Hellweg, Maria Elisabeth

Other Events:

• Census: 1860, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Birth:
According to birth records in the Hellweg-Danker family bible, Maria Elisabeth was born at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Census:
According to the 1860 enumeration, Mary E. Helvick, age 9 (born in Ohio), lived with her parents, Peter Helvick (age 42), a Lutheran clergyman, and Martha Helvick (age 37), and seven siblings, ages 17 to 1 year of age.

Buried:
Mary was buried in Wendell Cemetery (Block 08, Lot 03, Plot 01).

Died:
According to a 1923 obituary for her sister, Mrs. Henrietta Hellwig [sic] Schneider, "Mrs. Rev. H. R. Fienenbaum [sic]" was identified as a resident of Wendell, Idaho.

Maria married Fiegenbaum, Heinrich Rudolph 27 Jan 1878, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, USA. Heinrich (son of Fiegenbaum, Adolph Heinrich and Peterjohann, Christine Elisabeth) was born 2 Jan 1837, St. Charles County, Missouri, USA; died 11 Sep 1908, Gooding, Gooding County, Idaho, USA; was buried 15 Sep 1908, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
A biographical sketch of Henry, published in 1913, states the he and his second wife, Elisabeth Hellweg had four children. At that time of the biography, the eldest daughter had died at the age of 16. The surviving children were: Mrs. Fr. Vetsch of Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs. Aaron Eaton of Mesa, Washington; and Rudolf [sic] Fiegenbaum of Wendell, Idaho.

Census (family):
According to the 1880 enumeration of Ferry Street, the household consisted of Henry Fiegenbaum, head of household, age 43, born in Missouri, married, a Methodist pastor; "Hellwig" Fiegenbaum, wife, age 28, born in Missouri, married, keeping house; Emma Fiegenbaum, daughter, age 16, born in Iowa, single, who had attended school in the census year; Charles Fiegenbaum, son, age 10, born in Iowa, single, who had attended school in the census year; Arthur Fiegenbaum, son, age 7, born in Iowa, single, who had attended school in the census year; "Lulea" Fiegenbaum, daughter, age 1, born in Wisconsin, single; "Adelina" Fiegenbaum, daughter, age 1 month, born in May 1880 in Wisconsin; "Edward Hellberg," male, age 20, born in Illinois, a boarder; single; and Henriette Hellwig, female, age 24, born in Missouri, a servant, single.

Residence (family):
An account of the 50th wedding anniversary of "Rev. and Mrs. William Fiegenbaum," celebrated on 27 September 1899 at Edwardsville, Illinois, noted that one of William's three brothers was "...Rudolph of Garner, Iowa...."

Census (family):
According to the 1900 enumeration, the household consisted of Henry R. Fiegenbaum, head of the household, born January 1840 in Missouri, age 60, married, for 22 years, a minister in the German Methodist Episcopal Church; Mary E. Fiegenbaum, wife, born October 1862 in Missouri, age 47; married for 22 years, the mother of 4 children (3 still living); Elsie A. Fiegenbaum, daughter, born July 1882 in Iowa, age 17, attending school; and Rudolph E. D. Fiegenbaum, son, born February 1885 in Kansas, age 15, attending school. Also in the household was Catherine Schneider, a boarder, born February 1873 in Iowa, age 27, single, a dry goods saleswoman.
     According to other sources, Henry and Mary appear younger in this enumeration than they really were.

Residence (family):
According to an obituary for his brother, "Rev. William Fiegenbaum," published on 30 November 1906 in the Edwardsville Intelligencer, of Edwardsville, Illinois, the deceased was survived by his brother, "...Rev. H. R. Fiegenbaum of Connell, Washington...."
     Rudolph had been living near Connell since at least 1902. Hein and Anna Cathrina (Nuehs) Klindworth relocated from Nokomis, Illinois to Connell, Washington in September 1902 after having purchased a "relinquishment on a homestead situated nearly two miles south of the town of Connell" from "a bearded gentleman by the name of Rudolph Fiegenbaum, a retired German Methodist minister who was farming southeast of Connell and who at the same time was the part time real estate agent through whom Father had purchased the relinquishment."

1. Fiegenbaum, Luella Annetta was born 26 Nov 1878, Wisconsin, USA; died 15 Dec 1894, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA; was buried , Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA.
2. Fiegenbaum, Adelaide Katherine was born 14 May 1880, La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin, USA; died 27 Feb 1936, Wendell, Gooding County, Idaho, USA; was buried , Wendell, Gooding County, Idaho, USA.
3. Fiegenbaum, Elsie Arnbella was born 16 Jul 1882, Iowa, USA; died 20 Mar 1958, San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, California, USA.
4. Fiegenbaum, Rudolph Edward Dwight was born 9 Feb 1885, Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas, USA; died 9 Apr 1958; was buried , Wendell, Gooding County, Idaho, USA.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1839, City of New York, New York, USA
• Moved To: Apr 1843, Iowa, USA
• Occupation: Between 1847 and 1897; a pastor in the German Methodist Church

Notes:

Birth:
The Duchy of Bremen, a holding of the Hanoverian Crown from 1715, was abolished in 1823 and became part of Landdrostei Stade, an administrative district of the Kingdom of Hannover. In 1972, the communities of Assel and Hüll were united; they exist within the larger municipality of Drochtersen, Landkreis (District) Stade, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany); it is about 45 kilometers northwest of Hamburg.

