My Dear Sirs,December 21, 1967
I got this 108 year old advertisement from one of myfriends here in Ruethen -- his name is Franz (Josef)Henke from Ettingerhof -- a short while back and I have photocopied it and sent it along.
According to our Family tree, Friedrich Helle, then proprietor of the Macomb Bakery was born 21 June 1835. That would make him about 25 years old when he established his business. But then our family tree knows nothing more of him. This family tree is well known here in Ruethen and many relatives here in Ruethen, in Germany and elsewhere have a copy of it. It traces the name of Helle (which for the first nine generations was "in der Helle") back to the year 1485. Since sixty percent of the descendants have stayed in the baking business, they have kept the pretzel in the family coat of arms. This particular Friedrich Helle was a grandson of the brother of my great-grandfather.Gentlemen, my request to you is this; to have you find out whether this Friedrich Helle ever married in Macomb and whether any of his descendants live there. You see, I want to finish this family tree.
One more thing, if there happens to be any descendants around Macomb, could they by any chance be connected to the Helle Family which moved to Dyersville, Iowa.. .?
I certainly do owe you my everlasting thanks for a courteous reply to this request, gentlemen. And also I should take this opportunity to wish you the very best in 1968. With kindest regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Fritz Helle
Thus, Fritz Helle of Ruethen, West Germany, "found" his cousin, Friedrichi Helle (1835-1907) of Fulton County, Illinois
I got this 108 year old advertisement from one of myfriends here in Ruethen -- his name is Franz (Josef)Henke from Ettingerhof -- a short while back and I have photocopied it and sent it along.
According to our Family tree, Friedrich Helle, then proprietor of the Macomb Bakery was born 21 June 1835. That would make him about 25 years old when he established his business. But then our family tree knows nothing more of him. This family tree is well known here in Ruethen and many relatives here in Ruethen, in Germany and elsewhere have a copy of it. It traces the name of Helle (which for the first nine generations was "in der Helle") back to the year 1485. Since sixty percent of the descendants have stayed in the baking business, they have kept the pretzel in the family coat of arms. This particular Friedrich Helle was a grandson of the brother of my great-grandfather.Gentlemen, my request to you is this; to have you find out whether this Friedrich Helle ever married in Macomb and whether any of his descendants live there. You see, I want to finish this family tree.
One more thing, if there happens to be any descendants around Macomb, could they by any chance be connected to the Helle Family which moved to Dyersville, Iowa.. .?
I certainly do owe you my everlasting thanks for a courteous reply to this request, gentlemen. And also I should take this opportunity to wish you the very best in 1968. With kindest regards, I remain
Sincerely yours,
[signed] Fritz Helle
Thus, Fritz Helle of Ruethen, West Germany, "found" his cousin, Friedrichi Helle (1835-1907) of Fulton County, Illinois
The life story and children of JOHANN THEODOR (DIETRICH) in der HELLE (1721-?) and of JOHANN JODOCUS HELLE, called KUCKETAU (1753-1811), are detailed later.
The narration below begins with Frederick's grandfather.
XI.JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM "FRITZ" HELLE, called VOLLMER
(Brother of JOSEPH ADAM HELLE)
b.Ruethen; 26 Oct. 1786
d.Ruethen; 14 Sept. 1840
m.Ruethen; 24 Nov. 1811 ANNA KATHARINA ELISABETH HILSMANN; b.Ruethen; 25 Oct. 1781; d.Ruethen; 23 June 1865
JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM "FRITZ" HELLE, called VOLLMER, owned and managed an inn. He was a distiller and also a mill lease holder in Ruethen. He lived in House Number 53; later Number 91.
The children were:
1. ELISABETH BERNHARDINE "LISETTE" HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 May 1812
d.Ruethen; 8 Mar. 1871
2. THERESE WILHELMINA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 Dec. 1813
d.Ruethen; 10 Mar. 1814
3. HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER
b.Ruethen; 11 Dec. 1814
d.Ruethen; 6 Apr. 1852
4. ELISABETH MARIA ANNA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 17 June 1816
d.Ruethen; 2 Nov. 1818
5. EWALD JOSEPH FERDINAND HELLE
b.Ruethen; 27 Aug. 1818
d.Ruethen; 27 Jan. 1820
6. BERNHARDINE DOROTHEA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 July 1820
d.Ruethen; 19 Dec. 1834
7. PAUL HELLE (Stillborn)
b.Ruethen; 12 Apr. 1822
XII. HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER
b.Ruethen; 11 Dec. 1814
d.Ruethen; 6 Apr. 1852
m.Ruethen; 10 Aug. 1833 MARIA BRIGITTE HENKE; b.Ettinger Hof; 7 Mar. 1810; d.Ruethen; 8 Mar. 1860
HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER, was a baker and owned and managed an inn in Ruethen. The family lived in House Number 91. He married MARIA BRIGITITE HENKE from Ettinger Hof near Ruethen. The HENKE FAMILY has been established at Ettinger Hof since the late seventeenth century and on the maternal line -- Roeper --since the early sixteenth century.
The children of Anton and Brigitte were:
1. ANNA MARTHA BERNHARDINA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 20 Nov. 1833
d.Ruethen; 23 Mar. 1850
2. FRIEDRICH "FRITZ" HELLE (FREDERICK "FRED" HELLE)
b.Ruethen; 21 June 1835
d.Smithfield, IL, U. S. A. ; 28 Mar. 1907
3. FRANZ ANTON HELLE
b.Ruethen; 28 Feb. 1837
d.Nuttlar:1863
4. KATHARINA ELISABETH GERTRUD "LISETTE" HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 May 1839
d.Ruethen; 25 Sept. 1848
5. MARIA FRANZISKA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 13 Dec. 1841
d.Mellrich; 17 Nov. 1896
6. CHRISTINE HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 Oct. 1844
d.Unknown
7. WILHELMINA THERESE HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 Apr. 1847
d.Unknown
HENRICH ANTON HELLE died before he was 38. At least two children preceded him in death; Christine and Wilbelmina probably also died in infancy or childhood so may have died before 1852. Now widowed, Brigette had three children under 17. Frederick was not considered old enough to take over the family business. He had learned the baker's skills from his father, however, and those skills as well as managing an inn-tavern were to be useful to him in his adult life.
Frederick immigrated to the United States in 1857. His mother died three years later at age 50 and his only brother, FRANZ ANTON, died in 1863 at age 26. Apparently the only other sibling to survive to adulthood, MARIA FRANZISKA, married CASPAR WREDE, called SCHREWE, a farmhand in Mellrich. There is no notation on the scroll of children of this marriage. However, recently discovered letters to a granddaughter of Frederick, Alta Helle Fouts, have been translated.
The life story and children of JOHANN THEODOR (DIETRICH) in der HELLE (1721-?) and of JOHANN JODOCUS HELLE, called KUCKETAU (1753-1811), are detailed later.
The narration below begins with Frederick's grandfather.
XI.JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM "FRITZ" HELLE, called VOLLMER
(Brother of JOSEPH ADAM HELLE)
b.Ruethen; 26 Oct. 1786
d.Ruethen; 14 Sept. 1840
m.Ruethen; 24 Nov. 1811 ANNA KATHARINA ELISABETH HILSMANN; b.Ruethen; 25 Oct. 1781; d.Ruethen; 23 June 1865
JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM "FRITZ" HELLE, called VOLLMER, owned and managed an inn. He was a distiller and also a mill lease holder in Ruethen. He lived in House Number 53; later Number 91.
