William Helfrich, my great grandfather, was a son of Henry Wanner Helfrich and Salinda Zehner, who were married in 1862. They are not mentioned in his obituary and it is possible he had little recollection of them. William's daughter's marriage license states that he was born in Tamaqua.
I don't completely understand what happened when William's family imploded. William's father died in 1869 when William was two, and by 1880 his wife Selinda was listed as 43 year old Salinda Helfrig and living in the Schuylkill County Almshouse when William would have been only 13. In fact, that same year, William appears on the census as living with his mom's brother's family (Nathan and Mary Zehner, a laborer and housekeeper respectively, who are mistakenly listed as his grandparents), and being raised with their youngest son Wallace. Why Nathan could take in his nephew William while his own sister was at the poor house is anyone's guess.
Looking further back on the 1870 census, William's mom is listed as Selinda Zehner (her maiden name, not Helfrich) and she is living in the household of Benjamin and Mary (aka Polly) nee Horn Zehner, her parents. The reasons it must be our lady are three-fold. One reason is that her age is close- this Selinda being 30 when our gal's age would have been 33. Immediately below her is another compelling clue- there is a Charles, age 5, who is the right age to have been her son Charles Franklin Helfrich. This five year old is too young to be the child of the household heads who are 67 and 61 respectively. Lastly, below him is Rosa, age 2, perhaps the third of Salinda's three children. This girl would have been born in time to still be a child of Salinda's late husband. The only question then, is where is her other son, my great grandpa William? He is not living with his grandparents nor in any Schuylkill County household that I can find.
While living in Schuylkill County, William married for the first time April 28, 1899. Between 1910 and 1920 he and the family moved to Allentown, Lehigh County. In 1917, they bought a home there. My mother always had assumed that William moved to Allentown "cold", knowing no one and having no relatives. Mom says her Helfrich branch had no relation in town. Further research suggests that it was possible William knew his relations in Allentown and that may have had some bearing in his decision to relocate there, but Allentown was a very happening place around the turn of the century, a place where you could do well, and your daughters might marry well. He had two such daughters, Grace and Melva, and his wife had aspirations for them. He also had had three sons - William Ellsworth (known as "El"), Harold (known as Hans), and Claud Morton, who lived only 10 months and was named for two of his wife's brothers. Claud died before the move, but the other two boys were still around, ready to become young adults.
Whatever his early years, it with his passing that his life is best told because the obituary and funeral notice below says more about my great grandpa than I ever could. He died well before my birth, but an explanation of his death and the family dynamics is called for.
William was twice married. His first wife was Cora Ellen Schollenberger, with whom he had his five children, and his second wife was a widow, Ellen Wambold Bauer. That second marriage took place June 28, 1924. As so often happens, his remarriage did not sit well with his now-adult children who did not feel his new wife was a very loving person, though one must also take into account that any lady stepping in to be a new wife to a man with older children is not guaranteed to find great acceptance.
Still, it is probably William's death that cast the lady in the most unflattering light. Supposedly an over-diligent housekeeper, when company arrived while she was mopping the kitchen, she hastily put her mop and bucket just inside the cellar door to hide them from view. William later went into the cellar and stepped into the bucket and fell down the stairs, leading to his demise. It's not known to me who was in his home after the fall, but it did strike me as very unfortunate that he was found around 5 pm and not taken to the hospital until 2 am.
The following items are clipped so the date and source cannot be positively identified, but they come most likely from the Allentown Morning Call or Evening Chronicle.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM HELFRICH, COFFEE CO. OWNER, DIES AFTER FALL
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., died yesterday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps of his home 1720 Greenleaf St., early Friday night.
Mr. Helfrich is believed to have tripped while descending the stairs. He was found lying unconscious at the bottom of the steps at 5:20 p.m. Friday and was taken to the hospital shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.
Dr. Alexander M. Peters, Lehigh county coroner said the death was accidental and was caused by a fractured skull.
A native of West Penn, near Hazelton, Mr. Helfrich lived in this section for many years. He formerly conducted a store at 12th and Linden Sts., but later sold out and began a coffee route. [Note: Announcement of his buying the store of Harry F. Leibenguth and a new home at 30 N 13th was in the Oct. 31, 1917 Allentown Leader, and he shortly thereafter also purchased 43 N. 13th from the same man Elmer E. Heimbach, owner of the Hotel Allen.]
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was a member of Trinity Reformed church.
He was twice married, his first wife Cora E., having died 19 years ago [sic- should be 20 years]. Surviving are his second wife, the former Mrs. Ellen Bauer, and four children: Grace, wife of Norman Peters; Melva, wife of Henry Ettinger; Howard [sic- should be Harold] and Ellsworth. Six grand children also survive.
