George H.
Heltzel 1791-1871
copyright 2001, Brian L. Cartwright, Manassas Park, Va [email protected]
permission is granted to reprint and distribute, for non-commercial use, provided credit is given to author
any magazines or websites charging subscriptions must first obtain written permission
Letters of Administration, to Samuel R. Miller, 27 Oct 1871
Final Report cover page, 4 Nov 1879
Final Report, page 2 items v.1 thru v.11
Final Report, page 3, items v.12 thru v.16, heirs of unknown residence
Final Report, page 4 (final page)
Affidavit of Charles Helsel, representing heirs in Pennsylvania
Will of John Tobias Heltzel, 28 Jun 1844
Obituary of Christina (Heltzel) Rose-Wonders
AUTHORS NOTE:
I encourage any
readers to comment on this essay. If anything can be added or clarified, or if
you feel that my information is in error, please let me know. If any readers
would like their own comments published here, I’d be glad to add them.
Vicki Fretz [email protected]
of McKeesport, Pa, was instrumental in assisting me to obtain these documents.
Vicki is a descendant of Solomon Helsel, George’s son, and through our email
correspondence from February to April of 2001, we were able to obtain copies of
George H. Heltzel’s estate papers from Marshall Co, Indiana, will allowed me to
author this analysis.
BACKGROUND:
George H. Heltzel, born 21 Jan 1791 (per Isaac Imler Bible), died 5 Oct 1871 (per letters of administration, Marshall Co, Indiana).
Enumerated in the census:
man, woman 26-45; 5 boys, 4 girls under 10
man 40-49, woman 20-29; 3 boys 15-19; 1 boy, 1 girl 10-14; 2 boys 5-9; 2 girls 0-4
man 40-49, woman 30-39; 2 boys, 1 girl 15-19; 2 girls 10-14; 1 girl 5-9; 2 boys, 1 girl 0-4
George 59 Amelia 44 Elizabeth
24 Isaac 15 Maria 13 John 10 Henry 8
Margaret 1
Peter Rose 24 Eve Rose 18
George 69 Amelia 51 Isaac 24 Margaret 10 Emeline Samel 5
George 74 Amanda 62
It is likely that George is
the son of John Tobias Heltzel of Bedford Twp, Bedford Co, but as yet I have
not found any documentation to prove this.
The obituary of George's
daughter Christina says she was born in 1827 near Imlertown, which lies on the
east side of Stiffler Ridge. Dunning's Creek and the Albright Cemetery, where
John T. is buried, are on the west side of the ridge, less that two miles of
moderate terrain. George first appears in the 1820 census of Bedford Twp,
amidst five Imler families, and John T.'s wife was Esther "Hetty"
Imler.
John T. did not mention George
in his will, but did name five sons, "in addition to what I have already
given to my sons Conrad, Tobias, Daniel, John and Jacob, that my executors
already named give each of my sons the sum of Ten Dollars in full for their
legacies." John's obituary, published in the Bedford newspaper, states
that he was survived by fifteen children, which suggests that there may have
been more than just five sons. John's will also leaves his plantation, farm,
and all personal property to Polly Samuel, until her son Adam reaches the age
of 21, when she is to surrender said property to her son Adam. George H.
Heltzel's estate papers prove that he, and not John, is Polly's father and
Adam's grandfather. It would seem likely that John would leave his estate to a
direct line heir, and Polly can only be such if her father George is John's
son.
I received a note from April
Philips that suggested George may have been born in Virginia:
"From info received from Sue- there is a possibility that this
George Heltzel is the same George Henry Heltzel born 1/21/1792 in VA, died
10/6/1871 in Center Twp, Marshal Co, IN. Buried in Jacoby Cemetery, Marshall
County, IN. His will mentions wife "Mealy", estate to be
"equally divided amongst his children " executor: Samuel Miller. In
talking with Sue on the 11th we feel certain these are in fact the same
person. (listed on her Heltzel's in
INDIANA paper). Death and burial may have also occured in Union Twp, Elkhart
Co, Indiana. (ap 10/11/97)"
The 1850, 1860 & 1870 census listings all state that George was born
in Pennsylvania, but it still raises the possibility that he was not John T.'s
son.
Two of George's daughters,
Susan, 1811-1839, and Catherine, 1819-1897, were the wife of Isaac Imler of
Bedford Twp. A transcription of Isaac's family Bible appears in the book
"Bedford County Archives", which shows George name, and his birthdate
of 21 Jan 1791. In February of 2001, I was corresponding with Vicki Fretz, who
believes there may have been more names associated with the Bible than were
published. One of these was Catherine Croil, died 1842, aged 50 years, 19 days.
