Surnames: Helmer, Harris, Halmer, Hoffman, Lenhardt, Bever, Emer, Lubinski, Bergman, Weinstock.

----Source: Site Research, Family records, Federal and State Census Records, NY Passenger Lists, U. S. Naturalization Records, Humbird Enterprise.

Joseph Helmer
Son of Laurence (10 Apr 1810 - 16 Nov 1882) & Barbara (8 Dec 1808 - 5 Apr 1888)
b. 23 OCT 1836, France (1838, 1840) Alsace region?, d. 27 June 1920, Muskogee, Oklahoma
Imm: 1860(1845)
Siblings:
Dorothea, 1840, France (?Cordelia? b. Aug 1840, d. 23 Mar 1909; m. Joseph A. Emer, 1860)
Ignaz, 1845, France
Mary, 1851, WI
Elizabeth, 1854, WI b. Jan 1853, d. 1933; m. Peter Lubinski, 1872)
marriage date: 18 Apr 1866, marriage place: Chippewa County, Wisconsin
SPOUSE: Mary Elizabeth Harris (b. Aug 1850) (Tree: b. 4 Aug 1844 WI, d. 13 Dec 1930 OK)
(Tree: Parents: John Harris & Catherine Marmot)
RES: 1860? & 1870 –Clark County, WI; 1880 Gray, White, AR; 1885 El Dorado, Butler, KS
1900 Township 15, Muscogee Nation, Indian Territory; 1920 Agency, Muskogee, OK
CHILDREN
Mary E., b. 06 Nov 1867, WI (Baptized Eau Claire, WI)
John Leo Helmer, b. 17 Nov 1872 Hamburg (?), Marathon, WI  (Nov 1869 or Nov 1871)
d. 27 Sep 1949, OK
Married: Alla (b. Feb 1876, MO)
Joseph, b. 1873 WI Mar 1873), m. Nora b. Feb 1876, AR
Anthoiny, b. 1874, WI Jun 1876)
Frank, b. 1877, WI

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph Halmer Age in 1860: 22 Birth Year: abt 1838
Birthplace: France Gender: Male
Home in 1860: Pine Valley, Clark, Wisconsin Post Office: Neillsville
Joseph Halmer 22 France Workman
Katrina Miller    15 Prussia Servant

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Mary Harris Age in 1860: 10 Birth Year: abt 1850 Birthplace: Preußen
Gender: Female Post Office: Greenfield Value of real estate: John 350, 180
Home in 1860: New Berlin, Waukesha, Wisconsin
John Harris 33 Prussia Farmer
Catharine Harris 30 Prussia << died 10 Mar 1865, buried Fairview Cemetery ??
Mary Harris          10 Prussia << m. Joseph Helmer 18 Apr 1866
Catharine Harris 6 WI << ?? m. Matthew Freeman, 1867, Waukesha Co. ??
Eva Harris 4 WI
Susanna Harris 2 WI << b. 12 Apr 1858 d. 13 Dec 1939, m. John Schmid, Mar 1886
John Harris 1/12 WI << d. 1945; m. Susan Lauer 1890 / Anna Lauer 1913

Wisconsin Marriages, 1836-1930
groom's name: Joseph Helmer bride's name: Maria Herrig
marriage date: 18 Apr 1866 marriage place: Chippewa, Wisconsin
indexing project (batch) number: M53059-1
system origin: Wisconsin-EASy source film number: 1316579

The only birth record I found for a child of Joseph & Mary…
Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926
name: Maria Elisabetha Helmer gender: Female baptism/christening date: 11 Dec 1867
baptism/christening place:
SAINT PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, EAU CLAIRE, EAU CLAIRE, WIS
birth date: 06 Nov 1867 father's name: Joseph Helmer mother's name: Marie
indexing project (batch) number: C53080-1
system origin: Wisconsin-VR source film number: 1316599

