Hulda M. Johnson Helstrom 1875-1895

HELSTROM, HELLSTROM, JOHNSON, JOHNSTON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/8/2014 at 23:36:01

A.A. Johnson received the sad news yesterday afternoon that his daughter Huldah, who was recently married and had moved to Mason City with her husband, had died suddenly at that place. No particulars were given and Mr. Johnson went at once, his wife having gone a few days previously in response to a letter asking her to come on a visit. The remains will be probable be brought here for burial. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, October 24, 1895)

Sudden Death
Miss Hulda M. Johnson who was married to Geo. F. Hellstrom, October 1st, and went to Mason City to live, died very suddenly at her home last Thursday [October 24, 1895]. Her mother, Mrs. A. Johnson, of this place, was visiting her at time and her father on learning of her death, at once went to Mason City and her remains were brought home for burial. One of the Mason City papers made the statement that she died from taking poison and her parents wished to settle the matter of the cause of her death, had the remains taken up and Doctors Bacon and Stockton of Mason City, and Salisbury, Myrick ad Bradley, of this city, held a post mortem examination Monday, and found she died from inflammation of the stomach but whether it was caused by poison or not is yet to be determined. Dr. Bradley has charge of the stomach analysis and will make a thorough examination. It is a sad case and one that calls out the sympathy of our people for the sorrowing parents and husband. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 30, 1895)

Hulda Johnson Hellstrom [Helstrom]
The remains of Mrs. Hulda Hellstrom whose sad and sudden death at Mason City was briefly mentioned in these columns last week, were brought here for burial and the funeral occurred Friday afternoon at the Methodist church. The remains were laid to rest in the Norwegian cemetery north of town.

The deceased was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Johnston of this city. She was a bride of but a few weeks and but recently left her parents’ home with her young husband, filled with joy and buoyant hopes and with every promise of a bright and happy future before her. But alas, the inevitable came and when it was least expected, and she was summoned into the unknown future without the privilege of the presence and comforting words of many of her friends and loved ones. In her life, she was not known to the writer, but she grew from childhood to womanhood here and all who knew her speak of her in the most affectionate terms. Hers was a beautiful life, - a life of spotless purity. She was blessed with a bright and sunny disposition and by its use shed light and sunshine about and upon the hearts and lives of those with whom she associated.

The hearts of the community must necessarily go out in sympathy for the stricken parents and for the bereaved husband in this their irreparable loss. (Northern Vindicator, Estherville, IA, October 31, 1895)

Owing to the ugly sensational reports set afloat in the metropolitan dailies concerning the death of Mrs. Hellstrom members of her family concluded to have a post mortem examination made to determine the cause of death. Accordingly the body was exhumed Tuesday and an examination made by Drs. Geo. Stockman and J.B. Dalkin, of Mason City, and Drs. Myrick, Salisbury and Bradley of this city. They found death to have resulted from acute congestion and hemorrhage of the stomach. The cause of the hemorrhage has not yet been determined, but chemical analysis of the contents of the stomach is being made for that purpose. The report will be given in full next week. It is the general opinion that it was not a case of suicide as reported in the dailies. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 30, 1895)

Result of Hellstrum Post Mortem Examination
Estherville, Iowa, Nov. 1, 1895
This is to certify that we have made quantative chemical analysis of the stomach and contents of Mrs. Hulda Hellstrum (deceased), and find there are no poisonous substances present, excepting substances known as ptomaines, which substances are found in decomposing meat or are formed in the body after death.

It is our opinion that the acute inflammation of the stomach, which was the cause of her death, resulted from the eating of sausage undergoing decomposition.

W.E. Bradley, M.D.
R.W. Salisbury, M.D.
State of Iowa, Emmet Co. – SS
(Emmet County Republican, Estherville, IA, November 7, 1895)