Was she George's first wife? There is only one gap in the birthdates of the
children, which could be accounted for by either a death of a child, or the
death of the mother. This gap appears from 1827-1832, and corresponds with the
time George moved from Bedford to Cambria Co, 1827-1830. It would not be
unreasonable to suggest that George moved after he death of his first wife, and
maried his second wife Amelia in Cambria Co. This would be easier to check if
we knew Amelia's maiden name, but as yet this has not been determined. However,
if Catherine was George's first wife, and did not die until 1842, Amelia would
have been 35 years old by the time she married George. This is possible, but
just doesn't seem as likely.
There is a very worn tombstone
in Dunmire's Cemetery in Elton, Adams Twp, Cambria Co. Cindy Miller had
transcribed it as Catherine Heltzel, died Oct 1818, aged 51 years. The 1818
date seemed to early, many years before any other recorded burials. I visited
the cemetery in June, 2000 and found the stone. The part not transcribed, and
the clearest to read was, "Catherine, wife of George H. Heltzel,
Jr." I immediately thought that this
would be Catherine Gohn, wife of George Helsel, who died at Andersonville
Prison, George, in 1864, that the dates could be died 1878, aged 64, and that
this showed that her husband George was the son of George from Bedford, who
lived very close by. In January of 2001
I copied Catherine's pension application at the National Archives. It showed
that her husband's name was George L. Helsel, which differs on the middle
initial, and the spelling of the surname. The surname spelling may be
discounted, as "Heltzel" was most common in Bedford Co, mostly among
John T.'s descendants, and some people changed the spelling simply by changing
where they lived. Also, George H.'s estate papers show that this George was
most likely not his son. After learning of Catherine Croil, I began to wonder
if the tombstone might actually be for her instead of Catherine Gohn. If this
was true, there was no discrepancy in the name of her husband, but if George H.
Heltzel was a "Jr", who was his father George? Certainly not anyone
with connections to western Pennsylvania (Virginia?). But, for George's first
wife to have lived 1792-1842, she would have to have given birth over a 29 year
period, up to age 48. Not impossible, but very uncommon. (My maternal
grandmother, Margaret (Stiffler) Rainey, gave birth 18 times over 27 years, up
to age 46).
I believe the tombstone at
Dunmire Cem is likely George's first wife, whose name would thenbe Catherine. I
don't believe the refernece to Catherine Croil who died in 1842 refers to this
woman. If we were to try to adjust the transcription to fit other facts,
perhaps it read "died 1828, age 34 years", although this would still
be very early for this cemetery (despite that her stone is clearly the most
worn), and the "Jr" in the phrase "wife of George H. Heltzel Jr."
raises doubts on John Tobias Heltzel being George's father.
George's eldest child Susan
was born just after his 20th birthday in 1811, so it is likely he married at
about age 18, in 1809 or 1810. For the first twenty years of his adult life, he
lived in Bedford Twp. His daughter Christina's obituary states that she was
born near Imlertown in 1827, not far from John T. & Hetty Heltzel in Dutch
Corner.
Between Christina's birth in
1827 and the 1830 census, George relocated to Conemaugh Twp (now Adams Twp) in
Cambria Co, where he lived another twenty years, appearing also in the 1840
& 1850 census. On 1 Apr 1853 he and Amelia sold 441 acres along the Bedford
Pike, presumbaly the time he moved to Indiana.
his children
Catharine Charles Christina Elizabeth Eve George Henry Isaac John Jonathan
Margaret Mariah Martin
Mary Samuel Solomon
Susan
ABSTRACT:
16 children, living and deceased, are named in the final report. Martin Heltzel, Margaret Muffley, Maria Stump, Samuel Heltzel, and Isaac Heltzel are paid $18.50 by Samuel Miller, administrator, all presumably living in the state of Indiana. Emeline Matthewson, quarter share of $4.62, Charles Heltzel $134.12. Charles filed affidavit that he had power of attorney to distribute this money, 7 full shares of $18.50 to himself, Catherine Imler, Jonathan Helsel, Eliza Hulderbaum, Christina Wonders, the estate of Solomon Helsel, dec'd, and the heirs of Susan Imler, dec'd, and Adam Samuel, one of the four heirs of Mary Samuel, dec'd (quarter share). Lastly, "this executor does not know the place of residence of the the following heirs of said Estate", each to receive a full share of $18.50, John Helsel (son), George Helsel (son), the unknown heirs of Eve Rose dec'd (daughter), the two remaining heirs of Mary Samuel dec'd (daughter).
