Andrew Hjalmer Rierson 1891-1913

RIERSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 00:13:56

Estherville Boy Dies on Battleship
Andrew Hjalmer Rierson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Rierson, died Wednesday [March 12, 1913] board the U.S. Battleship “Paducah” near Manzamillo, Cuba, of streptococcus infection, the most violent kind of blood poison, according the message received by Oliver Rierson Friday. Mr. Rierson received another message from the authorities at Manzmillo that the remains were sent to Estherville by express by way of Havana, Cuba, at U.S. government expense and would arrive here today or tomorrow. – Enterprise (The Democrat, Emmetsburg, IA, March 19, 1913)

Dies on Battleship
Blood Poisoning was the Cause of Andrew Rierson’s Death
Andrew Hjalmer Rierson, son of Mrs. Oliver Rierson, died Wednesday on board the U.S. Battleship, “Paducah” near Manazmillo, Cuba, of streptococcus infection the most violent kind of blood poison, according to a message received by Oliver Rierson Friday. Mr. Rierson received another message from the authorities at Manzamillo that the remains were sent to Estherville by express by way of Havana, Cuba, at U.S. government expense and would arrive here today or tomorrow. The message does not state how long the young man was ill.

Andrew Rierson enlisted in the navy in November, 1911. After spending a few months in Chicago in a training school he was assigned to the battleship Washington as fireman. This was the same ship that Ed Nelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Nelson, was on as a member of the ship’s band. When the ship went into the repair docks a few months ago, Mr. Rierson was assigned to duties as assistant engineer of the Paducah.

The boat has been spending the past few months around Cuba and Panama. He was giving excellent satisfaction and was advancing nicely when death came to cut short his career. Andrew Hjalmer was born in High Lake township January 1891 and spent practically all his life here except a few years the family spent in Alabama. He was a bright, active young man and had many friends here, who regret to learn of his sudden death. He leaves a father, mother, five brothers and two sisters to mourn his death. – Estherville Enterprise.

The funeral was held in Estherville Saturday. Several from this city went up to attend the services. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, March 20, 1913)