My Genealogy Hound

HELLMAN, BENNET H., far.; P. O. and residence St. Paul; son of G. H. Hellman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1811, and the spring of 1835, emigrated to America, arriving at Fort Madison, Lee Co., the spring of 1836; coming over in the same ship was Mary A. Kalker, born in Hanover, Germany, in 1806, to whom, by the time they reached Fort Madison, he was engaged in marriage, and there being no proper officer nearer, they were obliged to go to Quincy, Ill., in order to secure the services of one; returning, they settled in Marion Tp.; had nine children, six sons and three daughters — Harmon H., born July 15, 1837, is supposed to be the first child born in the township, now a resident of Sec. 19, this township, and May, 1859, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Barney and Gertrude Grothouse; she was born in Prussia, 1837, and with her parents emigrated to America and Lee Co., when 11 years of age. In 1868, they settled where they now reside, and own eighty acres of land, valued at $45 per acre. They have eight children — Garret H., born March 6, 1859; Annie M., Feb. 9, 1861; Joseph, May 2, 1863; Louisa, Jan. 10, 1866; Carolina, April 29, 1868; Mary, July 15, 1871; John A., Nov. 21, 1873, died Oct. 21, 1876, and Bernard G., May 26, 1876. The second born to Mr. and Mrs. Hellman, Sr., was the subject of this sketch, who was born March 31, 1838, and after receiving an education at the American and German schools of his native county, at the age 21 went to St. Louis, where, at the breaking out of the war, he joined the Western Division of the United States Telegraph Corps, operating in Missouri and Arkansas. June, 1864, found him at Atchison, Kan., from which, with five yoke of oxen, he made the journey to San Francisco, Cal., walking the entire distance, where he engaged with the Stage Co., and worked his way back to Denver, Colo., there engaged to the B. O. Des. Co., driving from Denver to Cheyenne Wells; this he continued for two years, then he worked as baggage-master for A. W. Buyer, of Ellsworth, Kan., taking freight to Santa Fe, New Mexico; afterward he worked for the Southern United States Mail Co., in which service, he visited New Mexico, Iron Springs, Colo., and most of the important cities of Mexico and Colorado, and in 1871, he returned to Lee Co. Democratic in politics. The family are members of the Catholic Church.