The children were:
1. ELISABETH BERNHARDINE "LISETTE" HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 May 1812
d.Ruethen; 8 Mar. 1871
2. THERESE WILHELMINA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 Dec. 1813
d.Ruethen; 10 Mar. 1814
3. HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER
b.Ruethen; 11 Dec. 1814
d.Ruethen; 6 Apr. 1852
4. ELISABETH MARIA ANNA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 17 June 1816
d.Ruethen; 2 Nov. 1818
5. EWALD JOSEPH FERDINAND HELLE
b.Ruethen; 27 Aug. 1818
d.Ruethen; 27 Jan. 1820
6. BERNHARDINE DOROTHEA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 July 1820
d.Ruethen; 19 Dec. 1834
7. PAUL HELLE (Stillborn)
b.Ruethen; 12 Apr. 1822
XII. HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER
b.Ruethen; 11 Dec. 1814
d.Ruethen; 6 Apr. 1852
m.Ruethen; 10 Aug. 1833 MARIA BRIGITTE HENKE; b.Ettinger Hof; 7 Mar. 1810; d.Ruethen; 8 Mar. 1860
HENRICH ANTON HELLE, called VOLLMER, was a baker and owned and managed an inn in Ruethen. The family lived in House Number 91. He married MARIA BRIGITITE HENKE from Ettinger Hof near Ruethen. The HENKE FAMILY has been established at Ettinger Hof since the late seventeenth century and on the maternal line -- Roeper --since the early sixteenth century.
The children of Anton and Brigitte were:
1. ANNA MARTHA BERNHARDINA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 20 Nov. 1833
d.Ruethen; 23 Mar. 1850
2. FRIEDRICH "FRITZ" HELLE (FREDERICK "FRED" HELLE)
b.Ruethen; 21 June 1835
d.Smithfield, IL, U. S. A. ; 28 Mar. 1907
3. FRANZ ANTON HELLE
b.Ruethen; 28 Feb. 1837
d.Nuttlar:1863
4. KATHARINA ELISABETH GERTRUD "LISETTE" HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 May 1839
d.Ruethen; 25 Sept. 1848
5. MARIA FRANZISKA HELLE
b.Ruethen; 13 Dec. 1841
d.Mellrich; 17 Nov. 1896
6. CHRISTINE HELLE
b.Ruethen; 15 Oct. 1844
d.Unknown
7. WILHELMINA THERESE HELLE
b.Ruethen; 4 Apr. 1847
d.Unknown
HENRICH ANTON HELLE died before he was 38. At least two children preceded him in death; Christine and Wilbelmina probably also died in infancy or childhood so may have died before 1852. Now widowed, Brigette had three children under 17. Frederick was not considered old enough to take over the family business. He had learned the baker's skills from his father, however, and those skills as well as managing an inn-tavern were to be useful to him in his adult life.
Frederick immigrated to the United States in 1857. His mother died three years later at age 50 and his only brother, FRANZ ANTON, died in 1863 at age 26. Apparently the only other sibling to survive to adulthood, MARIA FRANZISKA, married CASPAR WREDE, called SCHREWE, a farmhand in Mellrich. There is no notation on the scroll of children of this marriage. However, recently discovered letters to a granddaughter of Frederick, Alta Helle Fouts, have been translated.
Ettingerhof and the Henke Family
Maria Brigitta HENKE,, mother Frederick Helle, was born at Ettingerhof, a large farm a few miles east of Ruethen. (See the map on page 17.) While in Ruethen in 1983, we visited Ettingerhof and met the present owner, Franz Josef Henke and his wife, Helga, his sister Lieselotte Henke and his daughter and her husband, Margret (Henke) and Theodor Untiedt. The history of and farming information about Ettingerhof, biographies and photos which follow were researched and provided by Lieselotte Henke.
In October, 1984, Franz Josef retired from the day-to-day farming operation, continuing with only the bookkeeping. Since then he has dedicated his extra time and interests to the family history. He found that all the old church files from all the parishes of the area from before 1900 are centrally located at a diocese library in Paderbom. The records are in Latin, a language Franz Josef knows well. In addition, he researched in the governmental archives. As a result, we are privileged to include herein eleven generations of Maria Bngitta's paternal line -- Roeper - Henke; and four generations of her maternal line -- Mettner. I greatly appreciate these contributions from Franz Josef and Lieselotte to our family history.
History of Ettingerhof
The Ettingerhof was owned by the Count of Arnsberg. In 1281-1313 Count Ludwig gave the Ettingerhof as a fief to the Knight Gerhard von Ruden and his son. It is likely that Gerhard gave the Ettingerhof to the Nicolai - Church. Later on it was given as a fief to the Nobleman von Luedinghausen, followed by the Nobleman von der Horst and then the Nobleman von Droste.
History of the Henke Family
The Roeper Family became owner of the Ettingerhof from approximately 1500 onwards up to 1690 when their daughter, Anna Catharina Roeper, married Johann Henke from Jagershof in Robringhausen. As far as could be seen in handwritten documents the generations and names were as follows:
1512 - Johann Roeper
1575 - Johann Roeper
1622 - Stoffel Roeper
1643 - Donatus Roeper
1644 - Hermann Roeper; cousin of Donatus
1660 - Tonius Roeper
1683 - Anna Catharina Roeper~ married Johannes Henke
The Farming Operation on Ettingerhof
The area belonging to Ettingerhof consists of approximately 220 hectar -- 550 acres. There are about 190 acres of forests and the rest is farm land and pastures.
Barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn for cattle, rape, grass for hay and other fodder crops for ensilage are the crops raised on Ettingerhof.
Each year fifty to sixty bull calves are bought at about one week old and raised to be sold on the market for butchering. The same applies to pigs; 100 to 150 are bought when about four weeks old. Five horses are kept on the farm for breeding and riding purposes.
The forests near the farm buildings are mostly oaks and beech. There are also a scattering of poplars, aspens and chestnut trees. The main forested areas are covered by spruces and also firs which are sold for fences and for industrial use.
Henke Line of Descent from
Johann Christoph and Anna Maria Mettner
JOHANN CHRISTOPH HENKE
b.Ettingerhof~ 18 Feb. 1767
d.Ettingerhof~ 28 Jan. 1815
m.Mieste; 14 Aug. 1800 ANNA MARIA MET[NER; b.Norddorf; 14 Dec. 1779; d.Ettingerhof; 16 Aug. 1867
They had seven children:
CATHARINA GERTRUDIS HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 3 Nov. 1801
d.Unknown
ANNA MARIA CATHARINA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 15 Jan. 1804
d.Unknown
FRIEDERICUS LAURENT.
b. Ettingerhof; 29 Nov. 1806
c. d. 7 Nov. 1882
CONRADUS LAURENT HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 30 June 1808
d.circa 1830
MARIA BRIG~FI7A HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 7 Mar. 1810
d.Ruethen; 8 Mar. 1860
ANNA ELISABETHA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 7 Mar. 1810
d.Unknown
ANNA MARIA ANGELA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 10 Nov. 1813
d. Unknown
FRIEDERICUS "FRIEDRICIH" LAURENT. HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 29 Jan. 1806
d.Ettingerhof; 7 Nov. 1882
m.1st - Meiste; 22 June 1837 JOSEPHINE SCHLUTER; b.Berge; d.Ettingerhof; 2 Dec. 1838
m.2nd-1842 FRANZISKA KERSTING; b.Unknown; d.Unknown
Friedrich and Josephine were the parents of twins:
FRIEDRICH HENKE
b.Ettingerhof 9 Nov. 1838
d.Ettingerhof, 10 Mar. 1898
MARIA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 9 Nov. 1838
d. Unknown
Friedrich and Franziska were the parents of:
FRANZ HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 25 Sep. 1843
d. Unknown
FRANZISKA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof, 24 Nov. 1845
d. Unknown
WILHELMINA HENKE
b.Eningerhof, 26 Apr. 1848
d. Unknown
ELISABETH HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 24 Sep. 1850
d. Unknown
BERNARDINA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 3 Dec. 1852
d. Unknown
CASPAR HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 28 Dec. 1854
d. Unknown
HELENA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof, 22 Jan. 1857
d. Unknown
FRIEDRICH HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 9 Nov. 1838
d.Ettingerhof; 10 Mar. 1898
m.Meiste; 3 Aug. 1876 LOUISE NACKE; b.Wewelsburg; 18 May 1851; d.Ettingerhof; 16 July 1932
Friedrich and Louise were Roman Catholic and members of the parish at Meiste. They are buried at Meiste.
