Frances Hook, (USA)

Frances Hook (1847–March 17, 1908) claimed that she, disguised as a man, enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army during the U.S. Civil War. She stated her aliases were Pvt. Frank Miller, Frank Henderson, Frank Martin and Frank Fuller. However, the enlistment records for the units in which she claimed to have served show no evidence of those aliases, nor any record to corroborate her story.[1]

Early life
Frances Hook was born in Illinois in 1847. When she was three years old both of her parents died, leaving only her and her older brother, who brought her up until the start of the Civil War.

At the time the Civil War began, Hook and her brother were living in Chicago, Illinois. When her brother decided to enlist in the Union Army. Hook, not wanting to be left alone, decided to disguise herself as a man and enlisted with her brother.[2]

Her claims of Civil War service
When Hook claimed to have enlisted in the Union Army she was fourteen years old, but says she told recruiters she was twenty-two. She cut her hair and enlisted in the 11th Illinois Infantry Regiment[3] (or the 65th Illinois Home Guard depending on the source)[4] using the alias Private Frank Miller on April 30, 1861. Hook and her brother served their 90-day term without being discovered.

On July 30, 1861, Hook and her brother re-enlisted in the 11th Illinois Infantry[3] (or 19th Illinois Infantry Regiment depending on the source)[4] for three more years. Their regiment fought at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and then at the Battle of Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862) where Hook's brother was killed. Hook was so devastated by her brother's death that she could no longer bear to serve in the same regiment he had died in.[3]

However, Hook wished to continue her military service. Under a new alias, Frank Henderson, she enlisted in the 33rd Illinois Infantry regiment. After a few months of service she was wounded in the shoulder at the Battle of Fredericktown (October 21, 1861) in Missouri. While being treated at the regimental hospital the doctor discovered her sex; she was discharged from the army and told to go home.

Having no family to go home to, Hook enlisted in the 90th Illinois Infantry Regiment. While serving in the 90th Infantry (fighting quite often), the regiment saw combat at Holly Springs, Coldwater, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Siege of Jackson, and Missionary Ridge[3] The regiment was marching through Florence, Alabama, in the late summer of 1863. While on the march Hook entered a seemingly empty house to search for supplies; while she was searching, two Confederate soldiers hiding in the house surprised and captured her.[2]

Hook was imprisoned, as a man, in Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after her imprisonment she attempted an escape, but was shot in the thigh and taken to the prison hospital. While being treated another doctor discovered her true sex. Hook was moved to a separate room and put on a list of prisoners to be exchanged. On February 17, 1864, Hook was one of twenty-seven Union prisoners exchanged at Graysville, Georgia.[3]

During her imprisonment she told her story to Confederate doctors and officers. The Confederacy was so impressed by her actions she received a letter from Confederate President Jefferson Davis offering her a commission if she would fight for the Confederate army. Hook refused stating she would rather serve in the Union Army as a private than in the Confederate army as a lieutenant. She went on to state she would rather be hanged than fight against the Union.[3]

When Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Union Army surgeon, heard this report she argued Hook should be made a lieutenant in the Union Army, but was ignored.[3] Because Dr. Walker was thrilled about the news of a female soldier, she notified the press. Hook consented to interviews, but refused to give her real name. She promised newspaper reporters that she would go home, though many doubted her.[5]

Frances Hook was again discharged and told to go home. The officers who were in charge of sending her home alerted recruitment authorities, "advising them to be on the lookout for her trying to rejoin the service."[5] With no home to go to some speculate she enlisted again; however, there is no substantial proof she did.[2]

Later life
Hook eventually married, and had a daughter named Maggie. After her mother's death, on March 17, 1908, Maggie Dickson wrote to the War Department seeking confirmation of Frances Hook's military service. The letter was forwarded to the Adjutant General's Office, who was able to locate a record of Hook's medical treatment in which she claimed to be a soldier in the 90th Illinois, though there was no record in the files of the War Department to corroborate her service claims.[6]

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Hook

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Daughter of of Cornelius and Ann Spencer Hook.
Frances Hook was born in Jacksonville.
Known residences: 829 West State Street, Jacksonville.
About 1901, she moved to her brother's residence that was also on West State Street.
In 1903, she moved back to the 829 West State home.
About 1907, she went east to Malvern, PA.. In Malvern, she had a house and 90 acres.

Fannie and her brother, William S. Hook, acquired control of the Jacksonville Street Railway Company in 1887. In 1890, they went to the city council and secured the right to operate an electric car line. By the spring of 1892, the electric car line was completed and operating.

In 1893, The Wives of the Engineers Organize. A Mrs. Van Patten and Mrs. Styles from Centalia, came to Jacksonville with the purpose of institution a lodge of the Grand International Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The ladies met in the hall of the Red Men in the Hoffman building. The new lodge was named after Frances Hook, the sister of the president and auditor of the J. S. E. system, W. C. Hook. "Fannie Hook Lodge No. 177".

According to an article written by Greg Olson in 2003: " For many years, Fannie Hook oversaw the operation of the line, making numerous improvements to the track and the streetcars. She reportedly wore suits with trousers and smoked cigars long before either was socially acceptable for women."

She sold the car company to Illinois Traction Company in 1905.

She died in Philadelphia, PA after a brief illness.

Survived by three nephews: W. S. Hook, Jr. of Los Angeles, CA, Barbee Hook of Los Angeles, CA, and M. C. Hook of Jacksonville; and two nieces: Mrs. C. W. Gilmer of New Orleans, LA and Mrs. E. P. Alexander of Jacksonville.

Funeral services were held in Philadelphia. Her remains were to brought back to Jacksonville for burial in Diamond Grove Cemetery.

Sources:
Jacksonville Daily Journal, June 8, 1893
Jacksonville Daily Journal, July 19, 1927
Jacksonville Courier, (article "The Way We Were, by Greg Olson) published Dec. 22, 2003 and December 18, 2017.
Diamond Grove Cemetery records (lists 80 years old) buried on August 27, 1927

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 26 2023, 14:30:31 UTC

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• https://www.sciencesource.com/1843955-frances-hook-american-cross-d...