Individual Details
Wilhelm Harms Helgens
(5 Dec 1827 - 4 Dec 1896)
William Helgens
Born 1827 WILLIAM HELGENS, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 22; P.O. Monticello; born in Germany in 1827; came to America in 1857, and to Jones Co. in 1864. Wife's maiden name was Matie Grumm, a native of Germany also. They were married in 1851; have had ten children, six are living--Harm, Antke, Mary, Annie, Libbie, Louise and Emma. Two of these are married, and living in Wayne Township. All the family are Lutherans. Mr. Hilgens is a Republican; owns 158 acres.
From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 626.
Helgens-Zimmerman-Tobiason
Helgens family branches out in several directions
Willm Harms Helgens was born in the area of Strockholtz, Germany, in 1827. In 1851, he married Gretje Meta Grumm, another native of Germany. In 1857, they came to America and settled in Dixon, Ill. In 1864, they moved to Jones County, and settled on a 160-acre farm (now owned by Glenn Rickels) just west of Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. Part of the land for the church came from this farm and was chartered in 1872.
They had 10 children. Four died and the remaining six were: Harm (my grandfather), Antke (Collman), Maria (Schoon), Annie (Harms), Louise (Kratz) and Emma (Rieken).
Gretje Meta Helgens died on March 20, 1886, and is buried at the Wayne Cemetery.
On Nov. 2, 1888, Willm Helgens married Gustine Wilhelmine Thuman. She had children from her first marriage: Ben, Carl, Minnie (Husman), Lena (Clark) and Ricke (Stutt). Willm and Gustine became parents of Meta (Serbousek) and William C.
Before we leave the brief history of Willm Helgens, an interesting fact is that a man born 159 years ago has two living grandsons: Robert W., 51 years old, at 136 N. Maple in Monticello; and James Helgens, 46 years old, in California. They are children of Willm's youngest son, William C., and Anna Folken Helgens. Willm Harms Helgens died on Dec. 4,1896, and is buried at Wayne Cemetery.
Harm Helgens, my grandfather, was the son of Willm and Meta Grumm Helgens. He was born in Strockholtz, Germany, in 1852, and came to America with his parents at 5 years of age in 1857. On Feb. 2, 1876, Harm Helgens and Johanna Tobiassen were united in marriage, and they had six children: Fred, Katharina (Mrs. William Collman), Anna (Mrs. Henry Zimmerman), George, Maria (Mrs. Alfred Folkerts) and Rheinard. His wife, Johanna, died on July 24,1897.
On July 2, 1900, Harm Helgens was married to Gretke Johanna Zimmerman, who had three children by her first marriage: William J., Elise (Mrs. Henry Tobiason) and Anna (Mrs. Carl Siebels). Three more children were born to Harm and Gretke: Herman, Edward and Louis. This picture, taken in 1921, shows all 12 children.
Harm Helgens raised his families in Wayne Township on 360 acres of land which now belongs to Harlan and Galen Helgens. He was very active in his community and church, serving both with his time and talents. He was in the building moving business, raised Morgan horses to sell and for his own use, and was instrumental in starting the Helgens Poland China purebred hog business (which was carried on and further developed by his three younger sons.
Grandpa Helgens' home was where we all spent many happy times — reunions, Christmases and birthday celebrations. All three families were included as one, so we often numbered 75 to 100 people at these events. Here we heard many treasured tales of past experiences of our elders.
Harm Helgens died on Oct. 27, 1939, and his wife died on July 27, 1956. Both are buried at Wayne Cemetery. George Helgens, son of Harm and Johanna, was born Aug. 29, 1884, and marrried Anna Herren on Feb. 8, 1909. To this union three children were born: Edwin, Scotch Grove; Marietta, deceased; and Vernon, Scotch Grove.
Vernon Helgens, son of George and Anna, was born Nov. 22, 1917. He married Mary Louise Yount on Oct. 17, 1941. They had three children: James, deceased; Suann (Mrs. Oley Allen); and Robert L., Cedar Rapids. Robert L. Helgens, son of Vernon and Mary Louise, was born May 4, 1951. He married Mary Beth Phelan on June 16,1984, and have a daughter, Kylie Elizabeth, who was born on Dec. 16,1985.
