Hansell Elizabeth Bland (1907-1909)

SEE "Timeline" for chronological order of life events including any photos and documents as available; SEE "Media" for any documents and photos included from "Timeline" as available.

MEMORIAL: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=74358227

Hansell Elizabeth Bland was born on August 7, 1907, a daughter of Aden B. and Margaret "Maggie" Jane (Jones) Bland in Georgia. She would be the sister of Anna Mae "Ann" (Bland) Donaldson Mitchell (1911-1982); Earl Bland (1914-1943) and Ernestine "Kitty" (Bland) Bennett Coxe (1914-2005).

In 1907, Hansell, her parents and her mother's sister, Annie, were all living at 416 Montgomery St., Savannah, GA. In 1909, they moved again next door to 418 Montgomery St.

On Friday, June 18, 1909, little Hansell, almost age 2, reached up and got a bottle of carbolic acid from a table while her mother was absent from the room. She drank some of the deadly poison, and her throat, stomach, mouth and chin were severely burned. Physicians were called and relieved the child with antidotes. Later in the day, she was able to talk. It was then thought she was recovering and the chances for living were very good, as her parents entertained some hope for her recovery. However, early the next morning on Saturday, June 19, 1909, she took a turn for the worse and died at 5 a.m.

Later that day preparation was made for burial by Undertakers Fox & Weeks and brought to Brooklet, Bulloch County, GA on Saturday night at the home of her grandfather, James Bland. The funeral was on Sunday, June 20, 1909. Burial was at Corinth-Leefield Cemetery near Brooklet in Bulloch County, GA

Niece, Betty Bennett Semple, remembered that she died from accidental ingestion of boric acid.

References: Savannah Evening Press, Saturday, June 19, 1909, Bland Family Record documents from Earl Mitchell

Note: Biography Overview arranged by family researcher Jim Semple, Jr., subject to additions and corrections.