Helbach, Matthew (or Mathias) M., 1890-1941

HELBACH, BOEVER, SCHROEDER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/28/2022 at 20:31:27

From the Alton Democrat, November 21, 1941:

Former Granville Resident Dies

Matthew M. Helbach, aged 51 years, passed away at his home at Elmer, New Jersey, on Nov. 6th, 1941, after a lingering illness. He was married Aug. 6, 1912, in Le Mars, Iowa, to Miss Anna Boever, who survives him. The Helbachs at one time resided at Granville but since Sept. 1927, have lived at Elmer where Mr. Helbach was a painter and decorator.

Three sons and four daughters also survive. They are Sgt. Math. C., Med. Detachment, U.S. Army, Ft. Bragg, N.C.; Alfred M., an instructor at Bellevue hospital, New York City; Cecelia, R.N., Bridgeton; Ann, Mrs. John Rychlicki, Elmer; Helen and Florence, attending college at Trenton and Herman at home.

Funeral services were held at St. Ann’s R. C. church at Elmer. Rev. McCloskey officiated. Father Gooley of Newfield and Father Dalton of Bridgerton were also present. Interment was in the Woodstown R. C. cemetery.

Mrs. Helbach is a sister of Martin Boever and Mrs. J. J. Schmidt of Alton.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His FindaGrave.com page has Matthew M. Helbach, born 25 April 1890 in Osweiler, Canton d’Echternach, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg; died 6 Nov 1941 in Elmer, Salem County, New Jersey; buried in Saint Josephs Roman Catholic Church Cemetery, Woodstown, Salem County, New Jersey. Wife Anna Boever Helbach (1886-1976, married 1912). Four children listed. There is a photo of the joint headstone of Matthew and Anna.

His petition for naturalization (Ancestry.com), dated 23 July 1917, has him as Math. Helbach, residing in Comanche, Montana, occupation farmer; born 25 April 1890 at Osweiler, Luxemburg; emigrated to the U.S. from Antwerp, Belgium, 27 March 1909 on the vessel Zeeland, arriving in New York 7 April 1909; declared his intention to become a U.S. citizen on 15 June 1915 at Fergus Falls, Minn.; his wife is Anna Helbach, born at Struble, Iowa 10 May 1887; they have two children: Mathias, born 23 Nov 1913, and Alfred, born 12 Aug 1915, both at Perham, Minn.

In the 1910 U.S. census he is listed as Mat Helbach, working as a farm laborer for Henry Slinger in Caledonia Township, O’Brien County, having immigrated in 1909.

The Plymouth County marriage register has groom Mathias Helbach, age 23, resident of Minnesota, a farmer, born in Luxembourg, parents Mathias Helbach and Anna Schroeder; bride Anna Boever, age 27, resident of Struble, born in Struble, parents Philip Boever and Catherine Wengler; married at LeMars, Iowa, August 6, 1912.

His World War I draft registration card (June 1917) shows him as Mathias Helbach, age 27, resident of Billings, Montana, born April 25, 1890 in Osweiler, Luxemburg; employed as a mechanic by F. B. Connelly Co.; dependents, wife and 2 children under 12; claims exemption from draft due to crippled right foot; short, medium build, brown eyes, dark brown hair.

In the 1920 census he and his family are still farming in Yellowstone County, Montana. News notes in Sioux County newspapers show the M. M. Helbach family living in Granville in 1922-1925, In 1930 and 1940 the family is in Pittsgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey; his name is given as Matthew, and he is a painter and decorator.