Rev. J. J. Schaeffer will officiate at services to be held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home, 1030 Walnut St. Interment will be made at Greenwood cemetery.
_____________________________________
Hold Helfrich Funeral
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., who died Saturday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps at his home several hours earlier, was laid to rest today in Greenwood cemetery.
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was well known in Allentown an vicinity for he had lived in this section many years.
His pastor, Rev. J. J. Schaeffer, was in charge of the services held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home 1030 Walnut St.
Pallbearers were Harold Moyer, William Miller, William Landis, William Ackerman, Clyde Hess, and Robert Heimbach.
_____________________________________
From the record of the funeral:
Pallbearers:
Howard Moyer
William Miller
William Landis
Clyde Hess
William Ackerman
Robert Heimbach
Services held at:
Bachman Funeral Home
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939
2:00 P.M.
Minister:
Rev. J.J. Schaeffer
Interment:
Greenwood Cemetery
In charge of services:
Donald Bachman
1030 Walnut Street
Allentown, PA.
An additional obituary was published October 25, 1939 closer to where he was raised (in the Wilkes-Barre Record) which I hope to obtain.
I don't completely understand what happened when William's family imploded. William's father died in 1869 when William was two, and by 1880 his wife Selinda was listed as 43 year old Salinda Helfrig and living in the Schuylkill County Almshouse when William would have been only 13. In fact, that same year, William appears on the census as living with his mom's brother's family (Nathan and Mary Zehner, a laborer and housekeeper respectively, who are mistakenly listed as his grandparents), and being raised with their youngest son Wallace. Why Nathan could take in his nephew William while his own sister was at the poor house is anyone's guess.
Looking further back on the 1870 census, William's mom is listed as Selinda Zehner (her maiden name, not Helfrich) and she is living in the household of Benjamin and Mary (aka Polly) nee Horn Zehner, her parents. The reasons it must be our lady are three-fold. One reason is that her age is close- this Selinda being 30 when our gal's age would have been 33. Immediately below her is another compelling clue- there is a Charles, age 5, who is the right age to have been her son Charles Franklin Helfrich. This five year old is too young to be the child of the household heads who are 67 and 61 respectively. Lastly, below him is Rosa, age 2, perhaps the third of Salinda's three children. This girl would have been born in time to still be a child of Salinda's late husband. The only question then, is where is her other son, my great grandpa William? He is not living with his grandparents nor in any Schuylkill County household that I can find.
While living in Schuylkill County, William married for the first time April 28, 1899. Between 1910 and 1920 he and the family moved to Allentown, Lehigh County. In 1917, they bought a home there. My mother always had assumed that William moved to Allentown "cold", knowing no one and having no relatives. Mom says her Helfrich branch had no relation in town. Further research suggests that it was possible William knew his relations in Allentown and that may have had some bearing in his decision to relocate there, but Allentown was a very happening place around the turn of the century, a place where you could do well, and your daughters might marry well. He had two such daughters, Grace and Melva, and his wife had aspirations for them. He also had had three sons - William Ellsworth (known as "El"), Harold (known as Hans), and Claud Morton, who lived only 10 months and was named for two of his wife's brothers. Claud died before the move, but the other two boys were still around, ready to become young adults.
Whatever his early years, it with his passing that his life is best told because the obituary and funeral notice below says more about my great grandpa than I ever could. He died well before my birth, but an explanation of his death and the family dynamics is called for.
William was twice married. His first wife was Cora Ellen Schollenberger, with whom he had his five children, and his second wife was a widow, Ellen Wambold Bauer. That second marriage took place June 28, 1924. As so often happens, his remarriage did not sit well with his now-adult children who did not feel his new wife was a very loving person, though one must also take into account that any lady stepping in to be a new wife to a man with older children is not guaranteed to find great acceptance.
Still, it is probably William's death that cast the lady in the most unflattering light. Supposedly an over-diligent housekeeper, when company arrived while she was mopping the kitchen, she hastily put her mop and bucket just inside the cellar door to hide them from view. William later went into the cellar and stepped into the bucket and fell down the stairs, leading to his demise. It's not known to me who was in his home after the fall, but it did strike me as very unfortunate that he was found around 5 pm and not taken to the hospital until 2 am.
The following items are clipped so the date and source cannot be positively identified, but they come most likely from the Allentown Morning Call or Evening Chronicle.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM HELFRICH, COFFEE CO. OWNER, DIES AFTER FALL
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., died yesterday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps of his home 1720 Greenleaf St., early Friday night.