Occupation:

     The following is a transcription of a biographical sketch from Die Nordwest Deutsche Konferenz der Bischöflichen Methodistenkirche: Geschichtlich, Sachlich und Biographisch Geschildert. Although this book was published in 1913, the last paragraph of this sketch speaks of the aborted celebration of the 50th anniversary of Peter's appointment to the ministry and suggests that this biography was actually written in 1897.

          Peter Hellweg.

     Unser selig heimgeganger Vater Hellweg wurde geboren am 13. März 1817 zu Assel, Hannover, Deutschland.
     Er kam im Juli 1839 nach New York, ging das nächste Jahr nach New Orleans, und kam im Frühjahr 1841 nach Marietta, Ohio. Hier trat er in den Stand der heiligen Ehe mit Martha Danker, einer Tochter von Rev. Geo Danker. Da seine Gattin schon bekehrt war, so gingen sie am Weihnachtabend zur Kirche. Die Predigt von Bruder H. Köneke ergriff ihn heilsam, auf Einladung ging er an den Betaltar, und als man sang: "Wie der Nebel muß verschwinden" u. s. w., da ging in mitternächtlicher Stunde der Morgenstern auf in seinem Herzen.
     Im April 1843 kam das junge Ehepaar nach German Creek, Iowa. Durch ein Schreiben an Vater Danker kam das nächste Jahr ein Prediger Namens J. [or, I; in the text, the two letters are identical] Mann dorthin. Bruder Hellweg missionierte und lud seine Landsleute ein zum Gottesdienst in seinem Hause. Bald erhielt er Licenz zum Predigen und im Jahre 1847 wurde er durch Bruder L. S. Jacoby als Reiseprediger ausgesandt.
     Von obigem Datum bis zum Herst 1875 war er tätig als Reiseprediger. Um diese Zeit zog er auf eine Farm bei Charles City, wo er 15 Jahre wohnte. Die letzten Jahre verlebte er in Garner, Iowa, bei seinem Schwiegersohn, Adam Schneider, allwo er auch starb. Vater Hellweg ist ein tüchtiger Bußprediger gewesen, der viele Seelen zum Herrn geführt. Liebe zum Werk der Seelenrettung und treu zu sein mit dem, und in dem, das ihm anvertraut war, sind seine Haupt-Charakterzüge gewesen. Die Kirche seiner Wahl war ihm sehr teuer, und der "Apologete" unentbehrlich. Wenn er ihn las, war es eine Erquickung für ihn. Die wichtigsten Artikel bezeichnete er, und die lieben Seinen lasen dann diese Stücke zuerst. Da Bruder Hellweg in den letzten Jahren fast gar nicht hören konnte, und demgemäß die Gottesdienste wenig besuchte, so erhielt er sich doch ein warmes Herz durch Betrachtung der Bibel, sowie durch Lesen des Predigtbuches und unserer Zeitschriften, als auch durch betenden Umgang mit dem Herrn. Das Wohl der Gemeinde lag ihm sehr am Herzen; wenn Leute bekehrt wurden, dann weinte er Freudentränen. Von seinen früheren Erlebnissen erzählte er gerne, und stets mit Thränen.
     Eigentlich krank war Vater Hellweg nur wenige Tage. Am 5. Februar 1897 entschlief er sanft und selig im Herrn. Als die Sprache ihn verließ, zeigte er nach oben, als ob er sagen wollte: "Ich gehe heim!"
     Neun deutsche und ein englisher Prediger wohnten der Leichenfeierlichkeit bei. Gattin, drei Söhne und drei Töchter schauen ihm nach, währen drei Kinder vorangegangen sind.
     Da Bruder Hellweg das älteste Glied unserer Konferenz war, so gedachten wir, diesen Herbst sein fünfzigjähriges Amtsjubiläum zu feiern. Doch nun feiert er droben. Seine Werke folgen ihm nach.

     I have attempted a translation, thus:

          Peter Hellweg.

