Thomas Bischof Hellstern (son
of Michael
Hellstern and Mechtildis
Hellstern), born and baptized 28 December 1821(4)(5)
at Empfingen,
Hohenzollern (now part of Württemberg), Germany (Godparents: Joseph Schindler
and Maria Hellstern)(baptismal record [entry #91](4)); died 03 February 1909(5) at
Galena, Jo Daviess, Illinois, USA (Old Age);
married 05 November 1849 at Galena (marriage record(3))
to Margaretha Schmitt
who was born 20 July 1828(5) in the Grand Duchy of Baden and died 22
May 1883(5) at Galena (Cancer).
Thomas came to the U.S. on the ship Onego which sailed from Le Havre and arrived at New York City on 25 May 1848. He worked as a boatman on the Galena River and the Mississippi River. In 1851, they opened the Green Tree, a hostelry at Galena. He was Naturalized as an American citizen in Jo Daviess County Circuit Court on 15 December 1854.
In 1858, he became almost blind and had to work as a laborer in a brickyard; they lived on Elk Street during that period. In 1861, he regained his eyesight and they moved to 314 Franklin Street, where he also operated a saloon until he retired in 1878. He was working as a laborer in 1880; he was living from his income as a landlord in 1900. Hellstern biography from page 393, Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, published by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, Illinois, 1889. [Hellstern family photos.]
1850 Census: Thomas Helstein, page 273, visit 2746/2750, Galena city, Jo Daviess, Illinois.
1860 Census: Thos Hillstan, page 461, visit 1024/1068, Galena (4th Ward), Jo Daviess, Illinois.
1870 Census: Thos Helstein, page 134, visit 276/283, Galena city, Jo Daviess, Illinois.
1880 Census: Thos Hellstern, page 281, visit 128/134, Galena (4th Ward), Jo Daviess, Illinois.
1900 Census: Thomas Helstern, page 227, visit 010/011, Galena (4th Ward), Jo Daviess, Illinois.
His obituary: Dubuque Times-Journal, issue of 11 February 1909. Her obituary: Galena Weekly Gazette, issue of 25 May 1883, page 3, column 6. They are buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery at Galena (Section 6, lot 29), (their gravestone).
His will (Jo Daviess Probate Records, drawer 07). His estate (Jo Daviess Probate Records, drawer 165).
Children, born at Galena and baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church(3)(also from the Family Register of Thomas and Margaretha):
+ Francesca Hellstern, born 02 March and baptized 01 June 1852(3); married JOHANN JOSEPH ERNER.
George Valentine Hellstern, born 27 April and baptized 12 June 1853(3); died 19 June 1905 at East Dubuque, Jo Daviess, Illinois; married 11 October 1877 in Jo Daviess County (Book E, page 127) to Anna Frances Erner who was born 19 February 1858(1) at Allendorf, Kreis Arnsberg, Westphalia, Germany and died 29 March 1891 at East Dubuque. He was a tinner. They lived at 312 Franklin Street until 1878 when they moved to East Dubuque and he opened a hardware store. They lived on Sinsinawa Avenue in East Dubuque. He was a member of the East Dubuque City Council in the 1880’s. 1880 Census: Valentine Hellstern, page 214, visit 106/107, Galena (4th Ward), Jo Daviess, Illinois. 1900 Census: Valentine Hellstern, page 044, visit 061/067, Dunleith, Jo Daviess, Illinois. All of their children died without issue. His estate (Jo Daviess Probate Records, drawer 144). Children, born at East Dubuque: Mary Hellstern, born 05 February 1881, died 05 March 1937 at East Moline, Rock Island, Illinois (Death Certificate #000061), unmarried; Joseph Valentine Hellstern, born October 1883, died 05 February 1884; Frances Hellstern, born 19 November 1884(6), died 12 October 1969 at Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa(6), unmarried.
Stephanina Hellstern, born 23 April 1855(3); died 06 September 1857 at Galena.
Thomas Philip Hellstern, born 18 November 1856 and baptized 26 April 1857(3); died 26 August 1857 at Galena.
Johann Hellstern, born 08 August and died 26 August 1858(3).