Their children were:
FRIEDRICH HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 13 Aug. 1877
d.Unknown
FRANZ HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 19 Oct. 1879
d.Ettingerhof; 15 Nov. 1936
ANTON HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 7 Oct. 1881
d. Unknown
MARIA HENKE
b.Ettingerhof;
d. Unknown
BERNARDINE HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 13 Aug. 1887
d. Unknown
JOSEF HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 9 July 1889
d. Unknown
PAUL HENKE
b. Ettingerhof; 30 June 1917
HERIBERT HENKE
b.Ettingerhof; 12 Mar. 1919
RUDOLF HENKE
b. Ettingerhof; 27 Aug. 1921
FRIEDRICH HENKE
b. Ettingerhof; 5 Mar. 1923
LIESELOTITE HENKE
b. Ettingerhof; 6 June 1924
WERNER HENKE
b.Ruethen; 20 Dec. 1927
FRANZ JOSEF HENKE
b.Ettingerhof, 4 July 1915
m.Meiste; 20 Sep. 1950 HELGA FALKE, daughter of Josef and Helene (Geiecke) Falke; b.Krefeld; 7 June 1927
FRANZ JOSEF HENKE was the oldest son. He had his classical education at the secondary school (Gymnasium) of Brilon and graduated in 1933. After some time of training in agriculture, he has run the farming operation on Ettingerhof since his father's death in 1936. In 1941 (World War II) he was called to the Army (Anti-Aircraft) and came home again when the war was over in 1945. In 1950 he married HELGA FALKE from the Altenhof -- a farm near Fredeburg.
They are the parents of four daughters:
ANNE HENKE
b.Paderbom; June 1951
d.1982
SIGRID HENKE
b.Paderborn; Aug. 1952
MARGRET HENKE
b. Paderborn July 1955
HELGA HENKE
b.Paderborn; Jan. 1957
****
MARGRET HENKE
b.Paderborn; July 1955
m.Ruethen; Aug. 1981 THEODOR UNTIEDT, son of Theodor and Gertrud (Buescher) Untiedt; b.Ahlen; Nov. 1955
MARGRET HENKE decided to be educated for taking over Ettingerhof from her father when grown up. She had her education at secondary school in Bueren, and after that attended agricultural classes in Soest, had practical training and gathered experience at different places besides home. She married THEODOR UNTIEDT in 1981, a farmer who himself will inherit a farm in Ahlen which up to now is still managed by his father in close cooperation with him.
They have one son:
FRIEDRICH UNTIEDT
b.Lippstadt; Mar. 1982
13th Generation:
Frederick Helle
FREDERICK HELLE was born in Ruethen in the Kingdom of Westphalia; a kingdom greatly influenced by Napoleon and the French occupation. For example, in his personal account, which appears later in this chapter, Frederick used the French term "Gendarmes" instead of "die polizei." The spirit of independence found in the citizens of cities of the former Hanseatic League still prevailed. The iridustrial Revolution had swept across Europe by the time of Frederick's birth in 1835, bringing rapid changes to the structured way of life which had prevailed for centuries. The sporadic Revolution of 1848, although a failure, opened the door to political ideas heretofore unknown. Citizens were briefly exposed to ideals of freedom and, more importantly, unity.
During the months of 1848 the middle classes recognized the need for better administration. Prussia developed an excellent administrative system but at the same time required strict obedience by the population. As a young adult, Frederick participated in some meetings of thedemocrats who "were considered dangerous subversives of society by both the conservatives andthe liberals." The democrats wanted immediate and radical reform, the liberals wanted cautious constitutionalism and the conservatives -- nobility and aristocrats -- wanted no changes. The conservatives prevailed at this time.
Frederick was born into well respected upper middle class families but the untimely death of his father in 1852 would have changed the family's economic base. The bakery and inn were given to a leaseholder by Frederick's mother. Five years later, in 1857, Frederick left the town of his birth forever and immigrated to the United States of America.
The story of his life as Frederick told it to James K. P. White, the Prairie Rambler, follows.
A RAMBLER'S NOTES
Recopied from the Canton Weekly Register, Canton, Illinois, Thursday, May 12, 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Helle, Sr., of Cass township, whose portraits are shown herewith, are early pioneers of Illinois, coming to the state about 50 years ago. They belong to that class of German - American citizens of whom we have reason to be proud, on account of the example they present of industry and good citizenship.
This happy couple, although living alone -- their children, with one exception, being married and settled in homes of their own -- find much to enjoy in life. One of their greatest pleasures is to converse with an interested listener regarding their early life in Germany and their voyage across the water to America.
The wild tract of land on which they settled when they first came to Cass township was heavily timbered, but they have cleared it all off and now have a well-improved farm and one of the most elegant and comfortable homes in Central Fulton.
Mr. Helle was reared and educated in Germany, being 22 years of age when he left the "Fatherland" and sailed for the new world. He was born in Westphalia, Prussia, in June, 1835, and is of German parentage both on his father's and on his mother's side.
When he reached his majority he began to make arrangements to come to America, but the government interfered and the authorities tried to force him to enter the army and serve the four years required of every able - bodied citizen of the German empire. In a conversation relative to the matter he finally said: "If I want to go to America, the king of Prussia and all his army can not stop me." This was considered a direct insult to his majesty, the king, and his army, and disrespect for the government.
"The gendarmes were sent to arrest me," said Mr. Helle, "and I determined to flee to America. In fact, I was arrested three different times, but with the assistance of a friend, Frederick Bush, the government emigration agent, I eluded the police and was hidden away among some boxes, and was soon on my way to a country where the freedom of speech is not prohibited by law.
"The incidents of the voyage from Germany to New Orleans are well remembered, for several attempts were made to arrest me while on shipboard. Had they succeeded in getting me I would have had four years in a military prison.
"I landed in New Orleans in 1857, with about $90 in my pocket, and came from there to St. Louis, where I worked two months. I went to Chicago from St. Louis, and worked at the baker's trade for 10 months, and worked through harvest near Bloomington in 1858 for 50 cents a day. From Bloomington I went to Peoria and worked on a construction train on the Peoria and Oquawka railroad (now the C., B. & Q.) but did not get my pay. I finally sold my account of $31 for $3, and came to Canton in November, 1858, and secured a job in George Nagel's bakery at $8 a month.
"I worked for Mr. Nagel until May, 1859, when I went to Macomb, where, in company with Jacob Vogt, I opened a bakery and restaurant. Mr. Vogt is still living, on a farm south of Macomb.
