Hinrich Hellmers had chosen to make New Orleans his home. It is not known if he knew anyone in what was at that time the fifth largest city in the United States. It is not known where he first lived or what he did to make a living for himself.
Steam-powered towboats pulled sailing ships 100 miles up the Mississippi River from the passes near the mouth of the river, often several at a time, and later towed them back down to the Gulf of Mexico. Hinrich apparently worked on such boats for several years.
| New Orleans from the Lower Cotton Press 1852 by David William Moody |
A Hellmers family tradition is that Hinrich was working on board the ship that brought the Jürgensen family to the United States and that there was a shipboard romance between Hinrich and Alvina. German seamen records show that this is not true, but it is possible that Hinrich may have been working on the towboat that brought the Adonis up the river and that he met the Jürgensen family then or at the time of the ship's arrival in New Orleans.
What is true is that sometime within
the first year of the Jürgensen family's life in New Orleans, a
relationship developed between Hinrich Hellmers and Alvina Jürgensen. On 19 April 1855,
they were witnesses together to the marriage of Carl
Voschera to Friederica Jürgensen, Alvina’s older sister. The
marriage took place in what is known today as St. Paul Lutheran Church.
At that time, Alvina was 14-1/2 years old. On 9 February 1856,
Hinrich and Alvina were witnesses to another marriage, that of Johann
Wilkens
and Wilhelmina Bommarius. Alvina's sister Maria was married to
Friedrich
Bommarius.
Sadly, the Hellmers' first son Heinrich died at the age of three on 6 February 1860, presumably at the same house.
| Detail from 1883 Robinson Map, Plate 20 |
Above is a detail from the 1860 census. A larger image of the entire page can be found here.
Shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War, the Hellmers had their third child. Johann Friedrich Hellmers was born on 22 May 1861, and was baptized on Sunday, 11 August 1861. The war brought changes to New Orleans. It was isolated from the rest of the country and cut off from the trade that made it one of the greatest ports in the world. While immigrants like Hinrich Hellmers had no personal stake in the war, they too were involved. Able-bodied men either enlisted to serve in the army of the Confederate States of America or volunteered for one of the many New Orleans militia units intended to protect the city from a Union invasion. Like many immigrants, Hinrich was mustered into one of the many militia groups that were formed.
The name "H. Holmer" occurs on a list for Company I of the same Regiment. This may also be Hinrich Hellmers.
In April of 1862, New Orleans surrendered to Union forces and the militia units were disbanded.
On 18 February 1864, a "Henry Helms," who may be Hinrich Hellmers, appeared before Judge Edward H. Durell of the District Court of the Eastern District of the State of Louisiana, and made application to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America. “Henry Helms” said that he “arrived here in 1847 under 18 years of age.” When Hinrich first arrived in New Orleans in 1847 as a seaman, he was actually about 18-1/2 years old. Perhaps he stretched the truth so as to say that he was a minor when he arrived, thus avoiding the need to file a "declaration of intention" and simplifying the naturalization process. The fact that this Henry Helms was from the Free City of Bremen adds to the likelihood that this was indeed Hinrich Hellmers.
An unfortunate event for Hinrich Hellmers in 1864 was the death of his brother Adolph on 17 August. Adolph had married Johanna Burmeister in about 1861 or 1862 and had two children: Wilhelm [William], born 23 October 1862, and Barbara, born 11 October 1864. Adolph's widow Johanna married Andrew Nelson on 11 November 1865. Hinrich was one of the witnesses who signed their marriage license.
Near the end of the Civil War, from February 12 to April 15, 1865, the Union Army was drafting every available person in New Orleans by orders that required all male residents to register for the draft or register as enemies. The names of those drafted were printed in the Daily Picayune. Included in the Third District was "Henry Holmes," living near the corner of Piety and Love Streets, whose occupation was "beer merchant." It thus appears that by this time, Hinrich had begun a new career.
Hinrich and Alvina had their fifth child, named Alvina Friedericke Helene, on 29 January 1865 . She was baptized on Sunday, 8 October 1865.
Apparently in 1868, Hinrich took over operation of a grocery store and barroom at the corner of Dauphine and Independence Streets. The property and building were owned by Jacob Ulmer. Up to 1868, this business—identified at least once as a “grocery and coffeehouse”—had been operated by a variety of individuals. Tax assessment records from 1868 to 1872, list Henry Hellmers as the operator. The records also indicate the value of the business.
1868 Henry Hollmest $600 Grocery & coffeehouse
1869 No data
1870 No data
1871 Henry Hollmest 500 Grocery
1872 Henry Hellmers 500 Grocery
1873 W[id]ow Henry Hellmers 200 Grocery
On the Robinson map to the right, the building is at the upper right corner of Block 176. The building still exists today (2009).
| Detail from 1883 Robinson Map, Plate 20 |
According to a Hellmers family tradition, Hinrich had a housekeeper who assisted in the operation of the grocery. She may be the Mrs. Robertson listed, who was 35 years of age and a native of Ireland.
Above is a detail from the 1870 census. A larger image of the entire page can be found here.
Alvina Hellmers reported the birth of their last child and signed the civil birth record.
Death Notice
Yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock after
a long illness, our beloved husband and father, Heinrich Helmers, born in
Germany and a citizen of this city for the last 24 years, died.The funeral will take place this afternoon at 4 o’clock from the home of the deceased, corner Independence and Dauphine Streets. Friends and acquaintances as well as the families of Johann Vagts, Fred Bomarius, Henry Vallerie and Henry Johnson and the members of the Jackson Benevolent Association and of the Hermann Lodge No. 39, I.O.O.F. are sincerely invited to take part without further notice. The grief‑stricken spouse,
Wilhelmina Helmers, born Johnson,
and seven children
Also placing notices in the newspaper were organizations to which Hinrich belonged: the Jackson Benevolent Association and the Hermann Lodge No. 39 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.).
The death record of Hinrich Hellmers at St. Paul Lutheran Church says: "Heinrich Hellmers __ years old died of consumption August 17, 1872 was buried on August 18 at the cemetery in the 3rd district. Text Psalm 38." No age is given in the records; there is only a blank space where his age should have been recorded. The Lutheran minister officiating at the funeral was the Rev. Christian G. Mödinger, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church from 1855 to 1890, and the same person who had married Hinrich and his wife Alvina 16 years earlier.
Hinrich may have been buried in the tomb of his brother-in-law, Johann
Vagts, in St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery, No. 1 (frequently referred to in the
church records as “the cemetery in the 3rd district,” or “the cemetery on
Louisa Street”). This tomb—in poor condition in 2009—is
only
inscribed “Family Vagts.” It was apparently purchased by Johann Vagts
on 30
October 1863, but it is not clear for whose use, since the Vagts had no
children. There were at least 20 people buried in this tomb, including
Hinrich's brother Adolph, who died in 1864. The Vagts tomb is
located in Quarter C, 2nd Alley, Lot & Tomb No. 19.
Photo by Norm Hellmers, 2009
Of Hinrich Hellmers' eight children, seven survived into adulthood, and of those, six married and had children. Information on Hinrich's descendants can be found in the next section.
Continue to: Part III of the life of Alvina Jürgensen