1. SUSAN
1811-1839
7. CATHERINE
1819-1897
md Isaac Imler
Bedford Twp
Susan Imler dec'd and Catherine Imler are listed in Charles Helsel’s affidavit as two of the interests he was representing. George's name and birthdate appears in the Isaac Imler Bible, Isaac, b 29 Aug 1805 d 20 Feb 1881, having married first Susanna b 6 Apr 1811 d 1 Nov 1839. He then married Catherine b 11 Dec 1819 d 27 Oct 1897. Isaac and both wives are buried at Messiah Lutheran Church in Bedford Twp.
2. SAMUEL b abt 1812
md Lea
Woodbury Twp > Stark Co, Ohio
Item v.13 shows a full share of $18.50 paid to Samuel Heltzel by the executor, Samuel Miller, so presumably Samuel has appeared in person to claim his inheritance. This is the only place to date that the name Samuel has been mentioned as a son of George. If the son George discussed below was indeed the male born 1820-1825 in the 1830 & 1840 census, then Samuel would likely be the male born 1810-1815 in 1820 & 1830. There is a match available - a Samuel Helsel appears in the 1840 census in Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co, and age 39 in 1850 in North Woodbury Twp, Blair Co (that part of which was formed from Bedford Co in 1847). He was then found in the 1860 census in Tuscarawas Twp, Stark Co, Ohio. Two of his sons, Abraham and Bartholomew, both served in the 13th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War, which recruited from Logan and Union counties, just northwest of Columbus.
3. SOLOMON 1813-1876
md Mary Rose, Sarah
(), Sarah Ellen Claar
Richland Twp > Napier Twp > Woodbury Twp
Charles' affidavit for the moneys received from the estate of George Helsel state that he was representing (among others) the estate of Solomon Helsel, dec'd, and that he was the administrator of that estate. Solomon was living in Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co at the time of his death on 9 Mar 1876, and probate records show his brother Charles as administrator. Charles' report of Solomon's estate show assets of $18.50 owed from the estate of Geo. Helsel in the state of Indiana, and debts show $10 owed to Charles to cover expenses of making the trip to Indiana to help settle the estate. Solomon was born 16 Oct 1813 (per his Bible) On 2 Apr 1835 Solomon signed a five year lease to farm land owned by Joseph Rose. Nine months earlier, on 27 July 1834, Solomon had married Joseph's sister Mary Rose, b 26 Apr 1809 d 31 Dec 1852 (per Bible). On 4 Jul 1839 Solomon purchased 146 acres in Richland Twp from his father-in-law Adam Rose for $105. After being enumerated in 1840, 1850 & 1860 in Richland Twp, he appears in 1870 in Napier Twp, Bedford Co. He then moved to Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co, sometime prior to his death in 1876. He married his 2nd wife, Sarah, on 21 Mar 1853, and she died on 21 Jul 1865. He then married his 3rd wife, Sarah Ellen Claar, widow of Jacob Settlemyer, before 1870, and she survived him, living until 31 Dec 1891.
4. MARTIN b abt 1815
md Margaret
Dunmyer
Richland Twp > Woodbury Twp > Elkhart Co, Indiana
Item v.10 shows $18.50 paid to Martin, presumably in Indiana. Martin appears in the 1840 & 1850 census in Richland Twp, Cambria Co. In 1851 he and his wife Margaret sold their land to Lewis Dunmyer, and in 1860 appeared in the census in South Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co. Their daughter Elizabeth's obituary says that the family moved to Nappannee, Elkhart Co, Indiana, when she was 21 (abt 1866). Elizabeth’s death certificate provided the maiden name of her mother, Margaret. I have not been able to find Martin in the 1870 census of Indiana.
5. CHARLES 1816-1900
md Margaret Bowser,
Elizabeth Harclerode
Bedford Twp
Item v.15 shows Charles received $134.12 from the administrator. Charles had traveled to Indiana to help settle George's estate, representing the interest of the heirs residing in Pennsylvania, and filed an affidavit stating that he had power of attorney for Catherine Imler, Jonathan Helsel, Eliza Hulderbaum, Christena Wonders, the estate of Solomon Helsel dec'd, and of Adam Samuel, one of four heirs of Mary Samuel, dec'd, as well as the heirs of Susan Imler deceased. He also mentions that he is the administrator of Solomon's estate. Solomon had died in 1876, and Charles stated that he was Solomon's brother when he was granted the letters of administration. Charles lived his whole life in Bedford Twp. He first married Margaret Bowser, 1811-1854, and second to Elizabeth Harclerode, 1817-1878. Charles, both wives, and five of his seven children, four of whom died young, are buried at Messiah Lutheran Church in Bedford Twp.