Mary Mathilda Hellstern, born 02 September 1859(3); died 11 January 1933 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; married 15 November 1881 in Jo Daviess County (Book E, page 287) to Leonard Peter Schmidt (son of Peter Schmidt) who was born about 1850 in Illinois and died 19 January 1933 at Los Angeles. He was a carpenter. They were living at Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa in 1905; at Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska in 1909 (from her father’s obituary). 1920 Census: Leonard Smith, page 119, visit 306/346, Los Angeles (E.D. 252), Los Angeles, California. Children: Thomas John Smith, born 03 January 1883(8) at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died 18 December 1918 at Los Angeles, unmarried; Elmer Florian Smith, born 08 July 1885(8) at Des Moines, Polk, Iowa, died 11 August 1923 at Los Angeles, unmarried, he was a printer, he registered for the WWI Draft at San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Josefin Theresa Hellstern, born 22 December 1861 and baptized 09 March 1863(3); died 11 January 1927 aged 65 years(5) at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; married 30 August 1892 in Jo Daviess County (Book F, page 215) to Anton Luning (son of Henry F. and Theresa Luning) who was born about August 1849 in Illinois and died 25 December 1925 aged 76 years(5) at St. Louis. He worked as a lead miner when young. After they moved to St. Louis, he owned a wholesaler tobacco and cigar company; they were living at 3440 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1900, at 3433 Compton Avenue in 1920. 1920 Census: Anthony Luning, page 039, visit 419/748, St. Louis (E.D. 198), St. Louis City, Missouri. They are buried at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery at St. Louis (Section 42, lot 2985). Known children, born at St. Louis:
Anton Thomas Luning, born 24 July 1893(8); died 19 November 1964 aged 71 years(5) at Waterloo, Monroe, Illinois; married 30 August 1922 at St. Louis to Dora Rischert (daughter of August Rischert and Louise Boas) who was born 11 January 1890 at St. Louis and died 23 June 1971 aged 81 years(5) at St. Louis. He founded the Narco Drug Company, which later grew to become the largest privately owned corporation in Missouri, before being sold to another company in the early 1980s. [Info from descendant Ellen Luning.] 1930 Census: Anton T. Luning, page 193, visit 179/269, St. Louis (E.D. 471), St. Louis City, Missouri. They are buried at Resurrection Cemetery at St. Louis (Section 19, lot 521). Children: Eugene T. Luning, born 10 June 1923(6), died 27 October 1999 at Chesterfield, St. Louis, Missouri(6); Edward A. Luning, born about 1926; Donald P. Luning, born about 1927.
Edmund P. Luning, born 29 July 1895(8); died 11 February 1952 aged 56 years(5) at Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married after 1918 to ________?. He is buried with his parents. He had no children.
Norberta Teresa Luning, born 28 November 1897(6)(7); died 15 June 1979 at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California(6)(7); unmarried.
Magdalen Frances Luning, born 27 May 1901(6); died 01 March 1986(5) at St. Louis(6); unmarried. She was a bookkeeper. 1930 Census: Madeline Luning (with brother Leo, just below). She is buried with her parents.
Leo Paul Luning, born 29 June 1904(6); died April 1985 at Oak Lawn, Cook, Illinois(6); married 30 August 1930 at St. Louis to Margaret Dalton (daughter of Thomas Dalton and Mary Holloran) who was born 08 October 1905 at St. Louis. He was an accountant. 1930 Census: Leo P. Luning (single), page 082, line 16, St. Louis (E.D. 475), St. Louis City, Missouri. They had five children, all born at St. Louis. They later moved to the area of Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
Thomas Hellstern, born 01 December 1863(3); died 05 September 1927 at Rock Valley, Sioux, Iowa; married 13 January (or February) 1889 to Rose Kramer (daughter of John Kramer and Philomena Belke, both born in Prussia; and moved to Lawrence County, Tennessee in the 1870s) who was born 15 December 1867 in Westphalia, Clinton, Michigan and died 07 September 1943 at Rock Valley. [Kramer family info from researcher Florence Koesters.] He was a contractor and builder. He was chief of the Rock Valley Volunteer Fire Department, and also served on the Town Council for over thirty years. 1870 Census: Thomas Helstein (with Henry Rosenthal), page 134, visit 281/288, Galena city, Jo Daviess, Illinois. 1880 Census: Thomas Helstern (with Bernard Muller), page 147, visit 304/304, Hazel Green, Grant, Wisconsin. 1900 Census: Thomas Helstern, page 178, visit 060/060, Rock Valley city, Sioux, Iowa. 1910 Census: Thomas Helstern, page 204, visit 083/086, Rock Valley town, Sioux, Iowa. 1920 Census: Thomas Hellstern, page 198, visit 086/088, Rock Valley town, Sioux, Iowa. They are buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery at Rock Valley. Known children, born at Rock Valley:
Helena Hellstern, born 14 November 1889; died 13 January 1972 at Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa; married 01 June 1909 at Rock Valley to Gordon LeRoy Willson (son of George E. and Kitty Willson) who was born 13 May 1890(6) at Mapleton, Monona, Iowa(8) and died 20 April 1978 at Sioux City(6). He was a farmer. He registered for the WWI Draft in Perry, Thurston, Nebraska. They had seven children.
Edward V. Hellstern, born 27 July 1891(6)(8); died 11 May 1968(6) at Rock Valley; unmarried. He was a carpenter(8).
mary Eleanora Hellstern, born 28 January 1896(6); died 28 September 1992 at Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa(6); married 21 February 1917 at Rock Valley to Bertram L. Kessler (son of Jacob Kessler and Jenny L. Colby) who was born 11 March 1892(6) at Rock Valley(8) and died 14 March 1970 at Sioux City(6). He was an electrician. They had four children.
Anna Luella Hellstern, born 03 January 1898(6); died 27 April 1984 at Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa(6); married 22 January 1919 at Rock Valley to Daniel George Murray (son of John Murray and Katherine McMahon) who was born 17 July 1894 at Waterloo, Douglas, Nebraska and died 24 June 1960 at Sioux City.
