died in the Philippine Islands being a member of Co. K. 1st Nebraska Vol.