Written and submitted by:
Vernon Helgens
Born 1827 WILLIAM HELGENS, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 22; P.O. Monticello; born in Germany in 1827; came to America in 1857, and to Jones Co. in 1864. Wife's maiden name was Matie Grumm, a native of Germany also. They were married in 1851; have had ten children, six are living--Harm, Antke, Mary, Annie, Libbie, Louise and Emma. Two of these are married, and living in Wayne Township. All the family are Lutherans. Mr. Hilgens is a Republican; owns 158 acres.
From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 626.
Helgens-Zimmerman-Tobiason
Helgens family branches out in several directions
Willm Harms Helgens was born in the area of Strockholtz, Germany, in 1827. In 1851, he married Gretje Meta Grumm, another native of Germany. In 1857, they came to America and settled in Dixon, Ill. In 1864, they moved to Jones County, and settled on a 160-acre farm (now owned by Glenn Rickels) just west of Wayne Zion Lutheran Church. Part of the land for the church came from this farm and was chartered in 1872.
They had 10 children. Four died and the remaining six were: Harm (my grandfather), Antke (Collman), Maria (Schoon), Annie (Harms), Louise (Kratz) and Emma (Rieken).
Gretje Meta Helgens died on March 20, 1886, and is buried at the Wayne Cemetery.
On Nov. 2, 1888, Willm Helgens married Gustine Wilhelmine Thuman. She had children from her first marriage: Ben, Carl, Minnie (Husman), Lena (Clark) and Ricke (Stutt). Willm and Gustine became parents of Meta (Serbousek) and William C.
Before we leave the brief history of Willm Helgens, an interesting fact is that a man born 159 years ago has two living grandsons: Robert W., 51 years old, at 136 N. Maple in Monticello; and James Helgens, 46 years old, in California. They are children of Willm's youngest son, William C., and Anna Folken Helgens. Willm Harms Helgens died on Dec. 4,1896, and is buried at Wayne Cemetery.
Harm Helgens, my grandfather, was the son of Willm and Meta Grumm Helgens. He was born in Strockholtz, Germany, in 1852, and came to America with his parents at 5 years of age in 1857. On Feb. 2, 1876, Harm Helgens and Johanna Tobiassen were united in marriage, and they had six children: Fred, Katharina (Mrs. William Collman), Anna (Mrs. Henry Zimmerman), George, Maria (Mrs. Alfred Folkerts) and Rheinard. His wife, Johanna, died on July 24,1897.
On July 2, 1900, Harm Helgens was married to Gretke Johanna Zimmerman, who had three children by her first marriage: William J., Elise (Mrs. Henry Tobiason) and Anna (Mrs. Carl Siebels). Three more children were born to Harm and Gretke: Herman, Edward and Louis. This picture, taken in 1921, shows all 12 children.
Harm Helgens raised his families in Wayne Township on 360 acres of land which now belongs to Harlan and Galen Helgens. He was very active in his community and church, serving both with his time and talents. He was in the building moving business, raised Morgan horses to sell and for his own use, and was instrumental in starting the Helgens Poland China purebred hog business (which was carried on and further developed by his three younger sons.
Grandpa Helgens' home was where we all spent many happy times — reunions, Christmases and birthday celebrations. All three families were included as one, so we often numbered 75 to 100 people at these events. Here we heard many treasured tales of past experiences of our elders.
Harm Helgens died on Oct. 27, 1939, and his wife died on July 27, 1956. Both are buried at Wayne Cemetery. George Helgens, son of Harm and Johanna, was born Aug. 29, 1884, and marrried Anna Herren on Feb. 8, 1909. To this union three children were born: Edwin, Scotch Grove; Marietta, deceased; and Vernon, Scotch Grove.
Vernon Helgens, son of George and Anna, was born Nov. 22, 1917. He married Mary Louise Yount on Oct. 17, 1941. They had three children: James, deceased; Suann (Mrs. Oley Allen); and Robert L., Cedar Rapids. Robert L. Helgens, son of Vernon and Mary Louise, was born May 4, 1951. He married Mary Beth Phelan on June 16,1984, and have a daughter, Kylie Elizabeth, who was born on Dec. 16,1985.