     Our blessed late Father Hellweg was born on 13 March 1817 at Assel, Hannover, Germany.
     He came to New York in July 1839, removed the next year to New Orleans, and in the Spring of 1841 came to Marietta, Ohio. Here he entered into holy matrimony with Martha Danker, a daughter of Rev. Geo. Danker. As his wife was already converted, on Christmas Eve they attended church. Brother H. Köneke's sermon stirred him in a salutary manner, at the invitation he approached the alter and as they sang "How the Fog Must Lift," etc., because in the wee hours the morning star swelled his heart.
     In April 1843 the young married couple came to German Creek, Iowa. Following a note to Father Danker, a preacher by the name of J. Mann showed up the next year. Brother Hellweg evangelized and invited his countrymen to church service at his home. Soon he obtained a license to preach and in 1847 Brother L. S. Jacoby dispatched him as a circuit preacher.
     From the above mentioned date until the Fall of 1875 he was active as a circuit preacher. At this time he was drawn to a farm near Charles City where he lived for 15 years. He passed his last years at the home his son-in-law, Adam Schneider, in Garner, Iowa, where he died. Father Hellweg became a proficient preacher of repentance who lead many souls to the Lord. Love of the work of salvation and fidelity to those who placed their trust in him were the hallmarks of his character. His chosen church was very dear to him and the "Apologist" was absolutely essential. Reading it was a comfort to him. He made note of the most important articles and read them first. Because in his last years, Brother Hellweg could hardly hear a thing, and accordingly attended church services infrequently, he preserved a warm heart by contemplation of the Bible, by reading books of sermons and our newspapers, and by prayerful company with the Lord. The welfare of the community was of great interest to him; when people were converted, he cried tears of joy. He loved to tell stories of his early experiences, and always with tears.
     Father Hellweg was seriously ill only a few days. On 5 February 1897, he passed away peacefully and blest by the Lord. As speech left him, he pointed upwards, as if he wanted to say: "I am going home!"
     Nine German and one English preachers attended the funeral services. The widow, three sons and three daughters survive him; three children have preceded him.
     Because Brother Hellweg was the eldest member of our Conference, we had thought to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of his appointment this Fall. Now he celebrates up above. His works succeed him.

     The Apologist mentioned above is Der Christliche Apologete. Deutsches Organ der Bischöflichen Methodistenkirche (The Christian Apologist. German Organ of the Episcopal Methodist Church), a newspaper founded 1844 in Cincinnati, Ohio by Wilhelm Nast.

Buried:
Peter was buried in Concord Cemetery.

Died:

     The following is a transcription of an obituary which is reported to have appeared in the Adams County Free Press, of Corning, Iowa, on 11 February 1897.

     Peter Hillweg died in Garner, Hancock county, Iowa, at 8 o'clock, Friday morning, February 5, 1897, aged 79 years, 10 months and 21 days.
     Deceased was the father of Dr. C. A. and E. W. Hillweg, who are well known to all are [sic] readers. He was the first German Methodist minister in the state of Iowa, and his first charge was at Farmington in 1847. For twenty-eight years thereafter he continued actively at the work. Mr. Hillweg died suddenly, not having been ill until but a short time before his death. It was probably a collapse of the vital forces. His wife and six children, three sons and three daughters, survive him. Of these, Dr. C. A. Hillweg and E. W., who now lives in Des Moines, are well known to our readers. All the children were present at the funeral, which occurred last Sunday afternoon. The pall bearers on this occasion were all ministers, each of whom had known the deceased for twenty years at least.
     There seems to have been an affinity for the ministry in the old gentleman's family. Beside being a minister himself, his father-in-law and one son-in-law were followers of that high calling.

     A biographical sketch of Rev. Hellweg published in 1913 reported that he had lived the last years of his life with his son-in-law, Adam Schneider.

Peter married Danker, Martha 12 Nov 1841, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, USA. Martha was born 21 Nov 1822, Amt Ottersberg, Duchy of Bremen; died 1898; was buried , Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Birth:
The Duchy of Bremen, a holding of the Hanoverian Crown from 1715, was abolished in 1823 and became part of Landdrostei Stade, an administrative district of the Kingdom of Hannover. Ottersberg is now a municipality in Landkreis (District) Verden, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Federal Republic of Germany); it is about 28 kilometers east of Bremen.

Buried:
Martha was buried in Concord Cemetery.

Notes:

Married:
According to a biographical sketch of Peter, published in 1913, the couple had 9 children.

Census (family):
According to the 1860 enumeration, the household consisted of Peter Helvick, age 42, born in Hannover, a Lutheran clergyman; Martha Helvick, age 37, born in Hannover, the wife; Anna C. Helvick, age 17, born in Ohio; John Helvick, age 15, born in Ohio; George H. Helvick, age 13, born in Ohio; Louisa Helvick, age 11, born in Ohio; Mary E. Helvick, age 9, born in Missouri; Henrietta Helvick, age 7, born in Missouri; Charlotte Helvick, age 4, born in Missouri; and Edward Helvick, age 1, born in Illinois.

Census (family):
According to the 1870 enumeration, the household consisted of Peter Hellwig, age 53, born in Hannover (both parents of foreign birth), a clergyman and a U.S. citizen; Martha Hellwig, age 47, born in Hannover (both parents of foreign birth), keeping house; Henrietta Hellwig, age 16, born in Mississippi, attending school; Edward Hellwig, age 10, born in Illinois, attending school.