6. MARY 1818-1855
md Michael
Samuel
Bedford Twp
Charles went to Indiana, representing, among others, the interests of Adam Samuel, one of the four heirs of Mary Samuel, dec'd. Mary was the wife of Michael Samuel, age 37 in the 1850 census of Bedford Twp, and died in 1855, according to her tombstone at Albright Cem. Calculating the 7 full shares of $18.50 each that Charles collected to take back to Pennsylvania, $4.62 remains for Adam, which is one fourth of a full share. In 1843, Mary was the sole beneficiary of the will of John Tobias Heltzel of Bedford Twp, George's likely father, and mention was also made of when her son Adam became of age. It has been commonly accepted that Mary was John T.'s daughter, but this shows she was George's. The section naming the heirs of unknown residence mention the two remaining heirs of Mary Samuel dec'd (daughter). A quarter share was also paid in item v.16 to Emeline Matthewson. The 1860 census of Kosciusko Co, Indiana shows Emeline Samel, age 5, with George & Amelia Helsel. In 1870, at age 15, she is listed as Emelie Helsel, with John and Margaret Muffley, George's daughter. It has also been commonly accepted that Samel was her middle name, and that she was George & Amelia's daughter. The estate shows her to be Mary's last child. As Emeline was born in 1855, the year that Mary died, Mary must have died very soon after, or at, the birth of Emeline, and afterwards she was raised by her grandparents. By 1879, she had married Mr. Matthewson. An older Michael Samuel appears in the 1800 census in Quemahoning Twp, Somerset Co, and then in 1810 & 1820 in Conemaugh Twp, Cambria Co, which before the creation of Cambria Co in 1804 belonged to Quemahoning Twp. This Michael Samuel in 1815 purchased Tobias Helsel's 100 acre property on Paint Creek, which is adjacent to the south of the 440 acres later owned by George Heltzel. It seems likely that Mary's future husband was raised on land adjacent to her father's, and that they later moved to Bedford Twp. Mary and two young daughters are buried at Albright Cem, as are John Tobias & Hetty (Imler) Heltzel, her likely paternal grandparents.
8. JONATHAN 1822-1885
md Catherine
Barley
Woodbury Twp
Jonathan was named in Charles' affidavit as one of the children from Pennsylvania he was representing.
He spent his entire adult life in Middle Woodbury Twp, Bedford Co, being enumerated there in the census from 1850 to 1880. Jonathan, his wife Catharine, and six of their ten children are buried at Barley's Lutheran Cem in Baker's Summit, Bedford Co.
9. GEORGE b abt 1824
md Susan Rose
Conemaugh Twp >
Westmoreland Co > Marion Co, Iowa
***inconclusive identification, compelling, but not yet convincing
George was one of the sons of unknown residence in 1879. Previously, I had thought that George Helsel b abt 1812, d 1864 at Andersonville Prison, Georgia, was the son. A process of elimination of potential fathers suggested it, and a tombstone at Dunmire Cemetery, Adams Twp, Cambria Co, Pa, reads "Catherine, wife of George H. Heltzel Jr", but with badly faded dates. However, the younger George's widow's pension application shows that his middle initial was not "H.". It would also seem not likely that 15 years after his death, his siblings in Pennsylvania would not be aware of his whereabouts. This would shift attention back to George b abt 1824, who married Susan Rose. The Rose family was close neighbors of the Heltzels, with sisters Eve marrying Peter Rose, Christina marrying Abram Rose, and brother Solomon marrying Mary Rose. This younger George and his wife Susan were enumerated in the 1850 census in Conemaugh Twp, Cambria Co, Pa, and in 1860 in Swan Twp, Marion Co, Iowa. George and Susan Helsel, of Westmoreland Co, Pa, on 4 Sep 1854 sold a house in Conemaugh Twp, Cambria Co, to Alexander Kettering.