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph Helmer Birth Year: abt 1842 Age in 1870: 28
Birthplace: France Race: White Gender: Male
Value of real estate: Mary: 350  Personal Estate: Joseph: 100
Home in 1870: Mentor, Clark, Wisconsin
Joseph Helmer 28 France Works on Farm Cannot read or write
Mary Helmer 20 Prussia Keeping House
Mary E Helmer 2 WI
John Helmer 6 mos WI born: Nov

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph Helmer Age: 40 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: France Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Mary Helmer
Father's birthplace: France  Mother's birthplace: France
Occupation: Farm Laborer Race: White Gender: Male
Home in 1880: Gray, White, Arkansas
Joseph Helmer 40 France Farm Laborer
Mary Helmer 30 Wife Prussia Keeping House
Mary E. Helmer 12 Dau   WI at home
John Helmer 10 Son WI at home
Joseph Helmer 7 Son WI
Antony Helmer 6 Son WI
Frank Helmer 3 Son WI

1885 Kansas State Census Collection, 1 Mar 1885
Name: Joseph Helmer Marital Status: Married Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840 Race: White
Family Number: 4 Line: 18 Roll: KS1885_14
Locality: El Dorado Residence County: Butler, Kansas
Household Member(s): (all born "WI")
Joseph Helmer 45
Mary Helmer       33
John Helmer       14
Joseph Helmer 12
Anthony Helmer 10
Frank Helmer         8
Mat Young       35

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph Helmer Age: 55 Birthplace: France
Race: White Gender: Male Immigration Year: 1860
Relationship to head-of-house: Head Spouse's Name: Mary Helmer
Home in 1900: Township 15, Muscogee Nation, Indian Territory
Joseph Helmer 55 Head France Oct 1840 married 34 years Farmer
Mary Helmer     49 Wife TN-France-GA Aug 1850 5 of 6 children living
Antony Helmer 33 Son WI-France-TN Jun 1876 farm laborer
Next household:
Joseph Helmer 27 Head WI-France-TN Mar 1873 married 5 years Farmer
Nora Helmer 24 Wife Arkansas    Feb 1876 1 of 1 child living
Munroe Helmer 2 Son Indian Terr Oct 1897
Same page:
John W Helmer 28 Head WI-France-TN Nov 1871 married 5 years Farmer
Attilie? Helmer 21 Wife MO-MO-MO Feb 1876 2 of 3 child living
Gertie Helmer 1 Dau Indian Terr Oct 1898
Bertha Helmer 1 Dau Indian Terr Oct 1898

1920 United States Federal Census
Name: Joseph Helmer Age: 84 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836 Birthplace: France
Relation to Head of House: Father Spouse's Name: Mary E Helmer
Father's Birth Place: France Mother's Birth Place: France
Race: White Sex: Male Year of immigration: 1845 Able to read/write: Yes/Yes
Home in 1920: Agency, Muskogee, Oklahoma
John Helmer        48 WI-France-WI Farmer
Alla Helmer        41 WI-MO-MO
Jessie R Helmer 18 OK-WI-MO Mail Clerk
Deadie Helmer 12 OK-WI-MO
Joseph Helmer 84 France Imm: 1845 Na
Mary E Helmer 74 WI-Germany-Canada

????????????????????????????????????
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Joseph Hellmer Arrival Date: 13 Aug 1846 Destination: Ohio
Birth Year: abt 1838 Birth Location: Germany Age: 8
Port of Departure: Le Havre, France
Port of Arrival: New York, New York Ship Name: Eli Whitney
Laurenz 36; Barbara 36; Joseph 8; Dorothea 6; Ignaz (?) ¾

U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project)
Name: Lawrence Helmer Birth Place: France Date of Action: 16 Oct 1855
Court District: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa (Washington Co., WI)
Witnesses: Francis J. Hoffman & Bernhard Lenhardt

U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives Project)
Name: Lawrence Helmer Birth Date: abt 1810 Birth Place: France Age at event: 45
Court District: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa
Year of Arrival: 1846 Date of Action: 16 Oct 1855