"In 1860 I was married to Miss Catarina Krauser, of Macomb. In 1863 I sold my interest in business at Macomb and went to Chicago and opened a saloon on Milwaukee Avenue. I ran the saloon five months and sold out and went into government employ, baking 'hard tack' for the army and navy. My bakery was on Canal Street.
"On Dec. 31, 1863, I was sent to Louisville, Ky. We were snowbound four days at Michigan City, Ind., on the trip, but I reached my destination finally and was put in charge of a government bakery and vinegar works at $100 a month. My wife joined me at Louisville and we lived there until the close of the war, 1865, when we came north and settled in Bushnell, where I again went into the saloon business, which I followed until 1867, when I sold my saloon stock and fixtures and worked by the day until 1869.
'I traded my Bushnell property for this 80 acres of land, on which the buildings stand, and we moved on it. The land was covered with timber, but we -- myself and my wife -- cleared and improved it and erected a small house for the shelter of ourselves and children. The country even then was new and not very thickly settled.
"I got $1000 from the old country, we saved up the money that we earned, and were soon able to buy more land, subdue it from its primitive wildness, erect better buildings, build good substantial fences, and make for ourselves and family comfortable home.
"Since my wife and I united our lives and fortunes she has been a great help to me in all my different enterprises, and since we moved on the farm she had done her share of outdoor work and in helping clear it. She can handle an ax as well as some men, or better. I had a strapping big fellow helping me clear up a piece of land, a few years after we moved on the farm, and he and my wife were chopping off the larger timber. One day, while chopping down a big oak tree, some three feet in diameter, my wife finished her side of the tree and stepped around to see how long it would take my hired man to finish his. When he noticed this he stopped chopping, shouldered his ax and said: 'You are the first person I ever found who could beat me chopping, and you are a woman. I'll never stick another ax into a tree again.' And he didn't. He went home and never did another day's work in the timber to the day of his death, some 15 or 20 years afterward. She comes of good old German stock and is a representative of a very old German family. She has faithfully shared in my labors, has aided me in the upbuilding of our home, and like me preserves a pretty healthy body and cheerful disposition, though we have both long since passed the meridian of life.
"Both game and fish were abundant when we came to this place and rattlesnakes were very numerous. We thought nothing of killing two or three rattlers each day when we were out clearing. The last deer that was killed in Cass township was shot by George Campbell, over there where my orchard stands. A few months later George Bevard killed its mate in Bemadotte township. This was, I think, in 1868 or 1869 There were some wolves and other large animals in the heavy' timber along Spoon River for several years after we came to the township.
"We are the parents of 13 children, four boys and nine girls, 11 of whom are living. In rearing and caring for this large family we have been compelled to endure many hardships and privations. But we entered upon the hard task before us bravely and with a sturdy determination to conquer all obstacles, and we have succeeded fairly well, at least. Those of my children who are living are all married, save one, and have homes of their own.
"I have a fair education, and some knowledge which can only be gained by personal efforts, traveland contact with humankind. I was early thrown upon my own resources and began the battle of life single handed and alone, have evolved a productive farm from the wildness, and here on the bluffs of Spoon river, Put creek and the Laswell branch, I guess the old woman and myself will pass the remainder of our lives. Our early labors have been fairly well rewarded, and if we have not a handsome competency we have enough to keep is. We have tried to make our course in life as father, mother, neighbors and citizens creditable to ourselves and have tried to win and merit the esteem of all around us. We believe we have partially succeeded and we are happy and contented."
Mrs. Catarina Helle's girlhood was spent in Germany, but she has been a resident of Illinois for half a century and has witnessed much of the growth and development of central Illinois.
"When we first came to the country," she said, "we were obliged to live in the most primitive manner and to do our cooking by the fireplace, as we had no stove. Deer then were quite plentiful and could oftentimes be seen crossing the fields or prairies.
"Yes, I entered upon the pioneer task of helping my husband fell the forest trees and prepare the land for cultivation, and in due time we had a fine farm. We have planted fruit trees, shrubbery and flowers, and in other ways adorned our home, and hope to spend the last years of our lives here surrounded by some of the comforts for which we have worked o hard. We have reared 11 children to good and useful lives and ought to be contented and happy. The upright and useful yes of these sons and daughters, we believe, reflect some credit upon the parents to whom they owe so much for loving are and good counsel.
"The scenes of my earliest recollections are of the Fatherland and the beautiful blue Rhine, and both my husband and myself were reared under the tenets of the Catholic church. here is a silver crucifix that has been in the Krauser family over 200 years. It is a family heirloom that we prize very highly and it will be handed down to our children and children's children.
"I have worked faithfully, both in the house and out on the farm, and my occupations were sometimes numerous and varied. I have raised flax, pulled it and spun and woven both it and wool into cloth. Prosperity gradually came to us, although it seemed slow in those days of ceaseless toil.
"That geranium there was grown from a slip cut from a plant near Lincoln's tomb, at Springfield. This old German prayer book is many years older than I am, but will be kept in the family as long as I live, and at my death will be given to the oldest child living.
"I have lived in towns, cities and villages, but I like farm life best of all. My husband and myself have lived to see a prosperous and flourishing community of people where, it seems only a few years ago, we found almost a wilderness. We have grown with the growth of Central Fulton and Cass township, and trust we have been, to some extent, factors in the great work that has resulted in making this one of the richest farming countries on the globe."
Mr. and Mrs. Helle are deservedly held in high estimation by the entire community in which they live, for their kind manners, warm hearts and many generous deeds. They have gained the friendship and affection of their neighbors, who feel that they can look to them for help in times of trouble and suffering. Universally admired for their boundless hospitality, and greatly esteemed by all who know them, they are slowly and contentedly journeying down the declivity of life, sharing each other's joys and sorrows and helping to bear each other's burdens.
Mr. Helle is endowed with great strength of character and has independent opinions of his own that give him influence in the community in which he has lived for so many years. He is a self-made man with a cool head, sound commonsense and good business tact, and when he and his wife began life together they started with nothing but the bare necessities and none of the comforts of home. Now they have a fine farm and a pleasant home, replete with every comfort that one could desire.
Mr. Helle's first vote in this country was cast for Lincoln in 1860, but now in politics he is a conservative Democrat, of the Jeffersonian type, and sturdily advocates the principles of his party. He still reads a great deal and takes as much interest in public matters as he did in his younger days.
Katharine Krauser Helle and Frederick Helle circa 1900
note; very strong family resemblance to Donald Lee Helle 15 generation ( grandson to Frederick)
Frederick Helle
FREDERICK HELLE was born in Ruethen in the Kingdom of Westphalia; a kingdom greatly influenced by Napoleon and the French occupation. For example, in his personal account, which appears later in this chapter, Frederick used the French term "Gendarmes" instead of "die polizei." The spirit of independence found in the citizens of cities of the former Hanseatic League still prevailed. The iridustrial Revolution had swept across Europe by the time of Frederick's birth in 1835, bringing rapid changes to the structured way of life which had prevailed for centuries. The sporadic Revolution of 1848, although a failure, opened the door to political ideas heretofore unknown. Citizens were briefly exposed to ideals of freedom and, more importantly, unity.
During the months of 1848 the middle classes recognized the need for better administration. Prussia developed an excellent administrative system but at the same time required strict obedience by the population. As a young adult, Frederick participated in some meetings of thedemocrats who "were considered dangerous subversives of society by both the conservatives andthe liberals." The democrats wanted immediate and radical reform, the liberals wanted cautious constitutionalism and the conservatives -- nobility and aristocrats -- wanted no changes. The conservatives prevailed at this time.