Mr. Helfrich is believed to have tripped while descending the stairs. He was found lying unconscious at the bottom of the steps at 5:20 p.m. Friday and was taken to the hospital shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.
Dr. Alexander M. Peters, Lehigh county coroner said the death was accidental and was caused by a fractured skull.
A native of West Penn, near Hazelton, Mr. Helfrich lived in this section for many years. He formerly conducted a store at 12th and Linden Sts., but later sold out and began a coffee route. [Note: Announcement of his buying the store of Harry F. Leibenguth and a new home at 30 N 13th was in the Oct. 31, 1917 Allentown Leader, and he shortly thereafter also purchased 43 N. 13th from the same man Elmer E. Heimbach, owner of the Hotel Allen.]
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was a member of Trinity Reformed church.
He was twice married, his first wife Cora E., having died 19 years ago [sic- should be 20 years]. Surviving are his second wife, the former Mrs. Ellen Bauer, and four children: Grace, wife of Norman Peters; Melva, wife of Henry Ettinger; Howard [sic- should be Harold] and Ellsworth. Six grand children also survive.
Rev. J. J. Schaeffer will officiate at services to be held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home, 1030 Walnut St. Interment will be made at Greenwood cemetery.
_____________________________________
Hold Helfrich Funeral
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., who died Saturday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps at his home several hours earlier, was laid to rest today in Greenwood cemetery.
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was well known in Allentown an vicinity for he had lived in this section many years.
His pastor, Rev. J. J. Schaeffer, was in charge of the services held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home 1030 Walnut St.
Pallbearers were Harold Moyer, William Miller, William Landis, William Ackerman, Clyde Hess, and Robert Heimbach.
_____________________________________
From the record of the funeral:
Pallbearers:
Howard Moyer
William Miller
William Landis
Clyde Hess
William Ackerman
Robert Heimbach
Services held at:
Bachman Funeral Home
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939
2:00 P.M.
Minister:
Rev. J.J. Schaeffer
Interment:
Greenwood Cemetery
In charge of services:
Donald Bachman
1030 Walnut Street
Allentown, PA.
An additional obituary was published October 25, 1939 closer to where he was raised (in the Wilkes-Barre Record) which I hope to obtain.
William Helfrich, my great grandfather, was a son of Henry Wanner Helfrich and Salinda Zehner, who were married in 1862. They are not mentioned in his obituary and it is possible he had little recollection of them. William's daughter's marriage license states that he was born in Tamaqua.
I don't completely understand what happened when William's family imploded. William's father died in 1869 when William was two, and by 1880 his wife Selinda was listed as 43 year old Salinda Helfrig and living in the Schuylkill County Almshouse when William would have been only 13. In fact, that same year, William appears on the census as living with his mom's brother's family (Nathan and Mary Zehner, a laborer and housekeeper respectively, who are mistakenly listed as his grandparents), and being raised with their youngest son Wallace. Why Nathan could take in his nephew William while his own sister was at the poor house is anyone's guess.
Looking further back on the 1870 census, William's mom is listed as Selinda Zehner (her maiden name, not Helfrich) and she is living in the household of Benjamin and Mary (aka Polly) nee Horn Zehner, her parents. The reasons it must be our lady are three-fold. One reason is that her age is close- this Selinda being 30 when our gal's age would have been 33. Immediately below her is another compelling clue- there is a Charles, age 5, who is the right age to have been her son Charles Franklin Helfrich. This five year old is too young to be the child of the household heads who are 67 and 61 respectively. Lastly, below him is Rosa, age 2, perhaps the third of Salinda's three children. This girl would have been born in time to still be a child of Salinda's late husband. The only question then, is where is her other son, my great grandpa William? He is not living with his grandparents nor in any Schuylkill County household that I can find.
While living in Schuylkill County, William married for the first time April 28, 1899. Between 1910 and 1920 he and the family moved to Allentown, Lehigh County. In 1917, they bought a home there. My mother always had assumed that William moved to Allentown "cold", knowing no one and having no relatives. Mom says her Helfrich branch had no relation in town. Further research suggests that it was possible William knew his relations in Allentown and that may have had some bearing in his decision to relocate there, but Allentown was a very happening place around the turn of the century, a place where you could do well, and your daughters might marry well. He had two such daughters, Grace and Melva, and his wife had aspirations for them. He also had had three sons - William Ellsworth (known as "El"), Harold (known as Hans), and Claud Morton, who lived only 10 months and was named for two of his wife's brothers. Claud died before the move, but the other two boys were still around, ready to become young adults.
Whatever his early years, it with his passing that his life is best told because the obituary and funeral notice below says more about my great grandpa than I ever could. He died well before my birth, but an explanation of his death and the family dynamics is called for.