Written and submitted by:
Vernon Helgens
Events
| Birth | 5 Dec 1827 | Strackholt, Aurich, Weser-Ems, Niedersachsen, Germany |  | ||
| Marriage | 4 Jul 1851 | Germany, Ostfriesland - Gretje / Gretze Meta Rieken "Margaret" Grumm | | ||
| Immigration | 3 Jun 1857 |  | |||
| Census (family) | 1870 | Wayne Township, Jones, Iowa, United States - Gretje / Gretze Meta Rieken "Margaret" Grumm | | ||
| Census (family) | 1880 | Wayne Township, Jones, Iowa, United States - Gretje / Gretze Meta Rieken "Margaret" Grumm | | ||
| Marriage | 2 Nov 1888 | Jones, Iowa, United States - Augusta Wilhelmine "Gustine" Reuter | | ||
| Death | 4 Dec 1896 | Jones, Iowa, United States | | |
Families
| Spouse | Gretje / Gretze Meta Rieken "Margaret" Grumm (1828 - 1886) |
| Child | Harm Willms Helgens (1852 - 1939) |
| Child | Antke Margarethe "Anka" Helgens (1854 - 1940) |
| Child | Riecke Willms Helgens (1856 - 1857) |
| Child | Gretje Almiena Helgens (1857 - 1876) |
| Child | Maria "Mary" Helgens (1859 - 1928) |
| Child | Anna Elizabeth "Annie" Helgens (1866 - ) |
| Child | Libbie Louise Helgens (1868 - ) |
| Child | Emma Rosetta Augusta Helgens (1870 - 1956) |
| Spouse | Augusta Wilhelmine "Gustine" Reuter (1852 - 1929) |
| Child | Margertha Wilhelmmine "Meta" Helgens (1890 - 1975) |
| Child | William Christoph Gottfried Helgens (1892 - 1952) |
| Father | Harm Harms Helgens (1785 - 1850) |
| Mother | Gretje Willms Steinblock (1782 - ) |
Notes
Immigration
on the ship Orpheus. Departed from Bremerhaven, Germany arrived in New York USAlisted on the passenger list after the Wilhelm & Sophie Grumm family
50 Harm Helgens 29 male farmer, Germany, Illinois
51 Gretje Helgens, 29 female, Germany Illinois
52 Harm Helgens 5 male
Anke Helgens 3 female
Census (family)
11 112 118 Harms John H 52 M Farmer 3500 1500 Hanover12 Harms Margaret 47 F Keeping House Hanover
13 Harms Kate 18 F Hanover
14 Harms Ange M 12 F Hanover
15 Harms Anna 11 F Hanover
16 Harms Henry 17 M Works on Farm Hanover
17 Harms Henry 7 M Hanover
Census (family)
self Wm. Helgens M 52 Germany, Farmerwife Margret Helgens F 52 Germany, Keeping house
daughter Anna Helgens F 14 Iowa, United States, at home
daughter Loase Helgens F 12 Iowa, United States, at school
daughter Emma Helgens F 10 Iowa, United States,
other Fred Poppie M 23 Germany 3x, single, working on farm
Death
Messrs. H. A. Toenjjes aud R. U. Ricklefs have been appointed administrators of. the estate of the late William Helgens. Mr. Helgens died without a will, and left a fine farm of 158 acres and about 95,000 worth of personal property.Endnotes
1. Jones Co. Iowa Census, Jones Co. Iowa GenWeb online [http://iowajones.org/census/census.htm], accessed.
2. KoeppeNet.de - Genealogie, Klaus Köppe - Bremen (Germany) online [http://gw2.geneanet.org/index.php3?b=koeppe&lang=de;pz=ivonne;nz=koppe;ocz=0;p=gretje+rieken;n=grumm], accessed June 2008.
3. KoeppeNet.de - Genealogie, Klaus Köppe - Bremen (Germany) online [http://gw2.geneanet.org/index.php3?b=koeppe&lang=de;pz=ivonne;nz=koppe;ocz=0;p=gretje+rieken;n=grumm], accessed June 2008.
4. "Helgens family branches out in several directions," Monticello (Iowa) Express, 2 July 1986; Ross & Elizabeth Baty Public Library (http://batypl.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 10 March 2011), Newspaper Digital Archives.
5. , Seventy-fifth anniversary of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Congregation 1872-1947. (Wayne Township, Jones Co. Monticello, Iowa.:, 1947), 1896 December 4 Willm Harms Helgens .
6. "Home news," Monticello (Iowa) Express, 24 December 1896; Ross & Elizabeth Baty Public Library (http://batypl.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 20 September 2011), Newspaper Digital Archives.