Frederick was born into well respected upper middle class families but the untimely death of his father in 1852 would have changed the family's economic base. The bakery and inn were given to a leaseholder by Frederick's mother. Five years later, in 1857, Frederick left the town of his birth forever and immigrated to the United States of America.
The story of his life as Frederick told it to James K. P. White, the Prairie Rambler, follows.
A RAMBLER'S NOTES
Recopied from the Canton Weekly Register, Canton, Illinois, Thursday, May 12, 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Helle, Sr., of Cass township, whose portraits are shown herewith, are early pioneers of Illinois, coming to the state about 50 years ago. They belong to that class of German - American citizens of whom we have reason to be proud, on account of the example they present of industry and good citizenship.
This happy couple, although living alone -- their children, with one exception, being married and settled in homes of their own -- find much to enjoy in life. One of their greatest pleasures is to converse with an interested listener regarding their early life in Germany and their voyage across the water to America.
The wild tract of land on which they settled when they first came to Cass township was heavily timbered, but they have cleared it all off and now have a well-improved farm and one of the most elegant and comfortable homes in Central Fulton.
Mr. Helle was reared and educated in Germany, being 22 years of age when he left the "Fatherland" and sailed for the new world. He was born in Westphalia, Prussia, in June, 1835, and is of German parentage both on his father's and on his mother's side.
When he reached his majority he began to make arrangements to come to America, but the government interfered and the authorities tried to force him to enter the army and serve the four years required of every able - bodied citizen of the German empire. In a conversation relative to the matter he finally said: "If I want to go to America, the king of Prussia and all his army can not stop me." This was considered a direct insult to his majesty, the king, and his army, and disrespect for the government.
"The gendarmes were sent to arrest me," said Mr. Helle, "and I determined to flee to America. In fact, I was arrested three different times, but with the assistance of a friend, Frederick Bush, the government emigration agent, I eluded the police and was hidden away among some boxes, and was soon on my way to a country where the freedom of speech is not prohibited by law.
"The incidents of the voyage from Germany to New Orleans are well remembered, for several attempts were made to arrest me while on shipboard. Had they succeeded in getting me I would have had four years in a military prison.
"I landed in New Orleans in 1857, with about $90 in my pocket, and came from there to St. Louis, where I worked two months. I went to Chicago from St. Louis, and worked at the baker's trade for 10 months, and worked through harvest near Bloomington in 1858 for 50 cents a day. From Bloomington I went to Peoria and worked on a construction train on the Peoria and Oquawka railroad (now the C., B. & Q.) but did not get my pay. I finally sold my account of $31 for $3, and came to Canton in November, 1858, and secured a job in George Nagel's bakery at $8 a month.
"I worked for Mr. Nagel until May, 1859, when I went to Macomb, where, in company with Jacob Vogt, I opened a bakery and restaurant. Mr. Vogt is still living, on a farm south of Macomb.
"In 1860 I was married to Miss Catarina Krauser, of Macomb. In 1863 I sold my interest in business at Macomb and went to Chicago and opened a saloon on Milwaukee Avenue. I ran the saloon five months and sold out and went into government employ, baking 'hard tack' for the army and navy. My bakery was on Canal Street.
"On Dec. 31, 1863, I was sent to Louisville, Ky. We were snowbound four days at Michigan City, Ind., on the trip, but I reached my destination finally and was put in charge of a government bakery and vinegar works at $100 a month. My wife joined me at Louisville and we lived there until the close of the war, 1865, when we came north and settled in Bushnell, where I again went into the saloon business, which I followed until 1867, when I sold my saloon stock and fixtures and worked by the day until 1869.
'I traded my Bushnell property for this 80 acres of land, on which the buildings stand, and we moved on it. The land was covered with timber, but we -- myself and my wife -- cleared and improved it and erected a small house for the shelter of ourselves and children. The country even then was new and not very thickly settled.
"I got $1000 from the old country, we saved up the money that we earned, and were soon able to buy more land, subdue it from its primitive wildness, erect better buildings, build good substantial fences, and make for ourselves and family comfortable home.
"Since my wife and I united our lives and fortunes she has been a great help to me in all my different enterprises, and since we moved on the farm she had done her share of outdoor work and in helping clear it. She can handle an ax as well as some men, or better. I had a strapping big fellow helping me clear up a piece of land, a few years after we moved on the farm, and he and my wife were chopping off the larger timber. One day, while chopping down a big oak tree, some three feet in diameter, my wife finished her side of the tree and stepped around to see how long it would take my hired man to finish his. When he noticed this he stopped chopping, shouldered his ax and said: 'You are the first person I ever found who could beat me chopping, and you are a woman. I'll never stick another ax into a tree again.' And he didn't. He went home and never did another day's work in the timber to the day of his death, some 15 or 20 years afterward. She comes of good old German stock and is a representative of a very old German family. She has faithfully shared in my labors, has aided me in the upbuilding of our home, and like me preserves a pretty healthy body and cheerful disposition, though we have both long since passed the meridian of life.
"Both game and fish were abundant when we came to this place and rattlesnakes were very numerous. We thought nothing of killing two or three rattlers each day when we were out clearing. The last deer that was killed in Cass township was shot by George Campbell, over there where my orchard stands. A few months later George Bevard killed its mate in Bemadotte township. This was, I think, in 1868 or 1869 There were some wolves and other large animals in the heavy' timber along Spoon River for several years after we came to the township.
"We are the parents of 13 children, four boys and nine girls, 11 of whom are living. In rearing and caring for this large family we have been compelled to endure many hardships and privations. But we entered upon the hard task before us bravely and with a sturdy determination to conquer all obstacles, and we have succeeded fairly well, at least. Those of my children who are living are all married, save one, and have homes of their own.
"I have a fair education, and some knowledge which can only be gained by personal efforts, traveland contact with humankind. I was early thrown upon my own resources and began the battle of life single handed and alone, have evolved a productive farm from the wildness, and here on the bluffs of Spoon river, Put creek and the Laswell branch, I guess the old woman and myself will pass the remainder of our lives. Our early labors have been fairly well rewarded, and if we have not a handsome competency we have enough to keep is. We have tried to make our course in life as father, mother, neighbors and citizens creditable to ourselves and have tried to win and merit the esteem of all around us. We believe we have partially succeeded and we are happy and contented."
Mrs. Catarina Helle's girlhood was spent in Germany, but she has been a resident of Illinois for half a century and has witnessed much of the growth and development of central Illinois.
"When we first came to the country," she said, "we were obliged to live in the most primitive manner and to do our cooking by the fireplace, as we had no stove. Deer then were quite plentiful and could oftentimes be seen crossing the fields or prairies.
"Yes, I entered upon the pioneer task of helping my husband fell the forest trees and prepare the land for cultivation, and in due time we had a fine farm. We have planted fruit trees, shrubbery and flowers, and in other ways adorned our home, and hope to spend the last years of our lives here surrounded by some of the comforts for which we have worked o hard. We have reared 11 children to good and useful lives and ought to be contented and happy. The upright and useful yes of these sons and daughters, we believe, reflect some credit upon the parents to whom they owe so much for loving are and good counsel.
"The scenes of my earliest recollections are of the Fatherland and the beautiful blue Rhine, and both my husband and myself were reared under the tenets of the Catholic church. here is a silver crucifix that has been in the Krauser family over 200 years. It is a family heirloom that we prize very highly and it will be handed down to our children and children's children.
"I have worked faithfully, both in the house and out on the farm, and my occupations were sometimes numerous and varied. I have raised flax, pulled it and spun and woven both it and wool into cloth. Prosperity gradually came to us, although it seemed slow in those days of ceaseless toil.