10. ELIZABETH b abt 1826
md Augustus
Holderbaum
Bedford Twp
Elizabeth Hulderbaum was named in Charles' affidavit as one of the children from Pennsylvania he was representing. She was age 24, living at home, in the 1850 census. A book on the history of the Holderbaum family lists Elizabeth Helsel married to Augustus Holderbaum. In the 1850 census, they are living in Bedford Twp, Elizabeth age 24, with her oldest child age 8. This would seem to be George’s daughter, although it would mean she was enumerated twice in the 1850 census, once with her parents in Cambria Co, and another time with her husband and children in Bedford Co. Elizabeth had been reported to have married Joseph Hodges in 1869 in Indiana. However, the obituary of Martin’s daughter Elizabeth states that she married Seymour Hodges, in Indiana, on the same date, so it appears that Martin’s daughter had been confused with her aunt, who had remained in Pennsylvania.
11. CHRISTINA 1827-1900
md Abram Rose,
Stephen Wonders
Napier Twp
Christina Wonders was named in Charles' affidavit as one of the children from Pennsylvania he was representing. Christina's obituary names her father as George Heltzel, but does not name a mother. She was born near Imlertown on 27 Jan 1827, so George is presumed have moved to Cambria Co sometime between this date and the time of 1830 census. On 31 May 1846, she married Abram Rose, b abt 1822, d 10 Jun 1859. She married second, on 4 Jun 1871, to Stephen Wonders of Napier Twp, b 19 Feb 1811, d 22 Jan 1890. Christina d 4 Jun 1900, and is buried in the Reformed Cem in New Paris, Bedford Co. She is not to be confused with Christina J. (Thomas) Wonders-Helsel 1854-1937, who first married Henry Wonders, then second Jonathan Helsel, son of Solomon.
12. EVE b abt 1832
md Peter Rose
Richland Twp > ??
Samuel Miller's report mentions the unknown whereabouts of the unknown heirs of Eve Rose, dec'd. In 1850, Eve Rose, age 18, and Peter Rose, age 24, were living with the family of George & Amelia Helsel. No further record has been found.
13. ISAAC 1834-1922
md Anna Stump, Elwena
Eversole
Elkhart Co, Indiana
Item v.14 shows Isaac Heltzel received his portion of the inheritance from the administrator, Samuel Miller. In the 1850 census, he was age 15, living with his parents, George and Amelia, in Richland Twp, Cambria Co. In 1860, he was age 24, a laborer, still living with George and Amelia, in Scott Twp, Kosciusko, Indiana. Isaac first married Anna Stump b 11 Apr 1846, d 6 Sep 1873, on 16 Sep 1869 in Goshen, Elkhart Co, Indiana. Anna is buried in Nappannee, Elkhart Co. He married second Elwina Eversole on 30 Sep 1876, also in Goshen.
14. MARIAH
b abt 1837
md Noah Stump
Elkhart Co, Indiana
Item v.12 shows Maria Stump received her portion of the inheritance from the administrator, Samuel Miller. Marriage records of Elkhart Co, Indiana report that Maria Heltzel and Noah Stump were married there on 5 Dec 1858.
15. JOHN abt 1840-1908
md Savanna A. Wilson
Linn Co, Kansas >
Missouri > Oklahoma
Samuel Miller listed his name among the heirs whose residence was not known. John appears in the 1850 census, age 10, with his parents George and Amelia in Richland Twp, Cambria Co. He has yet to be found in the 1860 census, but in 1870, there is a John R. Heltzel, age 30, born in Pa, with wife Savanna, age 25, born in Indiana, living in Linn Co, Kansas. During the Civil War, on 28 July 1862, John R. Heltzel enlisted as a Private in Co E, 74th Indiana Infantry. This regiment was organized at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and included soldiers from Kosciusko Co. John filed for his invalid pension in 1892 from Missouri, and Savanna filed for her widow’s pension in 1908 from Oklahoma.
16. HENRY b abt 1842
Henry appears in the 1850 census, age 8, living with his parents George and Amelia in Richland Twp, Cambria Co. He is not mentioned in the administrator's report. It is possible he died without heirs.
md John Muffley
Kosciusko Co, Indiana
Item v.11 shows Margaret Muffley received her share of the inheritance from the administrator, Samuel Miller. She was age 1 in the 1850 census with her parents, George and Amelia, in Richland Twp, Cambria Co, and age 10 in the 1860 census, now in Scott Twp, Kosciusko Co, Indiana. In 1870, she was age 21, the wife of John Muffley (1844-1932), in Center Twp, Marshall Co, Indiana. Living with John and Margaret was her niece, Emelie Helsel, age 15. Margaret and John Muffley, who were married on 19 Aug 1869 in Kosciusko Co, Indiana, are buried in Milford, Kosciusko Co.