Person:Helen Sartorius (1)

History of Helen Humphrey Sartorius by Robert Richard Wessels

During the fall and winter of 1996-97, Mother relayed the following information and stories to me.

Father Humphrey Mother Humphrey died September 5, 1910

Particulars of couple is unknown. Three children were born:

Louise Humphrey b. Sep 15,1903; d. Oct 18, 1961 Robert P. (Bob) Humphrey, b. Mar 17, 1907; d. Mar 1, 1958 Helena Rosine Humphrey, b. Apr 6, 1910

When Mother Humphrey died the three children were placed in an orphanage. Helen was placed in the Lutheran Orphanage Home (Missouri Synod) in St Louis, they only took children under the age of three. Mother was five months old at the time her Mother died, (per her Sister Louise). Louise and Bob were place in a Methodist Orphanage that took older children. A doctor named "Tate" adopted Bob and Louise.

Cris and Hilda Sartorius, a German family, living at Brinkley, Arkansas wanted to adopt a little girl and had informed their Lutheran minister of this. The minister and his wife made frequent trips to St. Louis. On one of their trips back from St. Louis in December of 1910 they brought back Helen Humphrey to the Sartorius'. Hilda never mentioned anything about adoption papers during her lifetime. No adoption records were found in Hilda's possession after her death. However, according to what Hilda had relayed to Lena years ago she was adopted by Cris and Hilda (Wilken) Sartorius in June of 1911. Records indicate she was baptized June 18th, 1911 at Wheatley, Arkansas (near Forrest City). Witnesses: Frank Booker and Rosine Oehlschlaeger. Hilda had wanted a daughter for some time and wanted her name to be "Lena". So that is the name she went by during her childhood. Since Lena was adopted by German parents, she learned to speak German. Chris and Hilda had a son named George about ten years older than Lena. George had attended school and learned to speak English. George taught Lena to speak some English in her early childhood.

Events of Her Life

About 1913 or 14 the Sartorius' moved their belongings by train to Stuttgart, Arkansas and settled on a farm east of there. They joined the Emanuel Lutheran Church, where records and dates of the family are in the church register. About 1915 or 16 they moved two and one-half miles from Independence School, which was northwest of Stuttgart about 5 miles. In 1916 A tornado blew the Independence School away. This is where she was to start school. So her starting to school was delayed a year until the school was rebuilt. Then due to farming operations, busy making hay, etc. she did not get in on the beginning of the school year. She had lots of sickness in the first years of school. She had whooping cough at age nine. Another move was made to just south of Clearpoint school. She attended that school for a time before quitting school while in the seventh grade. Another move was made to Stuttgart, just off west 2nd street. From this location Lena walked the Emanuel Lutheran Church to attend confirmation school. She was confirmed with about 15 in her class. Louise found Lena when she was 18 years old. Louise was older and knew that she had a younger sister and traced her through birth certificate records.

From the confirmation record at the Emanuel Church, Stuttgart, AR. Form record #170, page 222:

Lena Rosine Sartorius (adopted) Born: April 10, 1910 in St Louis, MO. Father Chris Sartorius Sartorius' transferred form Wheatly, Arkansas.

--–-–-–-–-–-–-–-–-- Helen Sartorius Wessels

April 6, 1910 - June 3, 2003

Obituary

Helen S. "Lena" Wessels. 93, of Pine Bluff, died June 3, 2003, at White Hall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born April 6 1910, at St. Louis, a Daughter of the Late Chris Sartorius and Hilda Wilkins Sartorius.

She was reared and received her early education at Stuttgart. She moved to Pine bluff in 1950.

She was a homemaker and member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death on December 26, 1991, by her husband, Oscar G. Wessels, Whom she married on January 17, 1926, at Stuttgart: and a great-grandson.

Survivors include four sons, Robert R. Wessels of Idabel, Oklahoma, Charles H. Wessels of Ruston, Louisiana, Lloyd A. Wessels of White Hall and William L. "Bill" Wessels of Fort Smith: one Daughter Ruby Wessels Poteet of Pine Bluff, 14 grandchildren 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church With Dean Clausing officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery by Ralph Robinson and son Funeral Directors.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be make to Trinity Lutheran Church, 4200 Old Warren Road, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71603

Obituary source: Pine Bluff Commercial - Thursday June 5, 2003

_FSFTID: LKL5-YTX

_AMTID: 250108267826:1030:113160583

1. ↑ Stuttgart, Arkansas (Emanual Lutheran Church) Register
   page 222, item 170.

   _TMPLT:
   FIELD:
   Name: Page
   VALUE: page 222, item 170