1855 Wisconsin Census - State Census Index
Name: Lawrence Helmer State: WI County: Washington County Township: Addison

U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907
Name: Lorenzo Helmer Issue Date: 10 Aug 1858 State of Record: Wisconsin
Acres: 80 Accession Number: WI0840__.476 Metes and Bounds: No
Land Office: La Crosse Canceled: No US Reservations: No Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566) Document Number: 12312
Legal Land Description:
Section Twp Range Meridian Counties
17 24-N 2-W 4th PM - 1831 MN/WI Clark

U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907
Name: Lorenzo Helmer Issue Date: 1 Jul 1859 State of Record: Wisconsin Acres: 80
Accession Number: WI0880__.380 Metes and Bounds: No Land Office: La Crosse
Canceled: No US Reservations: No Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: April 24, 1820: Sale-Cash Entry (3 Stat. 566) Document Number: 13972
Legal Land Description:
Section Twp Range Meridian Counties
17 24-N 2-W 4th PM - 1831 MN/WI Clark

Fairview Catholic Cemetery - Mentor Township, Clark Co., WI
t Helmer, Barbara 8 Dec 1808 5 Apr 1888   Lawrence Helmer  
t Helmer, Lawrence 10 Apr 1810 16 Nov 1882   Barbara
to Emer, Cordula Aug 1840 23 Mar 1909   Joseph A. Emer    1860  << Dorothea?
t Emer, Joseph A. 8 Apr 1830 6 Feb 1891   Cordula 1860
t Lubinski, Elizabeth 1853 1933   Peter Lubinski   
t Lubinski, Peter       1847 1919   Elizabeth
to Harris, Anna 29 Jul 1873 15 Jul 1915   m. John Harris 2 Apr 1913            Lauer
t Harris, Cate                         10 Mar 1865 - Age 26 yr, 4 mo, 13 da J. Harris  
t Harris, John H. 1858             1945   m. Susan Lauer 17 Nov 1890/ Anna Lauer 2 Apr 1913
t Harris, Peter 1863             1942   
to Harris, Susan 21 Apr 1872 8 Mar 1906   John H Harris 17 Nov 1890            Lauer
to Bever, Andrew 16 Feb 1859 18 Oct 1924 Thresia Bergman 25 Nov 1884  
to Bever, Bernadine A. 1850 12 Jan 1939 Obit says B. 1849; B. Germany
m. Peter Bever 1877 Bergman
t Bever, Elizabeth 1820              1895 Peter Bever (m. 2nd John Harris??)  
t Bever, Nick              6 Nov 1861 20 Apr 1873      Peter & Elizabeth Bever?
t Bever, Peter             1855             1918 Bernadine A. Bergman 1877  
t Bever, Peter 1816             1866 Elizabeth  
t Bever, Theresa 22 Feb 1862 10 Apr 1907   Andrew Bever 25 Nov 1884 Bergman
t Schmid, John 1857 1949 Father Susan Harris  Mar 1886  
to Schmid, Susan 12 Apr 1858 13 Dec 1939 B. Near Milwaukee
                             m. John Schmid, Mar 1886 Harris

1860 United States Federal Census
Name: Lawrence Hilmer Age in 1860: 50 Birth Year: abt 1810 Birthplace: France
Post Office: Neillsville Value of real estate: 500, Personal: 125
Home in 1860: Pine Valley, Clark, Wisconsin
Lawrence Hilmer 50 France Farmer
Barbara Hilmer 50 France
Mary Hilmer         9 Wisconsin
Elizabeth Hilmer 6 Wisconsin

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Lawrance Helmer  Age: 70 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1810
Birthplace: France Relation to Head of Household: Father-in-law
Father's birthplace: France Mother's birthplace: France Occupation: Farmer
Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male
Home in 1880: Garden Valley, Jackson, Wisconsin
Peter Lubinski 33 Prussia Farmer
Elizabeth Lubinski 29 Wisconsin Keeping House
Lawrence Lubinski 6 WI
Frank Lubinski 2 WI
Isac Lubinski           5 m WI
Lawrance Helmer 70 France Father-in-law
Barbara Helmer 70 France Mother-in-law