Alberta Hellstern, born 22 January 1900; died 18 July 1991 at Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa; unmarried.
William Thomas Hellstern, born 21 January 1902; died 25 January 1959 at Kennewick, Benton, Washington [however, not found in the Washington State Death Index]; married 04 October 1941 at Nampa, Canyon, Idaho to Bernice Garrity (daughter of John Garrity and Catherine Ryan) who was born 05 April 1909 at Nampa and died 09 October 1992 at Twin Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho. He was a carpenter; he became foreman of Columbia Basin area operations for the Donald Drake Construction Co. They had two children.
Margaret Agnes Hellstern, born 01 January 1905(6); died 27 March 1986(6) at Broadus, Powder River (or Hammond, Carter(6)), Montana; married 14 November 1931 at Deadwood, Lawrence, South Dakota (Marriage Certificate #148321) to Charles Albert Aldrich of Piniele, Carter, Montana who was born about 1907. They had no children.
Herman Hellstern, born 08 September 1865(3); died 07 April 1920 at Galena (Death Certificate #017568); married 30 June 1897 at Galena to Sarah Adelle Desmond (daughter of Daniel and Katherine Desmond) who was born about April 1875 at Galena and died 14 April 1962 at Galena. They lived on West Street in Galena. He owned a five-chair barber shop in the 200 block of Main Street in Galena. After his father died, they moved into the house at 314 Franklin Street. 1900 Census: Herman Helstern, page 234, visit 186/192, Galena (4th Ward), Jo Daviess, Illinois. Known children, born at Galena:
Catherine Hellstern, born about March 1899; died 02 March 1918 at Galena (Death Certificate #021370); unmarried.
Clara Hellstern, born 22 May 1903; died 16 January 1982 at Galena; unmarried.
Josephine A. Hellstern, born 20 March 1908(6); died 11 October 1995 at Galena(6); married 22 July 1939 to Francis Harvey who died 22 October 1954 at Ladysmith, Rusk, Wisconsin. She was Head of Nursing at Miller Hospital at St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota. They had no children.
Francis Herman Hellstern, born 26 August 1914(6); died 19 December 1995 at Woodstock, McHenry, Illinois(6); married 22 February 1940 at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess, Illinois to Rose Mary Hill who was born 29 January 1920 at Galena. He was a schoolteacher. They had four children.
Helena Hellstern, born 11 August 1867(3); died 13 June 1932 at Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa; unmarried. 1910 Census: Lena Hellsten (single, with Oliver Longueville?), page 025, visit 039/051, Dubuque (1st Ward), Dubuque, Iowa. 1920 Census: Lena Hellstern (single, with Anna P. Scott), page 076, visit 123/132, Dubuque (2nd Ward), Dubuque, Iowa. 1930 Census: Lena Hellstern (single, with Mary S. Scott), page 209, visit 261/302, Dubuque (E.D. 22), Dubuque, Iowa.
Margaretha Hellstern, born 24 August 1869(3); died 25 June 1908 at East Dubuque, Jo Daviess, Illinois; married 22 June 1898 at Galena to Frederick John Adelmann (son of Andrew Adelmann and Mary Koerner) who was born 30 December 1864 at Dunleith (now East Dubuque) and died 19 July 1929 at Oakland, Alameda, California. They lived at East Dubuque; he was a foreman at Farley & Loetscher. [Frederick was married second to Bertha Heins.] Children, born at East Dubuque:
Florence Margaret Adelmann, born 16 September 1899(6); died 30 April 1998 at Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California(6); married 27 December 1937 at Monterey, Monterey, California to Harold Raines (son of Thomas Raines and Anna Barry) who was born 08 April 1901(6) at Vallejo, Solano, California and died 24 March 1999 at Walnut Creek(6). They had one daughter.
Ruth Helen Adelmann, born 31 August 1901(6); died 29 November 1988 at Lafayette, Contra Costa, California(6); married in California to Loring Alfred Wyllie who was born 10 November 1899(6)(8) and died June 1979 at Oakland, Alameda, California(6). He registered for the WWI Draft at Berkeley, Alameda, California. She was a nurse. They had one son.
Mary Frances Adelmann, born 26 July 1903(6)(7); died 08 January 1997 at Tunkhannock, Wyoming, Pennsylvania(6) or in Monterey County, California(7); married 26 June 1925 at East Dubuque, Jo Daviess, Illinois to Otto Herman Wilhelm Aalderks (son of William Aalderks and Henrietta Janssen) who was born 15 September 1898(6)(8) at Aurich, Germany and died 16 June 1985 at Carmel, Monterey, California(6). He registered for the WWI Draft at Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa. They lived in Ohio; later at Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee where he was a Vice-President of Buckeye Cellulose Co. They had two sons, including Frederick Adelman Alderks, whose wife Marjorie Carmichael Alderks did much of the research on the descendants of several of Thomas Hellstern’s children.
Thomas Hellstern, of Galena, Illinois. Last revision: 26 May 2007
Allendorf to America: Erner and Related Families in America.
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