"That geranium there was grown from a slip cut from a plant near Lincoln's tomb, at Springfield. This old German prayer book is many years older than I am, but will be kept in the family as long as I live, and at my death will be given to the oldest child living.
"I have lived in towns, cities and villages, but I like farm life best of all. My husband and myself have lived to see a prosperous and flourishing community of people where, it seems only a few years ago, we found almost a wilderness. We have grown with the growth of Central Fulton and Cass township, and trust we have been, to some extent, factors in the great work that has resulted in making this one of the richest farming countries on the globe."
Mr. and Mrs. Helle are deservedly held in high estimation by the entire community in which they live, for their kind manners, warm hearts and many generous deeds. They have gained the friendship and affection of their neighbors, who feel that they can look to them for help in times of trouble and suffering. Universally admired for their boundless hospitality, and greatly esteemed by all who know them, they are slowly and contentedly journeying down the declivity of life, sharing each other's joys and sorrows and helping to bear each other's burdens.
Mr. Helle is endowed with great strength of character and has independent opinions of his own that give him influence in the community in which he has lived for so many years. He is a self-made man with a cool head, sound commonsense and good business tact, and when he and his wife began life together they started with nothing but the bare necessities and none of the comforts of home. Now they have a fine farm and a pleasant home, replete with every comfort that one could desire.
Mr. Helle's first vote in this country was cast for Lincoln in 1860, but now in politics he is a conservative Democrat, of the Jeffersonian type, and sturdily advocates the principles of his party. He still reads a great deal and takes as much interest in public matters as he did in his younger days.
Katharine Krauser Helle and Frederick Helle circa 1900
note; very strong family resemblance to Donald Lee Helle 15 generation ( grandson to Frederick)
Frederick Helle and Katharine Krauser were married 4 Sep. 1860 in Macomb, Illinois. On 21 August 1861 FRANZISKA LISABETH "LIZZIE" was born and on 8 November 1862 FEDERICK, JR. was born. In 1863 Frederick sold the bakry in Macomb and moved to Chicago where he opened and operated a saloon on Milwaukee Avenue for five months. He sold that saloon and entered government employ baking 'hard tack' for the Army and Navy in a bakery he had leased or bought on Canal Street.
Having resided in the United States for the required five years, Frederick was naturalized 2 November 1863. The Certificate of Naturalization reproduced was loaned by Berneice Helle Bordner.
Final Certificate of Naturalization
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State of Illinois, County of Cook:
Be it Remembered, That on this second day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-three in the SUPERIOR COURT OF CHICAGO, in the State of Illinois (the same being a Court of Record, having a Clerk and Seal), and of the November Term thereof for the year aforesaid,
Frederick Helle an alien, came into Court and applied to be admitted as a NATURALIZED CITIZEN of the United States, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said applicant has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, for and during the full term of five years last past, and one year and upwards immediately preceding the date hereof, in the State of Illinois, and that during said term of five years, he has sustained a good moral character, and appeared to be attached to the principles contained in the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order, well being and happiness of the same; and two years and upwards having elapsed since the said applicant filed the declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, according to the provisions of the several acts of Congress heretofore passed on that subject: and he having now here in open Court, taken and subscribed the oath required by those laws to support the Constitution of the United States, and to renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and more particularly all allegiance which he may in anywise owe to Frederick William King of Prussia whereof he was heretofore a subject:
It is therefore Ordered and Adjudged, by the Court, that the said Frederick Helle be, and he is hereby admitted to all and singular the rights, privileges and immunities of a NATURALIZED CITIZEN of the United States, and that it be certified to him accordingly, WHICH IS DONE BY THESE PRESENTS.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Chicago, in said County of Cook, this 2nd day of November A.D., 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty Eighth.
[signed] Thomas R. Carter
Clerk of the Superior Court of Chicago.
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On 31 December 1863 Frederick was ordered to Louisville, KY, where he was to oversee a government bakery and vinegar works. He was paid $100.00 a month. He settled his business affairs in Chicago and proceeded to Louisville, leaving Katharine in Chicago for the birth of the third child, KATHARINA HENRIETTA, born at the Canal Street address 7 March 1864. In June of that year Katharine and the three children set out upon the railway journey to join her husband in Louisville. Three-month-old Henrietta died enroute and was buried at Jeffersonville, IN, on 23 June 1864.
MARIA "MARY" KATHARJNA JOSEPHINA was born in Louisville 20 Oct. 1865. Shortly thereafter, the Civil War and Frederick's government employment now ended, the family returned to McDonough County and settled in Bushnell where Frederick again entered the saloon business.
MARTHA BERNADINA "DENA" was born there 7 June 1867 and MARIA THERESA "TRACY" on 25 March 1869.
"Spoon River Destiny" The Second Decade
On 20 November 1869 Frederick and Katharine paid $300.00 to and received from Jacob Mowery and Mary J. Mowery, his wife, 80 acres of land northwest of Smithfield; 10 the nucleus of what eventually became "home" to them and their growing family.
The rolling forested hills and valleys of Spoon River must have reminded both Frederick and Katharine of the land of their youth. Covered with virgin timber, the land had to be cleared by hand -- chopping down and burning the trees, digging and pulling the massive tree stumps out with only the aid of oxen and/or horses. Apparently Katharine was the "prime mover" in this endeavor.
The first five years on the farm brought them the births of three children --
CHRISTINA, 14 January 1871
ANTON "ANTHONY" JOSEPH, 5 Max 1872;
GEORGE ADAM, 17 October 1873
the death of one -- Christina, who died on the 6 October 1871 --, and three cabins, two of which burned.
Finally, on 5 August 1875, Frederick and Katharine borrowed $600.00 at ten percent annual interest from George Nagle and purchased ten acres of land from Oliver Miller. This land abutted the original 80 acres on the southwest corner and provided a good water supply for family and livestock. In the meantime, Frederick had also purchased a sawmill at Whites Ferry, so he had a readily available supply of lumber for building purposes.
They started building a large two-story frame house on the recently purchased ten acres. On 17 Jul'. 1876 KATHARINA "KATE" was born, and on 22 November 1878 BRIGITI'A BERTHA "BERT" was born. The family moved into the new house shortly thereafter and CAROLINA "CARRIE" MORETITA AMALIA was born there 13 October 1881.
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Heritage of Katharina Krauser
The fairy tale land of the Grimm Brothers, the Rhineland, was the ancestral home of the Krauser Family. Katharine was born 25 February 1839 in Mosbach, Hessen - Darmstadt.
The Black Forest, mountains, uplands and valleys provide a picturesque landscape. Over the centuries this hostile terrain isolated the people who descended from the Chatti. Other races made almost no impression upon the region.7 The people had "cautious minds of their own, loved custom and tradition, had a strong sense of justice." Mainly peasants and craftsmen, the many independent households were undisturbed by the industrial age until well into the nineteenth century.
As Katharine and her brothers matured, over population, unemployment of handicraftsmen and more and more restrictive legislation made the lure of immigration to America irresistible. After each son reached age sixteen, he soon left his fairy tale homeland where real life had become so harsh, and made his way to the United States of America to seek a better way of life.
"As Told by Clara Belle Ethel Helle Palmer
GEORGE ADAM KRAUSER
b. Unknown
d.Mosbach, Hessen-Darmstadt; after 1858
m. ELISABETH FURA; b. Unknown; d.Mosbach, Hessen-Darmstadt; circa 1849
GEORGE ADAM KRAUSER was a cabinet maker, as were many of his ancestors. When one ancestor was caught carving on a tree in the forbidden Black Forest, he explained he was carving a shrine for weary travelers on their way through the forest. The police remained with him until the shrine was completed.