1900 United States Federal Census
Name: Elisabeth Lubinski Age: 47 Birth Date: Jan 1853 Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: White Gender: Female        Relationship to head-of-house: Wife
Father's Birthplace: Germany Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Mother: number of living children: 7 Mother: How many children: 7
Spouse's Name: Peder Lubinski Marriage year: 1872 Years married: 28
Home in 1900: Cleveland, Jackson, Wisconsin
Peder Lubinski 52
Elisabeth Lubinski 47
Joseph Lubinski 16
Peder Lubinski 13
Steve Lubinski 11
Teressa Lubinski   9
William Lubinski   6

DOROTHEA ????????????????????
----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 03/27/1909
Emer, Mrs. Joseph (AUG 1840 - 23 MAR 1909)

Death called another pioneer settler of this vicinity (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) last Tuesday morning, when Mrs. Joseph Emer of Fairview passed away after being in failing health for nearly a year. Mrs. Emer had not been considered ill but a day or two before her death, and not over a week ago had visited at her son's home in the village. The funeral services were held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Fairview, on Thursday morning, conducted by the pastor. The esteem by which the deceased was held in the community where she had long been a resident was testified by the large congregation which gathered to pay its last tribute to a devoted member of the church.

Mrs. Emer was a native of Germany, born in August 1840. At the age of seven years she came with her parents to America. In 1860 she was united in marriage with Joseph Emer and together they suffered the hardships of pioneer life, settling on the farm at Fairview which has ever since been their home. From a valueless wild to one of the best farms in this section, the place was developed by them until her husband was taken from her nineteen years ago, when the sons took up the work, erected a fine house on the farm and kept the mother in comfort during her declining years.

Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Emer, three of whom died in infancy and one son, Joseph, died a year ago. Five daughters and four sons survive. Three of the children have entered the service of the church, of which the deceased has been a faithful and consistent member, two daughters in a convent at La Crosse and one son in the priesthood. Of the sons, Michael is residing on the home farm, Frank on a farm in Fairview, John in business in this village and Rev. Peter Emer is pastor of the Catholic Church at Marshfield.

1880 United States Federal Census
Name: Cordelia Emer Age: 40 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1840
Birthplace: France Relation to Head of Household: Wife Race: White Gender: Female
Father's birthplace: France Mother's birthplace: France
Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Joseph Emer
Home in 1880: Garden Valley, Jackson, Wisconsin
Joseph Emer      50
Cordelia Emer 40 << DOROTHEA ??
Frank S. Emer 18
Barbara Emer      17
Theresa Emer      12
Elizabeth Emer 10
Joseph Emer        8
Justina Emer        6
Michael S. Emer 3
Fredrick A. Emer 1

1870 United States Federal Census
Name: John Harris Birth Year: abt 1824 Age in 1870: 46
Birthplace: Prussia Gender: Male Value of real estate: 6000, Personal: 1800
Home in 1870: Mentor, Clark, Wisconsin
John Harris       46 Prussia Farmer
Elizabeth Harris 59 Prussia Keeping House << 2nd wife, widow of Peter Bever
Eva Harris 14 WI Attending School
Susan Harris 12 WI Attending School
John Harris 10 WI Attending School
Peter Harris 8 WI At Home deaf & dumb << died 1942, buried Fairview Cemetery ??
Barbara Harris 6 WI At Home (attended school)
Peter Beaver      15 WI Works on farm parents foreign born
John Beaver 13 WI Works on farm parents foreign born
Andrew Beaver 10 WI Attending School parents foreign born
Nicholas Beaver 9 WI Attending School parents foreign born