William was twice married. His first wife was Cora Ellen Schollenberger, with whom he had his five children, and his second wife was a widow, Ellen Wambold Bauer. That second marriage took place June 28, 1924. As so often happens, his remarriage did not sit well with his now-adult children who did not feel his new wife was a very loving person, though one must also take into account that any lady stepping in to be a new wife to a man with older children is not guaranteed to find great acceptance.
Still, it is probably William's death that cast the lady in the most unflattering light. Supposedly an over-diligent housekeeper, when company arrived while she was mopping the kitchen, she hastily put her mop and bucket just inside the cellar door to hide them from view. William later went into the cellar and stepped into the bucket and fell down the stairs, leading to his demise. It's not known to me who was in his home after the fall, but it did strike me as very unfortunate that he was found around 5 pm and not taken to the hospital until 2 am.
The following items are clipped so the date and source cannot be positively identified, but they come most likely from the Allentown Morning Call or Evening Chronicle.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM HELFRICH, COFFEE CO. OWNER, DIES AFTER FALL
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., died yesterday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps of his home 1720 Greenleaf St., early Friday night.
Mr. Helfrich is believed to have tripped while descending the stairs. He was found lying unconscious at the bottom of the steps at 5:20 p.m. Friday and was taken to the hospital shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.
Dr. Alexander M. Peters, Lehigh county coroner said the death was accidental and was caused by a fractured skull.
A native of West Penn, near Hazelton, Mr. Helfrich lived in this section for many years. He formerly conducted a store at 12th and Linden Sts., but later sold out and began a coffee route. [Note: Announcement of his buying the store of Harry F. Leibenguth and a new home at 30 N 13th was in the Oct. 31, 1917 Allentown Leader, and he shortly thereafter also purchased 43 N. 13th from the same man Elmer E. Heimbach, owner of the Hotel Allen.]
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was a member of Trinity Reformed church.
He was twice married, his first wife Cora E., having died 19 years ago [sic- should be 20 years]. Surviving are his second wife, the former Mrs. Ellen Bauer, and four children: Grace, wife of Norman Peters; Melva, wife of Henry Ettinger; Howard [sic- should be Harold] and Ellsworth. Six grand children also survive.
Rev. J. J. Schaeffer will officiate at services to be held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home, 1030 Walnut St. Interment will be made at Greenwood cemetery.
_____________________________________
Hold Helfrich Funeral
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., who died Saturday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps at his home several hours earlier, was laid to rest today in Greenwood cemetery.
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was well known in Allentown an vicinity for he had lived in this section many years.
His pastor, Rev. J. J. Schaeffer, was in charge of the services held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home 1030 Walnut St.
Pallbearers were Harold Moyer, William Miller, William Landis, William Ackerman, Clyde Hess, and Robert Heimbach.
_____________________________________
From the record of the funeral:
Pallbearers:
Howard Moyer
William Miller
William Landis
Clyde Hess
William Ackerman
Robert Heimbach
Services held at:
Bachman Funeral Home
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939
2:00 P.M.
Minister:
Rev. J.J. Schaeffer
Interment:
Greenwood Cemetery
In charge of services:
Donald Bachman
1030 Walnut Street
Allentown, PA.
An additional obituary was published October 25, 1939 closer to where he was raised (in the Wilkes-Barre Record) which I hope to obtain.
I don't completely understand what happened when William's family imploded. William's father died in 1869 when William was two, and by 1880 his wife Selinda was listed as 43 year old Salinda Helfrig and living in the Schuylkill County Almshouse when William would have been only 13. In fact, that same year, William appears on the census as living with his mom's brother's family (Nathan and Mary Zehner, a laborer and housekeeper respectively, who are mistakenly listed as his grandparents), and being raised with their youngest son Wallace. Why Nathan could take in his nephew William while his own sister was at the poor house is anyone's guess.
Looking further back on the 1870 census, William's mom is listed as Selinda Zehner (her maiden name, not Helfrich) and she is living in the household of Benjamin and Mary (aka Polly) nee Horn Zehner, her parents. The reasons it must be our lady are three-fold. One reason is that her age is close- this Selinda being 30 when our gal's age would have been 33. Immediately below her is another compelling clue- there is a Charles, age 5, who is the right age to have been her son Charles Franklin Helfrich. This five year old is too young to be the child of the household heads who are 67 and 61 respectively. Lastly, below him is Rosa, age 2, perhaps the third of Salinda's three children. This girl would have been born in time to still be a child of Salinda's late husband. The only question then, is where is her other son, my great grandpa William? He is not living with his grandparents nor in any Schuylkill County household that I can find.