ELISABETH (FURA) KRAUSER died of tuberculosis when Katharine was about ten years of age. Her aunts lived nearby and taught her the duties of a grown-up housewife. Katharine soon learned to care for her long braids of hair. She mastered tasks such as the baking of bread, making soap, weaving carpets and plucking the down from geese for feather beds and pillows. These geese had to be led out to the community grazing land, alongside the sheep which the villagers kept and which were herded by the young boys of the families. In late fall the geese were fattened by force-feeding them. The young girls would sit on the ground with the geese held between their legs and stuff com into the gullets of the geese. Roast goose was always the traditional Christmas dinner. The villagers pastured the ewes with the rams and when it was not desired that breeding take place, the ewes wore leather aprons over their rumps.
Soap could be made only when the weather was right. This was usually a dry windy day in March when the moon was in the dry phase for, if it were attempted with a wet moon, the soap stayed soft and never dried properly. The potatoes were always planted on Good Friday, even if snow covered the ground, because the potatoes would be covered with "toes" if the sign was not right. Likewise, cabbage could only be planted when the sign was not in the heart, otherwise the heads had huge hearts. Pigs could be castrated only when the sign was right. Calves and babies could be weaned only when the signs were other than in the breast, else they bawled day and night and mothers' breasts would cake. They could not explain these matters scientifically, but they knew they worked. Nasturtium blooms were gathered, dipped in a batter, fried and eaten with bread.
George Adam made furniture and coffins which the boys delivered in Mosbach and nearby villages. After Frank, Katherine's last brother, immigrated to the United States, she had to deliver the handcrafted items her father made. Even though she wore a padded ring on her head, a permanent bald spot developed. In her old age Katharine would entertain her grandchildren by showing them how she could dance around the room with a glass of water balanced on her head and never spill a drop of water.
Katharine recalled one unsettling experience of those days after Frank immigrated. Her father had sent her to a village about six miles away with a coffin and she did not get back until long after dark, hysterical over having to make the trip through the Black Forest in the darkness. Her aunts upbraided Katherine's father for sending her so late so she did not have to make any more night trips.
Katharine developed a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the Cathedral. She was taught plain and fancy needlecraft and used to applique scraps of bright woolens in the forms of animals and birds on plain woolen cushion tops for their chairs as the family prospered in America.
Katharine was eleven or twelve years old when brother Frank immigrated. Now alone with her father, she missed her brothers and would sometimes cry much of the night. As her father aged, he spent more and more of his evenings in the cellar among the wine barrels with his political friends and the arguments were loud and sometimes scared her until she could not sleep. When she was nineteen years of age, she, too, sailed away for America. Sometime after Katharine left, George Adam suffered a broken leg. He pleaded for her to return and care for him but she could not. This always grieved her.
When Katharine immigrated, she carried in her trunk her featherbed, her rosary and pewter crucifix which had been in he Krauser Family for 200 years, her German Catholic Bible, two-month supply of food and her few cooking utensils. .Each family aboard ship had but one hour per day at the stove in deck on which to cook for 24 hours. By sharing her period with an Italian family, both benefited. Each person was alloted but one quart of water a day. Bunks were arranged around the walls below the deck, head to the feet of the next occupant. The man next at her feet developed smallpox, but she escaped it.
When Katharine landed at New York City, she could not get her trunk out of customs because she could not speak English. She walked the gloomy customs building with her large shawl tightly clasped around her, weeping and running her beads until a German exporter heard her and helped her through customs. It was only then that she learned of the distance between New York City and Bushnell, Illinois. She had thought her brothers could be reached in a matter of hours. The man who had befriended Katharine knew of an English-speaking exporter nearby who was looking for a housemaid and who was only too eager to latch on to a sturdy German girl for his home so he hired her and she landed in is fancy home not knowing any English and the family knew o German. The mistress would trace the time on the clock to tell her when to take the bread out of the oven, etc. Always Katharine had to dash into the parlor the minute before the husband's return to dust the mantle for that is where he always looked for any signs of coal soot and they all got it if his white gloves became smudged When the mistress went out to market, Katharine would sneak into the parlor with her crochet hook and copy a chair tidy which she loved. It was made of white carpet warp, a large star about two feet in width and that much in length, a perfect circle, which was draped over backs of rocking chairs in those days. Katharine was to make at least a hundred in her lifetime and one is in my possession today. It was given to me by Katharine for helping to clean her large two-story home in her latter years there, about four years before Katharine died.
When Katharine had earned her train fare to Illinois, she headed West. While enroute she visited her brother, John, in Portsmouth, Ohio. She reached McDonough County sometime in 1860 and was reunited with her brothers: Frank, who lived in Bushnell, and Aloise, who lived in Macomb. Now 21 years of age, Katharine was a good marriage prospect. Frederick Helle, a baker who lived up the street from Aloise in Macomb, was often invited to come for dinner when Katharine was there so she could show him what a good cook she was.
One evening when he appeared with a pair of pants minus a button, her sister-in-law handed them to Katharine and told her to sew the button on for him. Katharine did this and since she soon after married the man, she was always kidded about "getting her husband through a pair of pants." She cared not.
"Expansion and Growth"
The Third Decade
Sometime prior to March of 1883 Frederick received his inheritance of $1,000.00 from the estates of his mother, Brigitte (Henke) Helle and grandmother Anna Maria (Mettner) Henke. For $1,600.00 Frederick purchased 111 acres12 from James M. Bevard, Jr., and Ann E., his wife, bringing the total acreage of the farm to 200 acres, more or less.
The 1880's was a decade of building and consolidation of enterprises. As daughters approached adulthood they worked out by the day in neighboring households; their wages added to the family coffer. The sons helped run the farming operation and worked in the sawmill. As the need arose, more buildings -- barns, granaries. smokehouse -- were built.
On 6 December 1884 Franceska Elisabeth "Lizzie," the oldest daughter, married JOHN WESLEY ORWIG.
On 2 March 1885 the last child, WILHELM "WILLIE" AUGUST was born.
MARIA "MARY" was the second family member to leave the nest. She married JOSEPH GRAY on 20 April 1888.
"A New Generation"
-The Fourth Decade
The 1890's brought marriages and grandchildren in rapid succession.
Frederick, Jr., married EUPHAMIE MILLER 2 April 1881;
Maria Theresa "Tracy" married ROBERT SHERMAN FOUTS 16 December 1895.
Anton married SARAH BELLE HUFFMAN 9 January 1897.
Brigitta Bertha "Bert" married CHARLES HENRY BOLON 4 April 1897.
Martha Bernadina "Dena" married JOHN KUEHN 17 November 1897.
Katharina "Kate" Franziska married FRED ARTHUR BLOUT 1 January 1898.
In August of 1896 the family gathered at the home place for family portraits.
Back row: George Adam Helle, "Mary" (Helle) Gray, Frederick Helle, Jr., "Lizzie" (Helle) Orwig, "Bert" (Helle) Bolon, and Anthony Helle.
Front row : "KATE" (Helle) Blout, "Carrie" (Helle) Walters, Frederick Helle Sr.,Katharine (Krauser) Helle, "Tracy (Helle) Fouts, and "Dena" (Helle) Kuehn.
Seated in front; Wilhelm "Willie" Helle, photo taken Aug 1896
Front row : "KATE" (Helle) Blout, "Carrie" (Helle) Walters, Frederick Helle Sr.,Katharine (Krauser) Helle, "Tracy (Helle) Fouts, and "Dena" (Helle) Kuehn.