1880 Mentor Township, Clark Co., WI Federal Census
John Harris @56, b. Prussia, Farmer, Father b. Prussia, Mother b. France
Wife: Lizzie @59, b. Prussia, Keeps House, Parents b. Prussia
Son: Peter @18, b. WI, At Home
Dau: Barb @15, b. WI At Home


----Source: HUMBIRD ENTERPRISE (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.) 02/25/1911
Harris, John (17 MAR 1822 - 22 FEB 1911)

From the fullness of life to the coldness of death. Thus passed the aged father of J. S. and Peter Harris of the town of Cleveland, and Mrs. John Schmid of this village (Humbird, Clark County, Wis.), at about five o'clock on Wednesday morning. He had retired, feeling as well as usual, and was taken during the night with a choking spell, from which he rallied, only to be attacked by another later, to which he succumbed. Mr. Harris had enjoyed exceptionally good health for one of 89 years, and a week before his death walked from his son's farm into town.

John Harris was the last of the original settlers of the eastern part of the town of Garden Valley, now Cleveland. He brought his family into the wilderness when Sparta was the nearest railroad town and the only roads were Indian trails through the woods. That was the last year of the war, 1864. Mr. Harris was a native of Germany and was born March 17th, 1822.

----Source: 1891 Bio. History Of Clark Jackson Co., Wisconsin, pg. 175-176

PETER BEVER, a farmer of section 7, township 24, range 4 west, Clark County, was born in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, March 5, 1855, the eldest of four sons of Peter Bever, Sr., in whose family there were no daughters. His father was born near Kell, Prussia, on the famous banks of the Rhine, and emigrated on a sailing vessel when a young man, requiring six months time, and immediately located at Milwaukee. A sister of his came afterward and settled in Walworth County, this State, after her marriage, bringing a large family of children who have grown up and settled in different States. The remainder of the grandparents children continued their residence in the old country. Peter Bever, Sr., died January 18, 1866. The brothers of the subject of this sketch were: John, born October 2, 1856, at Milwaukee Andrew, February 16, 1859, in Clark County and Nicholas, December 6, 1861, also in Clark County, and died October 20, 1873, in this county, at the age of about twelve years. Andrew, a man of a family, lives near by John near Otter Creek, in Clark County. He married Annie Weinstock, November 25, 1889.

Mr. Bever, whose name heads this sketch, married Dena Bergman, November 22, 1877. She is a daughter of Adolph Bergman, who had four daughters and four sons, namely: George, Adolph, Anton, Lena, Frank, Mary, Elizabeth and Theresa, all of whom are now living excepting Mary. Of this large family, one, Adolph, is a Catholic priest in Syracuse, New York George, the eldest, is a well-known architect in St. Paul, with a large and prosperous business and the other two are contractors and builders in the same city. The two living sisters are married and settled in the town of Mentor, Clark County. The parents came to this country from Westphalia about 1882, and the father's death occurred November 9, 1889, at the age of seventy-five years, and the mother is still living in the township above mentioned, at the age of seventy years. Mr. Bever has had five children, as follows: Elizabeth, born December 11, 1878 Theresa, December 2, 1880 Mary, December 18, 1882 Emma, January 9, 1885 and Peter G., December 27, 1889.

Mr. Bever came to the township where he now lives when it was entirely new, there being only seven families therein at the time. For breadstuff he had to take his grist to a mill at Sparta, the trip consuming four days. The many Indians here at the time were the source of great fear and anxiety, although they made no serious outbreaks. Mr. Bever is now busily engaged in farming and establishing a permanent home on a fractional eighty-acre tract of land, his house being on a commanding site, and in a few years he will have made it and its surroundings all that an independent farmer can desire.

1880 Mentor Township, Clark Co., WI Federal Census
Peter Bever @25, b. WI, Farmer, Parents b. Germany
Wife: Dena Bever @24, b. Germany, Keeps House, Parents b. Germany
Brother: Andrew Bever @21, b. WI, Parents b. Germany
Dau: Lizzie Bever @1, b. WI, Father b. WI, Mother b. Germany