While living in Schuylkill County, William married for the first time April 28, 1899. Between 1910 and 1920 he and the family moved to Allentown, Lehigh County. In 1917, they bought a home there. My mother always had assumed that William moved to Allentown "cold", knowing no one and having no relatives. Mom says her Helfrich branch had no relation in town. Further research suggests that it was possible William knew his relations in Allentown and that may have had some bearing in his decision to relocate there, but Allentown was a very happening place around the turn of the century, a place where you could do well, and your daughters might marry well. He had two such daughters, Grace and Melva, and his wife had aspirations for them. He also had had three sons - William Ellsworth (known as "El"), Harold (known as Hans), and Claud Morton, who lived only 10 months and was named for two of his wife's brothers. Claud died before the move, but the other two boys were still around, ready to become young adults.
Whatever his early years, it with his passing that his life is best told because the obituary and funeral notice below says more about my great grandpa than I ever could. He died well before my birth, but an explanation of his death and the family dynamics is called for.
William was twice married. His first wife was Cora Ellen Schollenberger, with whom he had his five children, and his second wife was a widow, Ellen Wambold Bauer. That second marriage took place June 28, 1924. As so often happens, his remarriage did not sit well with his now-adult children who did not feel his new wife was a very loving person, though one must also take into account that any lady stepping in to be a new wife to a man with older children is not guaranteed to find great acceptance.
Still, it is probably William's death that cast the lady in the most unflattering light. Supposedly an over-diligent housekeeper, when company arrived while she was mopping the kitchen, she hastily put her mop and bucket just inside the cellar door to hide them from view. William later went into the cellar and stepped into the bucket and fell down the stairs, leading to his demise. It's not known to me who was in his home after the fall, but it did strike me as very unfortunate that he was found around 5 pm and not taken to the hospital until 2 am.
The following items are clipped so the date and source cannot be positively identified, but they come most likely from the Allentown Morning Call or Evening Chronicle.
_____________________________________
WILLIAM HELFRICH, COFFEE CO. OWNER, DIES AFTER FALL
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., died yesterday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps of his home 1720 Greenleaf St., early Friday night.
Mr. Helfrich is believed to have tripped while descending the stairs. He was found lying unconscious at the bottom of the steps at 5:20 p.m. Friday and was taken to the hospital shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday.
Dr. Alexander M. Peters, Lehigh county coroner said the death was accidental and was caused by a fractured skull.
A native of West Penn, near Hazelton, Mr. Helfrich lived in this section for many years. He formerly conducted a store at 12th and Linden Sts., but later sold out and began a coffee route. [Note: Announcement of his buying the store of Harry F. Leibenguth and a new home at 30 N 13th was in the Oct. 31, 1917 Allentown Leader, and he shortly thereafter also purchased 43 N. 13th from the same man Elmer E. Heimbach, owner of the Hotel Allen.]
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was a member of Trinity Reformed church.
He was twice married, his first wife Cora E., having died 19 years ago [sic- should be 20 years]. Surviving are his second wife, the former Mrs. Ellen Bauer, and four children: Grace, wife of Norman Peters; Melva, wife of Henry Ettinger; Howard [sic- should be Harold] and Ellsworth. Six grand children also survive.
Rev. J. J. Schaeffer will officiate at services to be held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home, 1030 Walnut St. Interment will be made at Greenwood cemetery.
_____________________________________
Hold Helfrich Funeral
William H. Helfrich, proprietor of the Colonial Coffee Co., who died Saturday morning in the Allentown hospital from the effects of a fall down the cellar steps at his home several hours earlier, was laid to rest today in Greenwood cemetery.
Mr. Helfrich, who was 72, was well known in Allentown an vicinity for he had lived in this section many years.
His pastor, Rev. J. J. Schaeffer, was in charge of the services held at 2 p.m. from the Bachman Funeral home 1030 Walnut St.
Pallbearers were Harold Moyer, William Miller, William Landis, William Ackerman, Clyde Hess, and Robert Heimbach.
_____________________________________
From the record of the funeral:
Pallbearers:
Howard Moyer
William Miller
William Landis
Clyde Hess
William Ackerman
Robert Heimbach
Services held at:
Bachman Funeral Home
Tuesday, Oct. 24, 1939
2:00 P.M.
Minister:
Rev. J.J. Schaeffer
Interment:
Greenwood Cemetery
In charge of services:
Donald Bachman
1030 Walnut Street
Allentown, PA.
An additional obituary was published October 25, 1939 closer to where he was raised (in the Wilkes-Barre Record) which I hope to obtain.
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