name of newspaper: The Osceola Record location: Osceola, NE 68651 date of article: Thursday, September 18, 1919 edition: 44th year, number 2(?) page: page 5 column: 5 about: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022854/ (?) source: https://www.newspapers.com/image/740969848 GOB OF '61-'64 VISITS U-BOAT ---------- John Rasmussen Inspects German Submarine in Chicago. ---------- FINDS VAST DIFFERENCES ---------- Civil War Veteran Who Served on United States Monitors and Participated in the Sieges of Forts Sumter, Moultire and Fisher Marvels ar the Mechanical Features of the Captured Submersible UC-97. ----- A bent little old man, with snow-white hair and beard, and with kindly blue eyes peering out form behind silver-rimmed spectables, haltingly put foot on the deck of the captured German submarine UC-97 down at the end of the municipal pier in Chicago. "Wal, I swan!" he ejaculated. "This is considdible diffrint f'm th' boats o' my days!: The little old man was John Rasmussen, 75 years old, the only Chicagoan who saw Lincoln on the day he was assassinated, and a veteran of the United States navy monitor service during the Civil war. He has lived and greyed in Chacago since the Civil war, and is a familiar figure in the Methodist church block, Randolph and Clark, where his unpretentious boot-making shop is located on the second floor. Wanted to Make Comparison. When John Rasmussen heard that the captured German submarine had come to town, he expressed a desire to see it and compare it with the monitors he served on during the Civil war. He closed his little shop, put on his plain black coat and took himself down to the municipal pier. He was enthusiastically welcomed by Lieutenant Commander E. A. Lockwood and his twenty-four gobs, comprising the crew of the sub, when they learned he was an "ex-gob" of the United States navy of '61 to '64. A sailor from the age of 14, John Rasmussen had no difficulty accustoming himelf to the roll of the UC-97, which tossed uneasily at her moorings. However, John's "sea legs" were not so strong as they used to be, and he beamed his gratitude at a husky "gob" who lent him an arm. Interestedly John moved about the intersticed steel deck of the U-boat, pointing out variations in its construction as compared with the monitors on which he went through the siege of Forts Sumter, Moultrie and Fisher during the stirring days from '61 to '64. "See theer, now," said John, indicating the surface steering apparatus on the bridge of the UC-97. "Th' monitors like the Mahotac, which I was on in '64, didn't have no sich fancy steerin' do-dinkusses on. Th' Mahotac had jist a steerin'wheel an' a compass an' not a lot o' fancy instryments like an electric power-house." Surprised at Mechanism. When he was told that the steering apparatus of the submarine was duplicated inside the hold, so that if the upper paraphernalia were destroyed by gunfire the craft could still be controlled, John shook his head wonderingly and wiped his glasses so that he could trace the course of a shifting indicator on one of the instruments. "This is the instrument that is manipulated to sink the boat," said Lieutenant Commander Lockwood, showing John the submerged gauge as worked from the outside. "This lever is pulled and then the captain goes down this hatch." (Pointing.) "Wal, I swan!" again ejaculated John. "About th' only intryment that'd sink a monitor would be a twelve-pound shell!" To an interested circle of gobs, Mr. Rasmussen told the story of how he had served in the American navy from 1861 to 1864, and how he had seen Lincoln shortly before the emancipator was assassinated. "The war was over." said John. "The Mahotac was in Washington harbor and President Lincoln came along the docks in a one-horse buggy to look at the fleet. I didn't know him by sight. but a big negro by my side said: 'Dere's old Abe!' with a pleased grin, and I got a good look at Abraham Lincoln. That night he was shot in Ford's theatre. ---------- ... ____________________________________________________________________________ name of newspaper: Franklin County Sentinel location: Franklin, Nebraska date of article: Thursday, September 10, 1942 edition: year 53, number 45 page: page 5 column: 2 about: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94056657/ about: https://www.loc.gov/item/sn94056657/ source: https://www.newspapers.com/image/689970574 ... ---------------- John Rasmussen John Emanuel Rasmussen, son of Peter and Dorithea Rasmussen, was born July 25, 1877, at Clifton, Ill. He came with his parents to Franklin county in 1844 and lived on a farm one mile east of Naponee, , six years, then moved to the farm one half mile east of Naponee, which has been his home for 52 years. He was united in marriage to Miss Balnche B. Brown at Lexington, September 20, 1911. To this union one daughter and four sons were born. In keeping with his faith, and practice of the Danish Lutheran church, he was baptized in infancy. On Easter Sunday, 1919, he reaffirmed his faith and united with the Congregational church of Naponee. He was a great lover of music and has been a member of the church choir nearly 50 years. He was never too busy to sing his church or community. He engaged in farming and stick raising in partnership with his father for many years, which was broken by the death of his father in 1933. Three years agi he collapsed and since had been a great sufferer. he worried because of the restrictions of his broken health, but was uncomplaining to the end. He passed away at his home at 2 a.m. Friday, September 4, 1942, at the age of 65 years, seven months and nine days. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Balnche B. Rasmussen, his daughter, Mrs. Bernice Carroll, of Alamosa, Colo., J. Edward Rasmussen, of Lowery Field, Denver, Colo., Wilber,, of Los Angeles, Calif., Elmer W. of the U. S. Navy aboard the USS New York, and Dan at home. Three granschildren, two brothers, Henry of Riverside, Calif., and Edward of Colorado Springs, Colo., one sister, Mrs. Camelia Wiley, of Naponee. He was a public spirited community man, a loyal church helper and a devoted family man. Funeral services were held from the Congregational church, Naponee, Sunday, September 6, at 2 p. m., conducted by the Rev. Em. Haskins of Republican City, and he was laid to rest in the Naponee cemetery. Music was furnished by Mrs. S. E. Ely, Mrs. Frank O'Neill, C. R. Burnham and C. Rebman, accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Fred Buising. Pallbearers were VernonHoutz, Earl Austin, S. E. Ely, Able Seal, Fred Ziegler and Frank O'Neill. The Hutshins Funeral Home, of Franklin, was in charge. ----------------