Seated in front; Wilhelm "Willie" Helle, photo taken Aug 1896
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"The Twilight Years"
-The Fifth Decade
Frederick and Katharine had reason to be content with their lives as the Twentieth Century opened in 1900. Having taken out a $3,000.00 mortgage at eight percent annual interest in January of 1887 to "consolidate previous promissory notes," they filed a Certificate of Release on 9 September 1899. The farmland was now free and clear of all debts.
Carolina "Carrie" Moretta Amalia married HIRAM WALTERS on 25 July 1901
and George Adam married IDA LODEMA KALER 1 September 1901.
Katharine and Frederick faced one sad chapter in the twilight years of their lives. As Willie had matured, it was apparent that he was mentally handicapped. He grew to adulthood protected by his parents and siblings, never attending school. He never married either.
Now at retirement age, Frederick and Katharine sold 110.67 acres of the family farm to son, Anthony, 25 August 1904 for $3,450.00. This was the last time Katharine's signature would appear upon a legal document related to the farm. .She signed it "Katharina."
As in almost all shared life experiences, one dies before the other. Having survived the hazards of childbirth and the diseases of her times, Katharine was to live fourteen years after Frederick's death 28 march 1907.
The following clipping of Frederick's obituary and his will were loaned by Burta (Sheets) Owings, granddaughter of Mary (Helle) Gray. The clippings probably appeared in the Canton Daily Register.
FRED HELLE, SR.
Respected Old Citizen of Cass Township Who Was Buried Saturday
Fred Helle, sr., died Thursday at his home in Cass Township, north of Smithfield, aged nearly 72 years. The cause of death was lung fever.
Burial was on Saturday in the Brockl5 cemetery. The Rev. Mr. Douglas, of Cuba, officiated at the funeral.
Mr. Helle was born in June, 1835, in Westphalia, Prussia and came to America in 1857 landing in New Orleans. He worked for several months in St. Louis, Chicago, Bloomington and Peoria and came to Canton in November, 1859, remaining about a year, when he went to Macomb, where he was married, in 1860, to Miss Catharina Krauser.
In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Helle removed to Chicago, and a few months later he entered government service in Louisville, I Ky., as a baker, continuing in this capacity until the end of the Civil war. He then located in Bushnell, and in 1869 settled on the farm on which his death occurred.
Of a family of 13 children, 11 are living, and Mrs. Helle survives her husband.
At this writing Mrs. Helle is dangerously ill.
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The Last Will and Testament
The last will and testament of Fred Helle, Sr., deceased, is in the hands of the county clerk, having been filed for probate. Fred Helle, sr., died at his home in Cass township 'March28, 1907.
The terms of the will are as follows:
That funeral expenses and all just debts shall be fully paid from the personal property of the estate.
The wife, Catherine Helle, is to have the use of all the property, both personal and real, after the payment of all debts against the estate, for and during her natural lifetime, for her own proper use and benefit, and for the care and support of an invalid son, William August Helle, during his natural lifetime. The property is to be managed and controlled for the uses and purposes set forth, by Fred Helle, jr., and Fred Blout, who are named as executors.
The wife and invalid son shall have their home on the farm where they now reside, so long as they shall live. In case the wife should die, the brothers and sisters are to care for and look after the invalid son and brother, from the proceeds or income of the estate; provided he shall not be sent to an asylum or public institution for care. At the death of the wife the executors are directed to sell all personal property of said estate, and after providing for matters mentioned, divide the same equally among the heirs to the estate.
The executors are to keep all buildings on said estate fully insured. After the death of the wife and invalid son, the executors are directed to sell all real estate and accumulated personal property, at public or private sale, and divide the proceeds thereof after the payment of all expenses equally among the children of said Fred Helle, sr., deceased, giving to the heirs of any deceased child the parent's share.
The subscribing witnesses to the will are G. L. Miller and J. W. Strong, both of Canton.
The deceased left the following named heirs at law and legatees; Catherine Helle, widow, Smithfield; Francisca E. Orwig, daughter, New Philadelphia; Mary J. Gray, daughter, Smithfield; Martha D. Keuhn, daughter, Smithfield; Tracy M. Fouts, daughter, Ellisville; Kate Blout, daughter, EllisviIle; Bertha Bolon, daughter, Smithfield; Carrie Walters, daughter, Canton; Fred Helle, Jr., son, Smithfield; A. J. Helle, son, Smithfield; George A. Helle, son, Smithfield; William Helle, son, Smithfield.
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As directed in Frederick's will, Katharine and Willie remained on the family farm during their natural lifetimes. Katharine was to experience the grief of the death of two more of her children.
On 24 July 1909 Anthony died from crushing injuries sustained when a hay pole being erected fell on him. On 29 May 1911 Willie died at home. The last years of her life Katharine chose to "take her bed" and rotate living with her married children. She died 14 July 1921 in the home of her oldest son, Frederick, Jr. Her obituary and related articles which follow appeared in the Canton Daily Ledger:
Smithfield -- Friday, July 15, 1921
Mrs. Kate Helle, an aged and honored woman, and almost a life long resident of this vicinity, passed away at the home of her son, Fred Helle, northwest of town, Thursday afternoon, July 14, after an illness of little more than a week. She was in her eighty-third year. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 o'clock, at the United Brethren church. Burial in Brock cemetery.
Smithfield -- Monday, July 18, 1921
Biography of Mrs. Helle Catherine Frances Krause(r) was born in Mosbach, Germany, Feb. 25, 1839, and passed from this life July 14, 1921, at the home of her son, Fred, having reached the age of 82 years, 4 months and 19 days. The years of her girlhood were spent along the river Rhine. Coming to America when she was 19 years of age, she was for two years a resident of the state of Ohio. She afterwards lived in Macomb until 1860. In this same year she was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Fred Helle. Their union was blessed with 13 children, two of whom died in infancy. Two others died after they had become of age -- Anthony on July 24, 1909, and William A. on May 29, 1911. Those living are: Mrs. John Orwig, Cuba; Fred Helle, Smithfield; Mrs. Mary Gray, Canton; Mrs. Dena Keuhn, Smithfield; Mrs. Sherman Fouts, Ellisville; George Helle, Cuba; Mrs. Kathryn Blout, Ellisville; Mrs. Charles Bolan, Smithfield; Mrs. Hiram Walters, Cuba. The husband preceded her in death 14 years ago.
Besides being a good mother to her 13 children she was a grandmother to 46 and great grandmother to 22. She labored faithfully with her husband in caring for the family and assumed her share of the hard times that the settler of the country endured. Besides the relatives, she has many friends who sincerely mourn her passing.
Funeral services were held Saturday, July 16 at the United Brethren church, Rev. C. W. Martin officiating and burial was in Brock cemetery. The pallbearers were her grandsons.
William Brown (Braun) and son George and daughter Mae and Lewis Krauser all of Macomb, Mrs. Fred Hartwick, Miss Bertha Brannan and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Krauser of Bushnell, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gray, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Yocum of Canton, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Blout, their sons, Leo and Floyd and daughter, Amy, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Fouts and daughter, Alta of Ellisville, were here to attend the funeral of Mrs. Kate Helle Saturday.
Card of Thanks
We wish to thank our friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the illness and death of our beloved mother, Mrs. Katherine Helle, also Mrs. M.B. Galloway and the young people who conducted the singing at the funeral.
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Frederick and Katharine (Krauser) Helle lie at rest beneath a marker in the Baughman Cemetery, one mile northeast of Smithfield, Illinois. Wilhelm is on their right and Christina is on their left.
