Helmick, Benjamin C., 1889 or 1890-1934

HELMICK, HELMRICK, COE, IVERSON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Hawarden Independent, September 6, 1934:

DEATH CLAIMS BEN HELMRICK
Assistant at Weed Laboratory Died Wednesday Morning

Benjamin C. Helmrick of Ames, who has been engaged during a part of the past three summers as technical assistant to Dr. A. L. Bakke at the State Weed Experimental Laboratory, northeast of Hawarden, died at the Hawarden hospital at 8:15 Wednesday morning from typhoid fever and an infection of the blood stream. Mr. Helmrick had been ill for more than a week and several days prior to his death was removed to the Hawarden hospital. Mrs. Helmrick was summoned from Ames a few days ago and remained at her husband's bedside until the end. Dr. Bakke motored with her back to Ames Wednesday afternoon.

Mr. Helmrick was about 44 years of age and had been connected with Iowa State College and its extension service for a number of years. He was a research specialist of marked ability and his work with Dr. Bakke in the weed eradication projects which have been carried on here has been of an outstanding character. He formed the acquaintance of many of the citizens of this community during the summer periods that he has spent here and his death is sincerely mourned here. He is survived by his wife, one son, aged 16, and two daughters, aged 14 and 12.

The body is being held at the Ross Funeral Home and will be taken to Ames early Friday morning where funeral services will be held at 10:30 that morning. Interment will be made in Iowa State College cemetery.

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From the Alton Democrat, September 6, 1934:

FEARED TYPHOID; CLAIMED HIS LIFE

A strange feature in the death from typhoid of Benjamin C. Helmrick . . . is the fact that Mr. Helmrick was fearful of typhoid and usually carried out a jug of city water from Hawarden to use at his camp at the laboratory where he lived in a tent.

According to Hawarden citizens, Mr. Helmrick studied in Maine but later went to Arizona for his health. When he recovered he returned east as far as Ames where he became useful at the state college, coming to Sioux county as Dr. Bakke’s helper. He had never returned to robust health, however, it is stated. A specialist from Sioux City pronounced his disease to be typhoid fever.

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From the Ames Daily Tribune Times, September 5, 1934:

B. C. HELMICK OF AMES DIES AT HAWARDEN

Benjamin Coe Helmick, 42 years old, 2520 Chamberlain avenue, died at 8 a.m. Wednesday in a Hawarden hospital. He became ill with typhoid fever Aug. 25 and was taken to the hospital last Friday. The typhoid fever was checked but complications developed and caused his death. Funeral services probably will be held Friday morning with burial in the Iowa State College cemetery, but definite arrangements have not yet been completed.

Just before his death Mr. Helmick had been working with Prof. A. L. Bakke of Iowa State in plant pathology research work at Hawarden. He and his family had lived in Ames for about four years.

Born in Washington, Iowa, Mr. Helmick attended Iowa State college and received his bachelor of science degree in 1914. After two years of study at Cornell university he received his master of science degree. Later he studied and taught at Princeton for two years, taught at the Connecticut State Agricultural college in Storrs for two years and taught for seven years at the University of Maine in Orono. For four years before coming to Ames the family lived in Colorado. Mr. Helmick had had two years of work toward his doctor of philosophy degree in plant pathology at Iowa State.

Mr. Helmick is survived by his wife and three children, Benjamin 16, Mary Ellen 14 and Joan 12. He leaves also one sister, Mrs. Helene Nelson of Washington, Iowa. Mrs. Helmick was formerly Jennie Iverson, sister of Miss Alice Iverson, Miss Nellie Iverson and Miss Belle Iverson, all of Ames.

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From the Washington Democrat Independent, September 13, 1934:

HELMICK FUNERAL IS HELD AT AMES
Services for Former Washington Man Who Died at Hawarden

Funeral services were held Sept. 17 at Ames for Prof. Ben Helmick, 45 years old, former resident of the Washington community, who died Wednesday at Hawarden. Burial was at Ames. The service was attended by his sister, Mrs. J. H. Nelson of Washington, only surviving member of his father’s family.

Professor Helmick, who has been connected with Iowa State college a Ames, had been doing experimental work in connection with the CCC, and became ill of typhoid fever at Hawarden and was taken to the hospital there, where he died Wednesday.

He was born southwest of Washington in the Walnut neighborhood, on March 4, 1889, a son of W. H. and Martha (Coe) Helmick. He attended the country schools and the Washington academy, from which he was graduated. He next enrolled at Iowa State college and was graduated from that school. He took advanced work in the agricultural department of Cornell university at Ithaca, N.Y., and later was a member of the faculty at Cornell, and also at an agricultural school on New Jersey, before returning to Ames. For a year he was in Colorado, on account of illness in his family.

Mr. Helmick was married sixteen years ago to Jennie Iverson of Ames, and is survived by her and three children, Benjamin William, Mary Alice and Jean. Their home is at Ames. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. When a young man in this community he was connected with the old Second United Presbyterian church.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Although the Sioux County newspapers in reporting on his death give his surname as Helmrick, the preponderance of other evidence suggests that it was Helmick.

His death certificate has him as Benjamin Coe Helmick [overwritten to read Helmrick], resident of Ames, Iowa; wife Jennie Helmick; botanist, experimental farm; born March 5, 1890, in Washington, Iowa; parents William Helmick and Martha Coe; died in Hawarden at 8:15 a.m. September 5, 1934; cause, malignant endocarditis, onset August 25, 1934; contributory cause, typhoid fever; buried at Ames, Iowa.

The Story County marriage register for 1916/1917 shows groom Benjamin C. Helmick. age 29, resident of Washington, Iowa, occupation “college work”; born in Washington, Iowa, parents Wm. H. Helmick and Martha Helen Coe; bride Jennie Louise Iverson, age 31, resident of Ames, Iowa, born in Eastman, Wisconsin, parents Charles Halsted Iverson and Mary Francis Sprosty; married at Ames, June 12, 1917.

The 1910 U.S. census for Brighton Township, Washington County, Iowa shows farmer William H. (61) and Martha H. (54) Helmich or Helmick, with children Blanch E. (24), Benjamin C. (21), and Helene (14).

The 1920 U.S. census for Orono, Maine, shows Benjamin Helmick, age 31, born Iowa, rents his home, a teacher of agriculture; wife Jennie, age 32, born Iowa; son Benjamin W., age 1-5/12, born Connecticut.

The 1930 U.S. census shows the family living in Pamona, Mesa County, Colorado: Ben C. Helmick, age 41, born Iowa, married at age 28, a truck farmer, owns his farm; wife Jennie I., age 42, born Wisconsin, married at age 29; and children Benjamin W. (11), born Connecticut, Mary A. (10), born Maine, and Joan L. (7), born Maine.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) shows Benjamin Coe Helmick, age 28, resident of Washington, Iowa, born March 6, 1889 in Washington, Iowa; occupation, scientific assistant, university, Princeton, N.J.; claims exemption from the draft due to leakage of heart and asthma; tall, medium build, grey eyes, light brown hair. He signs it “Ben C. Helmick.”