Francis Baasen was born in Luxemburg, Germany on September 30, 1829. He was well educated there. His family immigrated to America in 1839. On arrival in this country they settled in Milwaukee, where he resided until 1856. While living in Milwaukee he studied law and was admitted to the practice of that profession.

In 1856, he moved to Brown County, Minnesota, and settled in New Ulm. There he opened a law office, the first one in the area. This made him a conspicuous figure in this part of the new frontier. He took an interest in public matters and was made colonel of the local militia. He won distinction for bravery at the head of an expedition, of volunteers from New Ulm, against a troublesome Indian, by the name of Inkpadutah.

He was a delegate to the convention that framed the state's constitution in 1857. He was Minnesota's first Secretary of State, serving from 1858-60, under Governor Henry Sibley. Francis' opinions on military subjects were particularly valuable to the state.

It is said of Baasen that when the civil war broke out he personally applied to Gov Ramsey to accept the militia regiment, of which he was the colonel, to be included in the governor's first call for volunteers. For some reason the Ramsey refused to accept them. Baasen was so upset that he then pulled his commission, as a militia colonel, out of his pocket and tore it into pieces in the presence of the astonished governor, remarking that, if he could not go with his regiment, he would go alone and all hell could not stop him.

The 31 year old then enlisted, as a private, in the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. As time went on, an opening in the officer's ranks occurred. On Jan 8, 1862, while they were camped at Poolsville, Md, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in Company H. He was appointed regimental quartermaster on July 10, 1862, and performed this duty throughout his enlistment.

His mind likely was on the problems at home in New Ulm as this was the heart of the Indian uprising. In 1863, when his business failed, he asked to go home. He appears to have not been with the regiment at the time of the battle of Gettysburg. He did return at some point and was mustered out on May 4, 1864.

He returned to his law practice in New Ulm. He married Mary Belland in 1869. Francis and Mary had 5 children. The democrat served as a representative in the state legislature of 1873, being elected form Nicollet County, where he resided form 1870 to 1876. His last official position was adjutant general under Governor Lind. He was a member of the Hecker GAR Post #48 in New Ulm.

Francis was admitted into the Minnesota Soldiers Home on Jan. 1, 1901. Frank Mead, an old comrade from Co. H, was his witness. His wife owned their home and he had children. He was suffering from senility and had gangrene of the foot. He died at the home on Jan 10, 1901.

From The Minneapolis Tribune, Friday, Jan 11, 1901:

Col Francis Baasen, assistant adjutant general of Minnesota, died at 8:45 o'clock last evening at the Soldiers Home hospital. He was attended by his wife, son and two daughters, but was unconscious at the time of his death, as he had been nearly all day.

For two weeks past Col. Baasen had been suffering from gangrene, caused by an abrasion of the sole of his left foot...After being sent to the hospital gangrene developed and finally it became necessary to amputate the great toe.

During the past few days he sank so rapidly that his family, consisting of his wife, two daughters and a son, stayed with him constantly, expecting the final end at any time.

The remains will be taken to his home at New Ulm, from whence the funeral will take place tomorrow.

From the St Paul Globe, Jan 15, 1901

The funeral was as large as ever witnessed in New Ulm. In the party of several hundred which escorted the body to the grave were several comrades of the First Minnesota volunteers, the six first named serving as pallbearers: J W Pride, Company E, president, First Minnesota association, W H Hoyt, Company F, vice president, R A Plummer, Company D, F R Mead, Company H, Charles Shatto, Company H, Josia R King, Company G, Fred McKusick, Company B, M L Bevens, Company F, Charles W Smith, Company D, James W Walsh, Company D, Frank Hausdorf, Company A.

~ Exerpt taken from http://www.1stminnesota.net/SearchResults.php3?ID=0501