Surnames: Hanne, Riplinger, White, Benjamin, Peterson, Pankratz, Eder, St. John, Freeman

----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Clark County, Wis.) Thursday, 8 Oct 1903

Hanne, Carl (? - 6 Oct. 1903)

On Tuesday morning of this week, the sons of Carl Hanne, a farmer of the town of Frankfort, Wisconsin came to Colby and swore out a warrant for their father, charging him with having set on fire and burned two barns on their farm, (and with having shot at various members of his family) the night before.

Judge White issued the warrant, and same was placed in the hands of Constable Ben Riplinger for service. When the officer reached the premises situated seven miles due east of Colby on the Wausau road, he discovered the body of Carl Hanne in a field adjoining his own premises behind a stump, dead, with a revolver clutched in his right hand. The officer returned to Colby and reported the facts to Judge White. The Judge immediately impaneled a jury consisting of G. T. Benjamin, N. P. Peterson, John Pankratz, Jr., Henry Eder, Fred Riplinger and Grant St. John, and subpoenaed Dr. Freeman to make the medical examination.

The body was found as stated, with a bullet hole in the right temple the body on its hands and knees face on the ground and the muzzle of the revolver almost in the wound and the face blackened by the powder. Dr. Freeman made a thorough examination, removing the top of the skull and found both lobes of the brain shattered and the bullet in the back part of his head, said bullet fitted the revolver which deceased held in his right hand. The jury returned a verdict of suicide without any hesitation.

There is no question but what Carl Hanne committed the murderous assault upon his family and burned the barns with all their contents while insane.

About one year and a half ago Mr. Hanne sold his farm and all personal property to his sons, and soon afterward developed symptoms of insanity, was examined at Wausau and pronounced insane and was committed to the Northern Hospital for the insane. Last May however, Hanne was discharged as cured, since which time he has lived with his family, but has frequently made threats against various members of his family and also threatened to commit suicide.

Last week the farm was sold, and on Saturday all personal property was disposed of at auction, since which Mr. Hanne was practically violent, and on ***Note: The remainder of this article was missing.

Response

I am trying to determine the connection between Carl and Adolph.

My father, Donald Hanne, was adopted by Adolph Hanne and his wife, Theresa Haslbeck Hanne, after his parents died in 1920.  They lived near Colby, Wis.  After Adolph died in 1928, Theresa Haselbeck re-married Frank H Ziech on Aug 17, 1929 in Green Grove, and they moved to Wausau.  My father's birth parents are Christian Hannie and Frances Hannie from Fairbury, IL where my father was born in 1918.  Christian and Frances are buried at South Side Cemetery in Fairbury, IL.  Christian and Adolph were brothers, and Frances and Theresa were sisters (brothers married sisters).  Christian and Adolph's mother was Elizabeth Hannie (16 Apr 1845 - 14 Feb 1919), also buried next to them at Fairbury, IL. 

Additional information that might be relevant to Carl Hanne:
I remember my father talking about Fred Hanni, possibly an uncle. My father had said Fred dropped the "e" in Hannie, while Adolph dropped the "i".  I found a posting on a message board stating "Fred Hanni, or Henni, or Hannie, was born Feb 10, 1873 in Berne, Switzerland, and emmigrated from there in 1880 with parents Carl and Elizabeth, and siblings 4 brothers, 1 sister.  They lived in Wisconsin for awhile, and Fred settled in Fairbury, IL with wife Mary . . . " .   

Christian and Frances lived in the Town of Hull before settling in Fairbury, IL.  According to the marriage record for Frances Haslbeck, posted by Stan, they were married at St. Kilian's Church on Nov 19, 1903.  Also, according to Oscar Hanne's obituary, which I have, Oscar was "born 14 Dec 1904 at Colby, Wisc, a son of Christ and Frances Hannie".  (Oscar was my father's oldest sibling).  This means Christian Hannie was living in the area at the time of Carl's death in 1903.

I also found information on Charles Hanne (8 Feb 1888 - Nov 1974) who also lived in the Town of Hull in Marathon County, just east of Colby, Wis.  Charles and Emma Pacholke Hanne are buried at Colby Memorial Cemetery, along with others including Harold E Hanne who are likely Charles' and Emma's children.  Harold E Hanne was my father's cousin, according to a hand-written note on Harold's obit, which a relative gave to me. 

Carl's obit mentions he lived in the town of Frankfort (next to Hull).  His "sons" issued a warrant for their father for setting a fire and burning two barns on their farm, after which Carl's body was discovered by the officer on his property 7 miles due east of Colby where he had apparently shot himself.

All these pieces lead me to believe Carl Hanne's sons might be Adolph, Christian, Fred and Charles.  Any additional information from the Clark County records would be greatly appreciated.  Susan (Hanne) Niemuth 
 

Response #2

Adolph and Charles are Carl’s sons.  I had heard their father committed suicide and have, until today, been unable to learn his name or any details.  I have a wedding photo of Theresa and Adolph.

Judy Hanne Gonzalez  jhanne@redcrossnorthland.org